My personal site for University of the Third Age members and their friends, offering free access to a series of 'talks' on Italian Renaissance art and architecture
The Erg Chebbi dunes near the Algerian border provide an impressive approach to the Sahara Desert
Amazigh (or Berber) pastoral nomads are reclaiming their traditional culture, but life is still difficult, especially for the women
Essaouira is a relaxed Atlantic town with a thriving arts scene
The World Heritage listed village of Ait Ben Haddou has found a new life as a movie set for films such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones
In this World Heritage listed square, as in most places in Morocco, locals seem to outnumber tourists
Moroccan shoppers are brisk, efficient and determined
Literacy rates are high in Morocco, especially in cities and among the young, but there are still some who need a service like this
The giving of alms is one of the pillars of Islam, and this dignified woman is merely reminding passers-by of their religious duty
The Shi’ite holy month of Moharram is a time when all comers, especially foreigners, are invited to share in tea, coffe and animated sign language conversation
Garmeh is an ancient oasis town in the central Iranian desert, now trying to re-invent itself as a laid-back tourist destination
The number of nomadic pastoralists has dropped dramatically in recent years, but a few continue the old way of life
The holy day of Ashura is a major day commemorating the death of the Shi’ite imam Hossain
The Colossi of Memnon sit as sentinels to the West Bank at Luxor, with its grand royal necropolis of the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and other mortuary monuments
Orthodox Greeks don’t have a very big presence in Egypt, but they do have charge of one of the most important sites in Christendom
These attendants have been recruited for their picturesque appearance rather than their knowledge of ancient Egypt
The Coptic minority has always felt under threat, particularly after the Arab Spring – perhaps this is why monasticism is thriving there
The balloons only go over the spctacular landscape when the wind conditions are right
Buying spices is a serious business in Turkey, where Iran is seen as the source of the finest saffron
Istanbul’s universities are centres of resistance to the rising tide of Islamism in public life
The Italian traditions of food, wine and hospitality seem to survive the rising tide of tourism
The bride’s arrival at the church seemed quite incidental – moments after this shot, she was whisked inside to allow the carabinieri to return to their posing for the cameras
Italian churches rely heavily on pious volunteers, who do their work in the middle of the week
The largest souk or market in Syria, within the old city walls, seems to have escaped the civil war relatively undamaged, unlike the citizens
Weddings are taken very seriously in Syria, and bridal shops do a brisk trade in sales and hires
Life has always been hard for show people – the pandemic has made it all but impossible
The evzones are a ceremonial unit of the Greek army, selected for height, skill at keeping very still, and the ability to high-step when required
Balinese rice farming and water management are part of a complex agricultural, social and religious system known as subak
This young man would have been offended if I hadn’t photographed him after he went to the trouble of striking a pose
The ancient university still dominates this medieval city
The passion and energy of flamenco are clear in this shot, taken from the back row of a tiny theatre