Tessera

Spain v. Argentina (Part I) I rate countries on whether they are on the "short list" to return to visit. Both Spain and Argentina fall into this category. The history of both is long and deep on the landscape. Above is the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba. The Mosque is built on Ancient Roman and…

Spain v. Argentina (Part I)

I rate countries on whether they are on the "short list" to return to visit. Both Spain and Argentina fall into this category. The history of both is long and deep on the landscape. Above is the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba. The Mosque is built on Ancient Roman and Visigoth sites and was converted to a Catholic cathedral after 1236. While in Argentina I got to visit Pucará de Tilcara which was inhabited as long as 10,000 years ago and was concured by the Inca in the late 1400s just prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1536. (Cordoba, Spain 2024 and Tilcara, Argentina, 2025)

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Among the Pilgrims Walking among the pilgrims to the Badarinath Temple was a remarkable experience. While I was there, I was in disbeleif that I was there. When I look at this photo I am in disbelief that it's me in the photo. (Badrinath, Uttarakhand, India, 2009)

Among the Pilgrims

Walking among the pilgrims to the Badarinath Temple was a remarkable experience. While I was there, I was in disbeleif that I was there. When I look at this photo I am in disbelief that it's me in the photo. (Badrinath, Uttarakhand, India, 2009)

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Teal in the Sun I was out photographic doors and it was hot that day. The sun was wearing me out. This teal was just so cooling as the sun blazed down. I suspect it had been recently painted because it was not very faded. (San Juan Antiguo, Puerto Rico 2010)

Teal in the Sun

I was out photographic doors and it was hot that day. The sun was wearing me out. This teal was just so cooling as the sun blazed down. I suspect it had been recently painted because it was not very faded. (San Juan Antiguo, Puerto Rico 2010)

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Malvinas Nos Une One of the most interesting backstories of today's football match is the historical-political history between these two nations. When I was in Argentina last year, I saw these signs all over the country. The Malvinas is embedded in the Argentine mind and is recalled in the current…

Malvinas Nos Une

One of the most interesting backstories of today's football match is the historical-political history between these two nations. When I was in Argentina last year, I saw these signs all over the country. The Malvinas is embedded in the Argentine mind and is recalled in the current football chant that celebrates Messi, Maradona, and longs for a 4th cup. (Salta, Argentina, 2025)

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It’s Not Just a Door But it's really an invitation. I love doors that offer more than the traditional "portal cover." This one called to me with the colors at first, but then the sounds from inside made me want to go in and see what was cooking in the kitchen. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2025)

It’s Not Just a Door

But it's really an invitation. I love doors that offer more than the traditional "portal cover." This one called to me with the colors at first, but then the sounds from inside made me want to go in and see what was cooking in the kitchen. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2025)

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Too Little Time Here We expected to live here a very long time, but it wound up being just a few years. It was our first house with an alley which we loved and we never owned another house with a driveway. We got a better price on it because the previous owner had turned the dining room into a…

Too Little Time Here

We expected to live here a very long time, but it wound up being just a few years. It was our first house with an alley which we loved and we never owned another house with a driveway. We got a better price on it because the previous owner had turned the dining room into a Green Bay Packer sports bar. Although we like the Packers, we restored the dining room to its original purpose. (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, 2008)

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Purple Haze I had forgotten about this one. It had been an amazing day of early summer flowers in Butchart Garden. My memory of the day is coming across one amazing planting after the next. It was a day of beauty fatigue. (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 2012)

Purple Haze

I had forgotten about this one. It had been an amazing day of early summer flowers in Butchart Garden. My memory of the day is coming across one amazing planting after the next. It was a day of beauty fatigue. (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 2012)

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Early Waterfall Work Everyone starts somewhere. I've taken a number of waterfall shots over the years. Not sure if this is the first one, but it is probably close to it. I was 16 standing at the base of the falls with an instamatic camera. Everything could have been better in the shot, but given…

Early Waterfall Work

Everyone starts somewhere. I've taken a number of waterfall shots over the years. Not sure if this is the first one, but it is probably close to it. I was 16 standing at the base of the falls with an instamatic camera. Everything could have been better in the shot, but given the technology limits and the limits of the camera, I'm still pleased by this shot. (El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico, 1976)

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The Hot Seat on a Hot Day We were saying farewell to our hosts and I was speaking for the group in my best "broken Spanish." I felt the heat of the moment, but not as much as my colleague who collapsed under the heat just a few minutes earlier. (Managua, Nicaragua, 2007)

