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TRAVEL TALES

 

West Africa 2011:

I left West Africa on a Black Star Lines freighter in 1978, certain I'd be back soon. But it took nearly 34 years to get back to Ouagadougou.

 

China 2010: An annotated album

 

Soviet dis-Union, 1989 

Scenes from just before the revolution 
In 1989, I was a semi-accidental witness to history. Reflecting back on what was an amazing four-month sojourn in the Soviet Union, I decided to add an annotated photo album to stories I'd previously published on this site.

 

 

Don't Be Afraid 
In what was still known as Leningrad at the time, I found out that people weren't accustomed to feeling like they could say what was on their minds. 

 

Things falling apart 
The almost unbearable heaviness of being Soviet 


A White Night in Leningrad 
Pondering Russia's future in the midnight glow


Tbilisi 
Georgian hospitality and the love of Stalin 


Vanik 
Armenia's only shell game operator speaks of his life ambition

 

 

Burma, 1992-93:

A Day in Pagan - Burma, 1992

Thousands of pagodas rise from Burma's ancient capital. The people love to talk about their nation's past, but they are not so forthcoming about the present or the future. 

 

The Dance of the Nat Kadaw - Burma, January, 1993 

On the far side of the Chindwin River, across from a river port called Monywa, an ugly woman dances for the demi-gods

 

Kyaitio - Burma, January, 1993 

Making a pilgrimage to the golden rock miraculously held in place (ostensibly) by a hair of the Buddha

 

Cuba 2000

I had to see it before it changed ... 

 

Etc. 

The Road to Riga 

Amidst smugglers and (perhaps) thieves between Holland and Latvia 

Incongruous Riga

Buffalo News, 1996

 

On the Road in Albania, 1996

A rough ride

 

A room with a view? 

Immediately following a perfect beach day - Turkey, 1998 

 

End of the road 

A different sort of Florida - Cedar Key, 2001 

Ancient (early 80s) history from my hometown:

Niagara's other wonder

Bright lights above the falls

 

MY DAY JOB

Yes, I do have a job, sort of. Free-lance writing, journalism, editing, translation. If it's English words you're looking for, I can help you out. Click here for more information. It pays the rent.

 

MUSIC

Katvanger — dubious blues, twisted roots, counterfeit country & western, improbable jazz, and more ...

 

plus Jim Wake & Sleepwalker (1994-2014) — blues with a twist, rock and roll with a hop and a skip, country and western with tongue in cheek, quasi-tango, pseudo-Caribbean, proto-klezmer, etc.

 

 

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