On Religion

Just because certain people commit acts of violence and terrorism in the name of religion, it does not mean that the religion itself is to blame. 

(Part of the ceilings and mosaics at Alhambra in Granada, Spain)

On Crisp Flavours

Companies tend to accommodate flavour preferences depending on location and times of the year.

(Pringles crisps in Granada, Spain last month)

On Herbal Tea

Selections of herbal tea vary tremendously from country to country.

(Interesting tea varieties in a Granada marketplace, Spain)

On Public Speaking

Although it can seem a daunting task for people of any age, public speaking is one of the best ways to build confidence.

On Literacy

"The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read."

-Mark Twain

(Clever advertising outside a bookshop in Granada, Spain)

On Moorish Architecture

Although most of the Spanish landscape was transformed during the Inquisition, some cities were smart enough to have preserved stellar examples of Moorish architecture.

(Architecture and deco from the Alhambra in Granada)

On Babysitting

Babysitting and daycares are a luxury that people in most parts of the world simply cannot afford.

(A woman carrying her baby while working in Malaga, Spain)

On Cave Dwelling

There are people in many parts of the developed world who consciously choose to live in mountainous "gypsy" caves.

(The inside and out of a cave on the outskirts of Granada, Spain)

On Feeding Stray Cats

Some people get really upset when humanitarians try to feed stray animals, resorting (at times) to cursing, spitting, and/or other forms of violence.

(Random stray cats in central Granada, Spain)

On Free Walking Tours

The tour guides are generally more informative, passionate, and motivated when they do not charge a fixed rate per person.

Explora Malaga Free Walking Tour

(Street signs around Malaga, Sevilla, and Granada, Spain)

On Paella

Although it is widely known as the national dish of Spain, many Spaniards consider it to be a Valencian dish.

"[Paella] symbolizes the union and heritage of two important cultures, the Roman, which gives us the utensil and the Arab which brought us the basic food of humanity for centuries."

-Lourdes March, Food Historian

(Some delicious homemade paella in Montreal)

On Earth Hour

A simple act like switching lights off for one hour a year is enough to start many much-needed dialogues on climate change.

(Big Ben in darkness during Earth Hour in London)

On Concert Halls

There are some halls where ticket sales from a sold-out concert don't even cover the costs of the performance.

(The London Symphony Orchestra performing in Southbank)

On Sharp Minds

"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge... A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one."

 -George R.R, Martin

(Upside down car display in a Southbank parking lot, London)

On Seatbelts

Although seatbelts had been invented in the 19th century, it wasn't until the 1950s that they became mandatory on all vehicles. 

(A Canadian 1919 Pierce-Arrow model at a car show in Kuwait)

On Mirrors

Some artists are so passionate about their work that every inch of their home becomes a possible canvas.

(The living and bathroom inside the House of Mirrors in Kuwait)

On Talking

"For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination. We learned to talk and we learned to listen. Speech has allowed the communication of ideas, enabling human beings to work together to build the impossible. Mankind's greatest achievements have come about by talking, and it's greatest failures by not talking. It doesn't have to be like this. Our greatest hopes could become reality in the future. With the technology at our disposal, the possibilities are unbounded. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking."

-Stephen Hawking

On Lost Genius

Some of the world's best talents can remain hidden for centuries due to a simple clerical error.

(Castiglione's sketches at the Queen's Gallery in Edinburgh)

On Tattoos

Some people adore tattoos so much that there is almost no body part they wouldn't ink.

(Man with frightening neck tattoo in London, UK)

On Food Presentation

Having a simple meal served in a fancy/unusual way can more than double the price of said meal.

(Raw fish served in an creative icy wooden boat)

On Describing Setting

When attempting to describe a particular setting, adding sounds and smells paint a more vivid picture than simply telling the reader what to see.

(A misty afternoon around Blarney Castle, Ireland)

On Dresden

Even the most tragically destroyed cities are capable of rebuilding thriving once again.

(Dresden in December, nearly 70 years after its destruction)

On Change in the New Year

"There were people who went to sleep last night,

Poor and rich and white and black,

But they will never wake again.

And those dead folks would give anything at all

For just five minutes of this weather

Or ten minutes of plowing.

So you watch yourself about complaining.

What you're supposed to do

When you don't like a thing is change it.

If you can't change it,

Change the way you think about it."

-Maya Angelou

(John Lennon's eye made from stamps in Ripley Museum, London)