Category Archives: Travel

How to spot fake immigration advice

Immigration advice is a big business. Millions of people want to emigrate every year and seek out lawyers, attorneys and other immigration advisers. How can you tell a competent adviser from a fake one? I will have more on that … Continue reading

Posted in Immigration Law, Law, Travel | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Things not to do in Muslim countries, # 2

Don’t climb the pulpit in a mosque and pretend to be an imam! Luckily, not many people were listening to me and my sermon at Vakil Mosque in Shiraz, Iran. Another rule: if you pretend to be an imam, at … Continue reading

Posted in Iran, Islam, Religion, Travel | Tagged | 5 Comments

Things not to do in Muslim countries, # 1

Don’t go to a mosque to steal the Quran! Obviously, I didn’t steal any books. But ever the bibliophile, I needed to take a closer look. (I did however take a prayer stone with me from Hakim Mosque.)

Posted in Books, Iran, Islam, Religion, Travel | Tagged , | 4 Comments

This sign post did not help

Found in Mdina, Malta: a sign post informing me that I am “XX miles from XXXXXX”. This is especially tough for people like me who refuse to use GPS. I wonder if the sign post was stolen from somewhere else … Continue reading

Posted in History, Malta, Photography, Travel, World War II | 5 Comments

Strong Waves in the Sunset at St Paul’s Bay, Malta

This afternoon, as I was walking along the shore in St Paul’s Bay (San Pawl il-Baħar) in Malta, I noticed unusually strong waves causing beautiful splashes as they hit the mole. I ran home to catch my camera and my … Continue reading

Posted in Malta, Photography, Travel | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Paraglider defies Icarus’ Lesson

Today when I was at Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa in Malta, I saw this paraglider who ignored the lesson of Icarus. Luckily, he survived. More photos of Għajn Tuffieħa – including a spectacular sunset – to follow soon.

Posted in Malta, Photography, Sports, Travel | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Why I don’t ask strangers to take photos of myself, # 1

There is a reason why I don’t ask strangers to take photos of myself with my own camera: I prefer to use the self timer or rather not to take any photos at all. I know what I look like … Continue reading

Posted in Photography, Travel | Tagged | 1 Comment

Superman in Venice

I hope nobody will make the connection between my stay in Venice and this “Superman” boat: (Seen and photographed in Venice in January 2012. More photos to follow.) Superman’s holiday mission in Venice might explain why he couldn’t help out here.

Posted in Italy, Photography, Travel | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Would you want to live in “Toilet Creek”?

“Rio de la Toletta” may sound fabulous to foreign ears, but once you translate it, it is far less glamorous. Still, as all of Venice, it was beautiful. Seen and photographed in Venice, Italy in January 2012. (More photos to … Continue reading

Posted in Italy, Photography, Travel | Tagged | 8 Comments

A Tale of Two Ships: How Europe welcomes Refugees

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Emma Lazarus: The New Colossus … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, Human Rights, Immigration Law, Italy, Politics, Travel | Tagged , | 39 Comments