Author: Rich McClear

CanadaLeave a comment

Breakfast in a Yukon Roadhouse on the Alaska Highway

Rich McClear

Driving south on the Alaska Highway we stayed in a Yukon roadhouse on Destruction Bay that looks Northeast across the frozen Kluane Lake.  We breakfasted with a collection of travelers while we waited for it to get light.  One was a guy from Kenai who drives a big rig up the Dalton Highway to the North Slope, the type of guy featured on “Ice Road Truckers.”  At one point he said “I don’t know why I do this sh*t.” “Money.” Suzi replied. “Yeah, but why do they need two of this type of truck in Alpine?” He was driving a … Continue reading Breakfast in a Yukon Roadhouse on the Alaska Highway

South Central AlaskaLeave a comment

Gallery of Crystal Ice, 2014. Everyone Was a Winner

Rich McClear

Here is the final set of pictures from the Anchorage Town Square Crystal Gallery of Ice competition.  Although they didn’t win you can see how they were put together from the initial sketches to the finishing by fire.  I love the chess piece, it’s transparency and finish, and the angel fish.  The ice sea turtles were a favorite for me.  The artist played around with different colored gels on the lights.  White, green or blue?  What a joy! The Next posts are scheduled for January 13 and 14.  Old New Year.  By then I will be in the Yukon, still … Continue reading Gallery of Crystal Ice, 2014. Everyone Was a Winner

South Central Alaska2 Comments

Crystal Gallery of Ice, 2014 Frozen Window Pane

Rich McClear

One of the Anchorage’s delights is the Crystal Gallery of Ice.  Ice artists carve blocks of clear ice in Town Square Park each winter for the delight of Alaskans and to be judged by both a panel of judges and by the artists themselves. This winter I was able to show up when there were blocks of ice and watched design sketching on ice, rough carving with chain saws and the final finish work.  On some of the pieces blowtorches smoothed the surface. Ten teams competed in the contest, three form China.  The next three posts will be from the … Continue reading Crystal Gallery of Ice, 2014 Frozen Window Pane

Sitka2 Comments

Sitka Polar Dip

Rich McClear

On Saturday about 100 Sitkans took a swim in the Sitka Channel without wet suits, dry suits, or survival suits, although one was person in a Santa suit.  The fire department had pressure hosed the ramp to get rid of barnacles.  Apparently cut feet are the biggest medical danger in this operation, and there were rescue divers off shore.  I was covering the event for Raven Radio and before the event I asked the swimmers one simple question “Why?” Here is what I got: “Why Not?” — “We’ll be leaving this summer so I figured this is our last Alaska … Continue reading Sitka Polar Dip

EgyptLeave a comment

Ismaïlia and the Suez Canal

Rich McClear

The Suez Canal may be the only place where blue water mariners find sandstorms a hazard to navigation.  There’s something otherworldly seeing a huge container ship gliding toward you through a golden brown silicone fog looking like it’s riding on sand.  The camel is not the true ship of this desert, SeaLand is.  The MV Hanjin Helsinki glides by, name written in Chinese characters and Latin letters, hailing port, Hamburg, Germany carrying Costo containers through an Egyptian sandstorm — globalization.  On Saturday we visited the Suez Canal, Ismailia, near the canal’s center, where the waterway cuts through Crocodile Lake (people … Continue reading Ismaïlia and the Suez Canal

Baltic StatesLeave a comment

Tallinn

Rich McClear

Tallinn’s tourism agency touts the “best-preserved medieval center in all of Europe.” It’s not completely medieval, and that makes it interesting.  Architecture in the old town runs from medieval through baroque and Russian empire style (the Tsar built a very “Alexander Nevsky” cathedral and an opera house in the old town) to Art Nouveau. The mix is what makes the Tallinn old town interesting. Tallinn was founded by Danes (In Estonian, Tallinn means “Danish Town. “)  German knights bought Tallinn from them and pretty soon Tallinn (Germans called it “Reval”) was in the Hanseatic League, acting as middleman between the … Continue reading Tallinn

aLeave a comment

Boxing Day, The Work of Christmas Begins.

