Category Archives: photo-romans

SHADOWS OF THE COMBAT ZONE by Peter Nolan Smith

In the late 60s lower Washington Street was anointed Boston’s Combat Zone for sex and sin. Working-class drinking dives became go-go bars named the Naked I and Two O’Clock Lounge. Gay clubs like Jacques and The Other End flourished freely in the alleys. Porno theaters openly screened XXX-rated to enthralled men and the cops ceased […]

Kili Initiative 2019 – A Path Into The Plains – # 6

Loitokitok’s Preacher Man launched the morning program right at dawn. I recognized his rant and climbed out of the tent growling off its best lines. The church across the valley glowed with light. I couldn’t make out a single person on the veranda. The young people at the table shook their heads hearing my speaking […]

Camping Kibo Lodge # 8 – Kili Initiative 2019

On the next days the Kili Initiative 2019 team engaged in various bonding challenges presented them by JM. Ma’we, and Fast Steve. These exercises were designed to interlocked the team into each other. Not as rivals, but as comrades. Jackman, Vanessa, Maureen, Ubah, Jaubah, Larry, Laityn, and Natatlia were young people. None of them knew […]

A Walk At Night – Nairobi / Kili Initiative 2019 # 3

Nairobi’s reputation for violent crime had earned the Kenyan capitol the nickname ‘Nai-rob-ee. Commander Tim and his Kili Initiative team had warned that I shouldn’t leave the grounds of the YMCA. “We can not promise your safety,” shrugged Fast Steve. “A white man is a target always after dark.” I had walked thought a slum […]

2019 KILI INITIATIVE # 6 – Kibo Lodge Reveille

5:55am came early the next morning. Young voices issued from the Kibo Lodge gardens and I rose from bed. The entire entourage was gathered in a clearing. Loitokitok glowed on a near hilltop. The sun was rising in the East. I thought about going back to sleep, then reproached myself, “I didn’t come all this […]