The Mesabi
Minnesota’s Mesabi Range is historically the largest deposit of iron ore in the world. Arcing across the northeastern part of the state, it has been delivering iron ore to America’s …
Quill Pens and Steam Engines
Before I tell you more about my quest for the forgotten grandfather in my life, we have two places to visit. The first takes us back to the era of …
Paducah, Cahokia, and Hannibal: The Road Trip
On our recent road trip to western Minnesota I took along Granny D: You’re Never Too Old to Raise a Little Hell. Our good friend (and my collaborator in presenting …
Lefkaritiki
When we returned from Cyprus we got out the old tablecloth my grandmother had bought there ninety years ago and admired its intricate lacework. It had new depth and meaning …
Cyprus Antiquities and Art
One of the things that has fueled our long interest in visiting Cyprus is the collection of glass and pottery that my grandparents brought back with them and that has …
Reconciling Past and Future in Cyprus
Our American friend Pippa Vanderstar had put us in touch with Avo Mangoian, one of Cyprus’s leading photographers, who has a store in the old city of Nicosia not far …
Cyprus Log: Hellenic Mines
The office building of Hellenic Copper Mines, Ltd., is a serene oasis perched among the hills of broken ore at the top of the mountain of copper ore that is …
Cyprus Log: Skouriotissa
“Ah! La Iglesia!” A smile creased the stern face of the Paraguayan guard at the sentry post. In his hands he held my little album of pictures open to the …
Cyprus Log: Paphos
Before I tell you about our Sunday trip to visit archaeological sites on the southwest coast, let me tell you that Nicosia’s English newspaper, the Cyprus Mail, had an extensive …
Cyprus Log: The Troodos Mountains
Andreas Philipou picked us up in his sturdy jeep and we crammed into the back jump seats to join a couple from Britain and a man from France. Stan – …
Cyprus Log: Arrival
The sleek new Airbus 321 rescued us from a six-hour purgatory in the labyrinth of Charles DeGaulle airport (so much arrogance over so little… even the croissants were cold and …
Our Trip to Cyprus
From May 22 to June 1 Sylvia and I will be on a trip to Cyprus, the third-largest Mediterranean island, situated in the corner between Turkey and Syria. Like most …
Turnings in Profile
I have been spending a lot of time lately reworking the poems in a collection I am calling Turnings. I have been sending it out, in various versions, to publishers …