The Hot Seat on a Hot Day

We were saying farewell to our hosts and I was speaking for the group in my best "broken Spanish." I felt the heat of the moment, but not as much as my colleague who collapsed under the heat just a few minutes earlier. (Managua, Nicaragua, 2007)

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The Family Laundry My Great Aunt Agnes had a dryer. There was something sweet about her hanging the wash on the line as she had done for decades. It looks like it was a great June day just before the winter wheat would be harvested. (Ann Arbor, Michigan 1970s)

The Family Laundry

My Great Aunt Agnes had a dryer. There was something sweet about her hanging the wash on the line as she had done for decades. It looks like it was a great June day just before the winter wheat would be harvested. (Ann Arbor, Michigan 1970s)

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Seriously Good Pie We had been tipped off by a friend where we could get some "seriously good pie." To be honest, I could have come back every day for a different flavor of pie. These were outstanding and unique styles and flavors. (Bath, England, 2023)

Seriously Good Pie

We had been tipped off by a friend where we could get some "seriously good pie." To be honest, I could have come back every day for a different flavor of pie. These were outstanding and unique styles and flavors. (Bath, England, 2023)

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Explore the Castillo When You Are There The Spanish started to build the Castillo San Felipe del Morro in 1539 and it is one of my favorite places to visit and spend an afternoon wandering around the facilities. The walk along the ocean or wandering through the underground facilities is always…

Explore the Castillo When You Are There

The Spanish started to build the Castillo San Felipe del Morro in 1539 and it is one of my favorite places to visit and spend an afternoon wandering around the facilities. The walk along the ocean or wandering through the underground facilities is always amazing. Imagining the soldiers who worked and defended the fort over the centuries gives pause for thought. (San Juan Antiguo, Puerto Rico, 2002)

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Year of the Desert Ranch We were both on sabbatical for the first time and working at Arizona State that year. We were told by neighbors that when the homes on the street were built, you could smell the orange blossoms from nearby orchards. By the time we got there, the development extended past…

Year of the Desert Ranch

We were both on sabbatical for the first time and working at Arizona State that year. We were told by neighbors that when the homes on the street were built, you could smell the orange blossoms from nearby orchards. By the time we got there, the development extended past us for many miles. There were only a few citrus trees in the yard. The home was nice, but it had seen better days. It was a great year and we enjoyed exploring the desert. (Tempe, Arizona, 2004)

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Dutch?, Not Dutch, Well it was Dutch One of my favorite things is when another culture comes into a place and erects buildings that look like the ones at home, rather than resembling the local ones. This phenomenon is ancient and has some spectacular examples across the globe. This one just…

Dutch?, Not Dutch, Well it was Dutch

One of my favorite things is when another culture comes into a place and erects buildings that look like the ones at home, rather than resembling the local ones. This phenomenon is ancient and has some spectacular examples across the globe. This one just happens to be in the Caribbean. (Willemstad, Curaçao, 2002)

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You Could Hear Echos in the Silence I took a detour to visit the Manzanar War Relocation Center where Japanese Americans were interned during World War II. It was a quiet, cool, sunny day. There was an eerie silence about the place. It left me unsettled. (Inyo County, California, 2006)

You Could Hear Echos in the Silence

I took a detour to visit the Manzanar War Relocation Center where Japanese Americans were interned during World War II. It was a quiet, cool, sunny day. There was an eerie silence about the place. It left me unsettled. (Inyo County, California, 2006)

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Bring Lots of Water It was the early 90s and Tulum was clearly a resort, but not as trendy as it is now. Regardless it always requires good hydration and a hat if you visit. (Tulum, Mexico, 1993)

Bring Lots of Water

It was the early 90s and Tulum was clearly a resort, but not as trendy as it is now. Regardless it always requires good hydration and a hat if you visit. (Tulum, Mexico, 1993)

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Dangerous Debris Among the beautiful homes in the San Gabriel Mountains are debris shoots and basins to capture and direct mud and rocks that tumble from above. After reading John McPhee's The Control of Nature I had to see these things for myself. This is the Shields Canyon debris field. (La…

Dangerous Debris

Among the beautiful homes in the San Gabriel Mountains are debris shoots and basins to capture and direct mud and rocks that tumble from above. After reading John McPhee's The Control of Nature I had to see these things for myself. This is the Shields Canyon debris field. (La Crescenta-Montrose, California, 2006)

