Photo of the Day: Petra

One of my shots from the ancient city of Petra, in Jordan.

#3: Tree-Climbing Goats of Morocco

#3 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. In Morocco (this is outside of Agadir) goats climb argan trees, a main source of income for locals. The argan trees are hardy and grow where little else will, becoming the only food available for goat herds. The argan berries can't be reached from the ground so the goats have adapted, learning to climb and easily balance on thin limbs in order to reach the fruit. A post-digestion gathering process eventually leads to argan oil which is sold for health and beauty. Amazing to see.

#9: Tower of Belém

#9 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. The Torre de Belém was erected in 1515 to guard Lisbon Harbor.

#11: Norwegian Gem in Las Palmas, Grand Canaria

#11 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. Norwegian Gem in Las Palmas, Grand Canaria, Canary Islands.

#16: Nomads With Camels, Burkina Faso

#16 of my most viewed photos on Flickr.

#49: Rearing Horse & Cart

#49 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. Rearing Horse & Cart in Pakistan.

#51: Athens Street Life: John and Kitten

#51 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. I met John in Athens. He said he was homeless and cared for several cats who roamed among the monuments.

#52: Sunset/Sunrise

#52 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. Sunset/Sunrise: both are the same on this tributary of the Yukon River in Alaska.

#62: Ruined Village in Afghanistan

#62 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. In this 2008 shot, an Afghan villager stands in front of the ruins of his home, bombed by the Taliban. A neighbor boy jumped into the picture.

#65: Couldn't Get Better

#65 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. Fishing bliss, on a tributary of the Yukon River, Alaska.

#69: A Slice of Afghan Life

#69 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. A slice of life in Kabul, Afghanistan, from my 2008 trip.

#73: Roses in a Tajik Garden

#73 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. At Marian’s Guesthouse, Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

#75: Ukrainian Farm

#75 of my most viewed photos on Flickr. I was in this gorgeous country setting in the Ukraine in 2006.

Photo of the Day: Cow Pie Walls, Tajik Village

Cow pies dry on mud walls in a village in Tajikistan.

Eiffel Tower 123 Today

On this day in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was opened in a dedication ceremony in Paris. Below are a few shots I took when I was there in 2005.



Eiffel Tower & Horse Sculpture From Pont D'Lena


People stream across the Pont D'Lena and under the Eiffel Tower. Horse statue is seen in the distance.



From beneath.



From the park near the tower.

For more photos, click on my Eiffel Tower set on Flickr.

"HARRY POTTER" GRAVESITE DRAWS TOURISTS TO RAMLE, ISRAEL

There is a new tourist draw to the Holy Land. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with the Bible. The Israel Department of Tourism released this today:

New York - November 19, 2010: Inspired and intrigued by the final tale of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, travelers from around the world are flocking to the Israeli town of Ramle to visit the gravesite of "Harry Potter."

In reality, the grave belongs to a deceased British soldier who incidentally shared the name with the famous wizard, and who was killed in battle with an armed band in Palestine in 1939 during the period of the British Mandate.

"Harry Potter's grave is an intriguing and coincidental attraction for travelers visiting Ramle," says Haim Gutin, Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, "and it adds some extra excitement for Harry Potter fans arriving in Israel."

Every year, thousands of travelers come to Ramle, located halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, to visit the town's archeological sites, ancient caves and UNESCO-recognized White Mosque.

I wish instead we would see a revival of interest in traveling to the Holy Land because it is the land of the Bible.

Offered a Local Drink in Gadara, Jordan

Drink at your own risk. OK, I did, as did several others in our group. Tasted like grape juice (not fermented).

Competition

Competing carpet stores share a middle wall and a sidewalk in downtown Amman, Jordan.

Crocs of Costa Rica

Wild crocodiles infest the Rio Tarcoles in Costa Rica. I shot these in June 2010 when I was in Costa Rica for a week of ministry.

Images of Niger

A few shots from my trip to Niger a few years ago. Few trips have impacted me more.