Photos from Taiwan

Street scene in Taipei

Photos from visit to Taipei, May 9-15

Food stand

Photos from Shihlin Night Market

It's the thing to do.

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At the world’s 2nd-tallest building

Good luck or karma ran low today when I went to the 89th-Floor observation deck of the 101-story Taipei 101, the second-tallest building in the world. You can see from the photo there was not much to see. But, what the heck. This less-than-stunning vista is the worst thing that’s happened on this fun and excellent trip.

Just finished my last panel with an editor from a new newspaper in Taiwan, an editor from Yahoo! and a blogger from Global Voices. The session generated great questions.

All week my hosts at the American Institute of Taiwan have been great. Special thanks to Christopher Kavanagh, Press and Media Officer, and Irene Chen, information Specialist.

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Heading to Taiwan

I’ve had such a wonderful time in St. Petersburg and Moscow, it’s difficult to leave Russia. After three lectures yesterday – at IREX, the University of Science and Technology, and the American Center – I met Alex’s friends for a drink at the revolving 33rd Floor bar of the Swissotel. We had a great time and a magnificent view of Moscow.

The students at the University of Science and Technology signed the poster announcing my talk, and gave me the poster as a souvenir. After the talk, Alex and I and Irene (from the embassy) walked through a sculpture garden of Soviet leaders. (It’s across the street from Gorky Park.) What a time warp.

My hosts at Moscow State University and the U.S. Embassy couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful. And they arranged a fun and varied program. One of the great memories was the reception at the U.S. Embassy.

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Oh, no; Not again

Didn’t get to the university on time today because of a huge military parade practice through central Moscow to Red Square: Military units, tanks, missile launchers and low flyovers from all sorts of planes.

The parade celebrates the 65th anniversary of Victory Day, Russia’s victory in World War II. It’s the first Victory Day parade in which U.S. and British military units are participating.

A friend who didn’t know that the huge parade practice was scheduled to run through the streets of Moscow, walked out of her apartment, saw all the tanks rumbling past, and told me her first thought was, oh, no; not again!

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Practicing at Moscow State University

Alex (my Moscow State University host) just told me as I was practicing in the auditorium for my first of four talks and two panels, that I shouldn’t be nervous because even if I am bad, people will like me “by default.”

My talks are part of the MSU Journalism Faculty’s and U.S. Embassy’s celebration of World Press Freedom Day. The conference is called “Days of American Journalism.” Tomorrow night we go to a reception at the U.S. Embassy.

I’m not sure if I should trust Alex’s analysis of how well this will go, however. He’s the same guy who told me not to worry about the subway bombing because a second almost never happens six weeks after the first. (BTW, the subway stations are each art museums. Really beautiful and all different.)

I met the oldest journalsim faculty member, Prof. Semjon M. Gurevich. He’s 90 and still comes to work each day. His specialty is media economics. He says he met Stalin. When we couldn’t speak Russian together, he switched to German so we could talk.

This week is also the 65th anniversary of the end of WWII. Today there was a stunning precision flying practice of WWII planes and current bombers. Streets are shut down, and soldiers are everywhere, practicing for the May 9 celebration.

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Cathedrals, Tsars’ tombs and The Hermitage

Peter and Paul Cathedral     Tomb of Peter I                Great concert

St. Isaac’s Cathedral             At Hermitage         Throne Room

View all Day Three pictures here

Incredible Day of visiting the tsars’ tombs at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, then climbing to the top of St. Isaac’s Cathedral in the center of Saint Petersburg for a great view of the city (pix to be inserted later) then checking out the Italian Renaissance and Impressionist collections at The Hermitage. Stunning.

Heard a great Gregorian Chant concert at Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Found out it’s easy to get past the bouncers at private clubs by showing an American passport. They think you’ll spend a lot of money.

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