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Pizza Homeland I'm after pizza where I can find it. This time it was in some small joint in Naples. So good, so fresh, so hot. (Naples, Italy 2011)

Pizza Homeland

I'm after pizza where I can find it. This time it was in some small joint in Naples. So good, so fresh, so hot. (Naples, Italy 2011)

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She Makes a Grand Entrance I had been in Spain for about a month and Kathleen was coming for the last 2 weeks. She is, tired, jet lagged, her luggage is delayed, and she is trying to figure out where I am in the greeting line. I think she looks great! (Seville, Spain 2024)

She Makes a Grand Entrance

I had been in Spain for about a month and Kathleen was coming for the last 2 weeks. She is, tired, jet lagged, her luggage is delayed, and she is trying to figure out where I am in the greeting line. I think she looks great! (Seville, Spain 2024)

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The Garden Takes Center Stage Our next house was a plain white colonial with no plantings in front. Kathleen took on the challenge of making the front yard a spectacle of color and flowers all summer long. For the record, we were here for a long time as well. (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin 2004)

The Garden Takes Center Stage

Our next house was a plain white colonial with no plantings in front. Kathleen took on the challenge of making the front yard a spectacle of color and flowers all summer long. For the record, we were here for a long time as well. (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin 2004)

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More Laundry, This Time Croatia It's important to remember that people live in the places we visit. Seeing laundry brings this home to me and reminds me to think of this space as someone's neighborhood space. (Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2011)

More Laundry, This Time Croatia

It's important to remember that people live in the places we visit. Seeing laundry brings this home to me and reminds me to think of this space as someone's neighborhood space. (Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2011)

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The Laundry of Seville Spotting laundry on the line is a traveling hobby. This one was a particular good morning for it and this was my best shot from my vantage point on Las Setas. There is something special about the smell of clothes off the line. There is also something wonderful about the…

The Laundry of Seville

Spotting laundry on the line is a traveling hobby. This one was a particular good morning for it and this was my best shot from my vantage point on Las Setas. There is something special about the smell of clothes off the line. There is also something wonderful about the visual of the clothes blowing in the breeze. (Seville, Spain, 2024)

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Sometimes You Need a Bowl at Real Chili A friend called me a few weeks ago and asked if I wanted to have dinner at Real Chili. It had been a while since I've sat down to this Milwaukee classic dish. If you know it, you love it or you know someone who loves it. The simple counter, the bright…

Sometimes You Need a Bowl at Real Chili

A friend called me a few weeks ago and asked if I wanted to have dinner at Real Chili. It had been a while since I've sat down to this Milwaukee classic dish. If you know it, you love it or you know someone who loves it. The simple counter, the bright lights, and the unique variation on chili. I recommend a visit to either location. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

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I Still Love Electric Scooters A couple years ago I wrote about my affection for this mode of transportation. Now that I've moved back into the city I think I will start using them again. They are inexpensive and pragmatic. Yeah, that sounds like me. (Reykjavik, Iceland, 2026)

I Still Love Electric Scooters

A couple years ago I wrote about my affection for this mode of transportation. Now that I've moved back into the city I think I will start using them again. They are inexpensive and pragmatic. Yeah, that sounds like me. (Reykjavik, Iceland, 2026)

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Another Juan Arctic Mural in Reykjavik Juan Arctic (@juan_arctic) is one of my favorite muralists. I walked by his work nearly every day when I lived in Reykjavik. He is playful, aware of context, colorful, and just fun. When I was in town this spring, I was please to find a new work near my…

Another Juan Arctic Mural in Reykjavik

Juan Arctic (@juan_arctic) is one of my favorite muralists. I walked by his work nearly every day when I lived in Reykjavik. He is playful, aware of context, colorful, and just fun. When I was in town this spring, I was please to find a new work near my hotel. (Reykjavik, Iceland, 2026)

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Prime River Spot for Fonzie I love hokey things. When TV Land was putting up statues of 1970s television characters (Mary Tyler Moore, Jackie Gleason, Bob Newhart, etc) Milwaukee got the "Bronze Fonz." I plan to do some photos of other statues around the city, but this is a nice place to start. If…

Prime River Spot for Fonzie

I love hokey things. When TV Land was putting up statues of 1970s television characters (Mary Tyler Moore, Jackie Gleason, Bob Newhart, etc) Milwaukee got the "Bronze Fonz." I plan to do some photos of other statues around the city, but this is a nice place to start. If you do a search online, you will find that these are places people travel to see. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

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