Travels in Scotland: Orkney and Shetlands

In high summer the light in northern Scotland is magical. Photos can rarely capture the austere beauty of the islands.

Ring of Brogdar, neolithic stone circle, Orkneys  (© John Rennie Short)

Shetland landscape  (© John Rennie Short)

Travels in Scotland: Edinburgh

Visited Scotland and traveled to Edinburgh, Orkney and Shetlands. Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful built forms in the world. Here are just three examples:

Roofscapes (© John Rennie Short)

Charlotte Square  (© John Rennie Short)

Scottish Parliament  (© John Rennie Short)

Trip to China and South Korea

Visited China. I was based in Shanghai. One of the three big fast –paced metro regions in China, the two others are Beijing and Guangzhou. They constitute the heart of the new modernizing China. I gave talks at East China Normal University and Shanghai Normal University and talked with fellow academics and students.  Then took a three and half hour bullet train trip to Nanchang and give talks at Jiangxi University.  My hosts at all the universities were generous and the students inquiring and informed. I learned a lot.

Seoul (Photo: © John Rennie Short)

Then went to Seoul, South Korea for two days to take part in a seminar on the making of historical atlases. Managed only one day looking around the city. Visited Platform 61 a new arts cultural center in the north east of the city, where I listened to a band play a mix of reggae and ska with a Korean twist.

Old Shanghai (Photo: © John Rennie Short)

New Shanghai (Photo: © John Rennie Short)

Nanchang (Photo: © John Rennie Short)

Shanghai Railway Station (Photo: © John Rennie Short)

The cost of not maintaining our infrastructure: MarketWatch article

Article just published in MarketWatch. It deals with the funding of infrastructure in the US. And why our crumbling infrastructure is hurting our competitiveness. You can access it here. Interesting commentary by readers.

A bridge on Interstate 5 collapsed in 2013 (Getty Images)

Urban Transport and Infrastructure Investment: The Radio Interview

Alex Wise on Sea Change Radio interviewed me about my ideas on urban transport and infrastructure investment in the USA. You can access the interview here.

Problems of US urban public transport

Why is urban public transport in the US so bad? Really bad. My recently published article shows how  and why this infrastructure is in such bad shape. And what may turn it around.

DC Metro (Photo ©John Rennie Short)

Switzerland trip

Spent a week based in Zurich and managed to travel around, into Southern Germany, and visit other Swiss cities, including Berne and Luzern. Here are some some images.

Rhine Falls

Leukerbad, Swiss Alps

Paul Klee Museum, Berne

Berne

Apartments in Zurich

Luzern streetscape