Dresden, Germany, January 2020

Dresden is the capital of the German state of Saxony. It is the second largest city on the River Elbe after Hamburg. The urban area has a population of 790,000. The name of the city as well as the names of most of its boroughs and rivers are of Slavic origin. The city centre and nearby surrounding areas have several historic and cultural attractions.

Afternoon and evening of Wednesday 22nd January 2020

Standing at the north side of the enormous Neumarkt Square close to the Dresden Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). This Lutheran church, first built in the 11th century and reconstructed in the 18th century, was destroyed during the bombing of Dresden during World War II. The remaining ruins were left for 50 years as a war memorial, following decisions of local East German leaders. The church was rebuilt after the reunification of Germany, starting in 1994. The reconstruction of its exterior was completed in 2004 and the interior in 2005.
Standing at the north side of the enormous Neumarkt Square close to the Dresden Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady).

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Bilbao, Spain, January 2020

The largest city in the Basque province of Biscay, located in the north-central part of Spain, some 16 kilometres (10 miles) south of the Bay of Biscay. The rivers Nervión and Ibaizabal converge to the south-east and flow through the city forming the Estuary of Bilbao. Founded on 15 June 1300 by Diego Lopez V de Haro, the city is Spain’s 10th largest based on population.

Thursday, 2nd January 2020

A shuttered shop front sprayed with graffiti, including a mural of a large male figure, with an over-sized hand holding a cigarette. Only the lower part is in view.
A shuttered shop front sprayed with graffiti,

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Montserrat Monastery, near Barcelona, Spain, December 2019

Thursday, 19th December 2019

On a coach leaving Barcelona for Montserrat Monastery. A boulevard
in central Barcelona visible through the window.
On a coach leaving Barcelona for Montserrat Monastery. A boulevard in central Barcelona visible through the window.

The Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat stands on the side of the rocky mountain of Montserrat. The monastery is roughly 750 metres above sea level, while the highest point on the multi-peaked mountain is Sant Jeroni at 1,236 metres. The monastery was founded in the 11th century and rebuilt between the 19th and 20th centuries.

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Turkey, September-October 2019

Antalya

Located on Anatolia’s south-west coast and bordered by the Taurus Mountains, Antalya is Turkey’s eighth most populous city and its largest on the Mediterranean Sea. The city was first settled around 200 BC by the Attalid dynasty of Pergamon, which was quickly subdued by the Romans. From the 13th century AD the city was invaded and occupied by the Ottomans. Ottoman rule brought relative peace and stability for the next five hundred years.

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Dominican Republic, October 2019

Santo Domingo

Capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic with a population of over four million. Founded in 1496, by Bartholomew Columbus, brother of explorer Christopher Columbus. The city is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas. The city’s colonial-era old town, known as the Zona Colona, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sunday, 27th October 2019

Tony inside the Altar de la Patria (Altar of the Homeland), a white marble mausoleum that houses the remains of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic: Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Ramón Matías Mella. They are known collectively as Los Trinitarios: statues of the three can be partially seen behind. The mausoleum is located in Parque Independencia (Independence Park).
Tony inside the Altar de la Patria (Altar of the Homeland),

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