Category Archives: 19th Century

HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD by Peter Nolan Smith

October 12, 2021 – 6:09 am

Distances around the world have dramatically shrunk with the spread of jet transportation. Columbus’ voyage to the New World lasted almost two months. That trip from the port of Palos in Spain to Plana Cays in the Bahamas would now take about twenty-hours with a train to Madrid, flights to Miami and Nassau followed by […]

By Peter | Also posted in family, sea, semi-fiction, Travel, world | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Family Humor

September 22, 2021 – 8:41 pm

My Great Grandaunt Bert told a skunk joke to my youngest sister and brothers. “There were two skunks; one named In and the other Out. Once their mother said to Out, “Go find In.” Out went out and found In fast. Momma skunk was happy and asked how Out found In so fast. “In Stinks.” […]

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THE ROAD TO KABUL by Peter Nolan Smith

August 23, 2021 – 5:12 pm

Afghanistan was a two-day drive from Italy in the summer of 1972. At the end of the school year my future friend Gianni bought a school bus in Milano and told his parents that he was going on vacation. Kabul was his destination. His parents offered to pay the gas, viewing the venture as a […]

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The Brave Men Of The North

May 31, 2021 – 7:04 am

Memorial Day traditionally kicks off the summer holidays in America. Boy scouts, veterans, and politicians parade to honor the nation’s fallen soldiers and sailors, after which families gather for BBQs before heading home sated on burgers, beer, and hot dogs. This mass departure usually creates epic massive traffic jams on the highways of the USA. […]

By Peter | Also posted in War | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Old Palestine

May 11, 2021 – 4:02 pm

Ancient Roman writers referred to Palestine as Syria Palaestina consisting of the lands between theMediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Jaffa was the entry port for the region. The population was made up of mostly Arabs and a smattering of Jews. Arab warriors protected Palestine from Bedouin raiders. Farmers raised olive trees and orchards on […]

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