Trail to Tucson, 1854

This lithograph is from the New York Public Library Digital Collection, showing the trail to Tucson, Arizona from Sonora, Mexico by artist John Russell Bartlett. Perhaps this is a view that my Mexican ancestors may have seen on an early crossing to Tucson.

Source: NYPL Digital Collection. Bartlett, 1854.

Photos from Lebanon

Here are several photos from last week's morning runs in Beirut. There is a certain beauty to this stretch of coast along the Mediterranean. It is easy to see why people having been living here for thousands of years.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Raouche Rock, Beirut.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Beirut, Lebanon coast, 6 Nov 2014.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Beirut coast.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Sunrise over Beirut. 5 Nov 2014.

Photo by Patrick Jones. After the run, 5 Nov 2014.

Three Guineas for a Game Certificate, 1811

Findmypast has a free weekend in honor of Veterans Day (through midday Monday). I've taken advantage of the opportunity to search on my British ancestors. In the 2 October 1810 edition of the Kentish Gazette, is a list of persons who obtained general game certificates. I think this must have been the equivalent to a hunting license. The cost of the game certificate was three guineas. My 5th-great-grandfather Samuel Oyler obtained this game certificate in 1810, and again on 20 September 1811. The list shows Samuel living in Hawkhurst, Kent, England.

Source: Findmypast. Kentish Gazette, 2 Oct 1810.

Source: Findmypast. Kentish Gazette, 20 Sept 1811.

This Samuel was the grandfather of my 3rd-great-grandfather Samuel Oyler, who arrived in the United States on 26 May 1828 at the age of 6.

Street Art Beirut Part 2

Continuing from yesterday's set of street art photos from Beirut, on my second morning I ran from the hotel through the western point of the city and back. Along the way I found a huge wall by Chilean street artist Inti Castro and artwork on the soccer stadium for Nejmeh SC. Later in the day while returning from AUST, I spotted a mural by Zepha from the 2013 Graff'Me Lebanon Festival.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Wall by INTI, Hamra, Beirut.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Art on Nejmeh SC stadium.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Pele, Nejmeh SC, Beirut.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Wall by Vincent Abadie Hafez aka Zepha.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Street art & Beirut traffic. 6 Nov 2014.

The day ended back in Hamra. Down the street from the hotel is an alleyway with open air restaurants and pubs. February 30 had eclectic art and good music. A few shots from inside are below.

Photo by Patrick Jones. February 30, Hamra, Beirut.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Interior wall February 30.

Photo by Patrick Jones. February 30, Hamra, Beirut.

Street Art Beirut Part 1

This past week I've been in Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon for various meetings. I went to Cairo in November 2008, but this was my first visit to Beirut. In the mornings I would go for a run and explore the neighborhood of Hamra Street. Here is the first set of street art pictures from those runs.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon. 5 Nov 2014.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Next to De Prague, Makdessi Street, Hamra.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Makdessi Street, Hamra, Beirut.

Photo by Patrick Jones. 5 Nov 2014.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Beirut, Lebanon.

Beirut was a nice place. Quite a lot of street art, but unfortunately I didn't have much time on this visit to see some of the city's street art hot spots beyond what I found in Hamra. More photos to follow.