Rich McClear

When the song of the angel is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the Kings and Princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flocks The real work of Christmas begins. To find the lost To heal the broken To feed the hungry To release the prisoners To rebuild the nations To bring peace among brothers To make music in the heart. -An unattributed Quaker quoted by Gordon Bok Continue reading Boxing Day, The Work of Christmas Begins.

Holy Land, Palestine, ReligiousLeave a comment

Merry Christmas !! Pictures from Bethlehem.

Rich McClear

Christmas Day — a good day to post pictures of Bethlehem.  The focal point of any visit to Bethlehem is Manger Square.  It is a pedestrian zone bordered by the Church of the Nativity, the Mosque of Omar, the Palestinian Peace Center and a wonderful falafel shop which also serves freshly squeezed orange juice.  Star Street, Nativity Street and Manger Street converge on the square. Some claim that the Church of the Nativity is the oldest Christian worship site in the world.  It was built during the rule of Constantine on a site selected by his mother, St. Helena.  She … Continue reading Merry Christmas !! Pictures from Bethlehem.

Holy Land, Palestine, ReligiousLeave a comment

Christmas Eve, Shepherds’ Fields outside Bethlehem.

Rich McClear

It’s Christmas Eve.  In the news we have constant reminders that “Peace on Earth” is still a hope not a fact.  This is evident at Shepherds’ Field outside Bethlehem where you can easily see the security apparatus that meanders around the hilltop where shepherds first heard “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” (assuming the angels sang in Latin).  The Franciscans control this hilltop and when we were there in 2010 we listened to them field questions from tourists looking out over the fields asking what exactly they were seeing.  In one of the pictures in this post you can see an Israeli … Continue reading Christmas Eve, Shepherds’ Fields outside Bethlehem.

IsraelLeave a comment

Jaffa, the other side of Tel Aviv

Rich McClear

Henry Ford once said “History is Bunk.”  While I love reading history I understand what he was getting at.  Whose history you read can determine whose side you’re on.  Every side has its own history.  In the Balkans I have the experience to be able to interpret the different histories.  In the Middle East I’m still trying to figure it out.  Palestinians and Israelis read very different histories, and they portray different histories to their public monuments and museums.  In Jaffa the historical sign outside the museum reminds us of each time Jews were driven from the city but does … Continue reading Jaffa, the other side of Tel Aviv

IsraelLeave a comment

Tel Aviv Bauhaus

Rich McClear

Tel Aviv could not be more different than Jerusalem.  It talks like New York and looks like Miami Beach.  While it has more hustle than Jerusalem it was also more laid back.   In Tel Aviv, the Bistro where we ate lunch offered ham sandwiches (we went for the corned beef.).  We could also get a cheeseburger, not Kosher, and not Jerusalem.  With each delivery the waitress said “enjoy” just like in New York.   Tel Aviv has over 4000 Bauhaus school of architecture buildings, built by Jewish Socialists in the 1930s, and because of that, is a world heritage site. We … Continue reading Tel Aviv Bauhaus

SoutheastLeave a comment

Juneau Deco

Rich McClear

Juneau pretends to be an old gold rush town.  Behind the faux gold rush façade (logs covering concrete in some places, like the Red Dog Saloon) beats a heart of Art Deco.  Juneau suffered fires and was largely rebuilt in an Art Deco era. Concrete seemed a safer bet than wood. Modern buildings like the “Spam Can” make reference to art deco.  The Baranof Hotel, Palace Theater Building, Alaska Electric Power and Light Building and the 20th Century Theater all have nice deco touches.  I took some of these pictures from the Mt. Roberts Tramway. These pictures are from 2004, Juneau … Continue reading Juneau Deco