Congratulations Nina! With over 50 photos to choose from, yours received the highest rating among members. You’ve not only brought honor to your chapter, but you have won a year of free dues for yourself. Thanks to everybody who submitted their wonderful “Ancient Cities and Sites” theme photos for the June contest. They can still be seen and commented on by visiting https://pollunit.com/en/polls/tcc-2026-june.
The theme for our September 2026 contest is “Birds.” Click for contest details »
On a foggy, early New Year’s Day morning, our group entered a hot-air balloon basket (one of many balloons!) We slowly ascended through the mist to see this magical sight in Bagan, Myanmar. The low-lying cloud cover gradually rolled away as the sun rose and warmed the air, revealing hundreds of temples. They were everywhere underneath and around us, nestled in bright green foliage. It was a tranquil and peaceful experience, with only the intermittent sounds of the hot air burners. Not the beginning of a new year I will soon forget!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Laurel Glassman, Chevy Chase, Maryland
Seeing Babylon with my own eyes was an experience of a lifetime. The ceremonial walkways, the huge archways, even the ancient bricks with images of dragons, were all incredibly powerful — just as planned by the ancient architects.
Ed Hotchkiss, New York, NY
Meroë once flourished as the capital of the Kingdom of Kush from 590 BC to 350 AD, located between the Nile and Atbara rivers in modern-day Sudan. Known as a powerful iron-working center, it developed a unique culture with its own script, artistic traditions, and powerful queen — rulers known as the Candaces.
