Caskets in the shape of fish, tennis shoes and ice cream bars crafted by Accra carpenter Eric Kpakpo Adotey, who designs made-to-order fantasy coffins. Photo by Charles Cecil. By Charles Cecil People go to Ghana to see historic coastal slave castles. Others come to buy kente cloth for a colorful wall hanging. Reasonably priced tailors…
By Anthony Prodis Imagine Africa as if it were the head of a magnificent animal—its Saharan skull in the north, a Somalian horn-like-a-rhinoceros to the east, and its lips nearly embracing the island of Madagascar in the south. The Nile River, like a pulsing, pumping, central artery, flows over 4,000 miles from the headwaters of…
The eminent archeologist was explaining how the discoveries at Göbekli Tepe in southeastern Türkiye were changing the way people understood Neolithic history. But most of my attention was directed toward an affectionate tricolor tabby posing coquettishly in the foreground of the ruins. This is a common occurrence in Türkiye, where an estimated five to 10 million cats, ranging from domesticated to feral, roam urban boulevards, lavish resorts, trendy shopping centers and country lanes. In Istanbul, you’ll find street-dwelling felines lurking in and around structures that include Byzantine cathedrals, spice markets and Ottoman palaces.
By Karin Leperi Pezo Whether by air, water or land, an African safari can offer some of the most unique wildlife experiences on the planet. Each mode provides a different perspective and distinct species. Change your view to experience the many unique environments of Africa. Africa has some of the most amazing wildlife sightings in…
Eight nervous travelers linked hands to form a human chain, then waded across the Zambezi River to the edge of 350-foot-high Victoria Falls. With the roaring mist from the thunderous cascade in our faces, we clambered onto an outcrop and edged our way to a hot-tub-size eddy at the lip of the falls called the Devil’s Pool. A swim in the Devil’s Pool means standing within 12 inches of certain doom while staring into the abyss. As I hopped into the water, I thought it might be the last conscious moment of my life.
By Charles Cecil I remember the first time I ever entered a mosque. It was in the early 1960s. Columns decorated with colorful tiles depicting floral designs supported arches bordered with bands of floral decoration. I was transfixed by the sight as my shoeless feet sunk gently into a plush carpet covered with geometric patterns.…
By Mira Temkin Among Jewish people, Jerusalem’s Western Wall is the holiest place on earth. The “Kotel,” as it is called in Hebrew, evokes a mystical connection to history, Judaism, and personal prayer. People come to meditate at this sacred site and place notes with their personal prayers into the cracks between the stones. For…
The Tunisian suburb of Sidi Bou Said, a welcoming hilltop village about twelve miles north of Tunisia’s capital of Tunis, overlooks the ruins of ancient Carthage. It offers intimate cafés, locally-made handicrafts and stunning views of the Mediterranean. Locals call the hillside Kursi al-Sulh, ‘the seat of reconciliation,” since in former days it was a quiet place where Muslim holy men retreated for repose and meditation. The town’s name is derived from a religious figure, Abu Said al-Baji, who died in 1231 AD and is buried beside the town’s minaret in a mausoleum built during the period of Turkish rule.
By Charles Cecil Gum Arabic? No, it’s not a Saudi Arabian chiclet. Technically, it’s an emulsifier, a soluble, tasteless substance that helps ingredients dissolve and remain in solution. It prevents oil from pooling inside a jar of peanut butter, keeps sugar suspended in soft drinks, allows mayonnaise to maintain its consistency and stops cough drops…
By Jacqueline Swartz I am floating like a cork on the salty Dead Sea, 1,400 feet below sea level, thinking about mud and history. Earlier, at the spa in the Hotel Dan, I was slathered in the mineral-rich ooze, said to be a remedy for arthritis, skin ailments and even wrinkles. Not the usual pampering…