Gastronomy – Travel – Culture
If you are familiar with my blog or me in general, then you know that I have an interest in places and things that are old and ancient. This fascination of mine has lead me to many interesting places along my travels, with one being the ancient city of Jerash in Jordan. I was in… Continue reading The Ancient City of Jerash | Discovering Jordan
Standing atop Mount Nebo in Jordan brought to light that this was a sacred location for the big three- Judaism, Christianity, and Muslims. There are other locations in the region that also hold reverence to the three, including St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai, Egypt, which I had visited after my trip to Jordan. But… Continue reading Mount Nebo – Memorial of Moses | Discovering Jordan
Amman Citadel In the center of downtown Amman, Jordan is a remarkable archaeological site, the Citadel, which is considered to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. It was constructed on the L-shaped hill, which is one of the seven hills that made up Amman originally. This ancient site dates back thousands of years, and… Continue reading The Ancient Amman Citadel | Discovering Jordan
I have often said to people, "The Romans were everywhere!". During their empire which last about 500 years, ending in 476 CE, they had constructed many remarkable city structures that still stand today. One type of Roman structure that I have always enjoyed visiting are the theatres, and I cannot help but think of the… Continue reading Amman’s Ancient Roman Amphitheatre – Discovering Jordan
I was on the last few days of my tour of Jordan in the Middle East, when I had found myself in the medieval Kerak Castle, and I was in awe. I have been to many castles throughout Europe before, but this was my first in the Levant. This impressive fortification is one of the… Continue reading The Medieval Kerak Castle | Discovering Jordan
Atlantic City Boardwalk Advance to Boardwalk! For those who play Monopoly then you know the place; Boardwalk is the most expensive property with the highest in rent revenue. It is also reminiscent of Atlantic City's own boardwalk, as well as all of the properties on the game board. The version of the game that we… Continue reading Advance to Boardwalk! | Discovering Atlantic City, New Jersey
Prior to the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock and before the English colony of Jamestown, there was St. Augustine in Florida. It was founded as a settlement in 1565 by Pedro Menendez de Aviles, which makes it the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African American origin in the United States. Castillo de San… Continue reading The Colonial Quarter & Castillo de San Marcos | Historic St. Augustine, Florida
The first time I read about the Spanish explorer, Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth, I was in grammar school and I was intrigued. As with the many other stories of explorers and interesting places around the country, I wanted to visit historical St. Augustine. It was not until recently when I was… Continue reading Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park | Discovering St. Augustine, Florida
Spending a relaxing day walking through Cardiff Bay was a fun introduction to Wales in Great Britain. We had initially come into Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, to visit the now defunct Dr. Who Experience, which was incredibly entertaining. Besides Dr. Who, we found the bay to be a pleasant way to spend an… Continue reading Cardiff Bay in Wales | Discovering Great Britain
Over my travels and education, I have come to find that cathedrals and churches play a great role in Europe's architectural, art, cultural, and political history. St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin is no exception to that rule. For over 800 years this church has been the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, and today… Continue reading St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin | Discovering Ireland
Dublin Castle is located in the center of the city, and is considered one of the most important structures of Ireland's history. It dates back over 800 years when it was built in 1204 as a major defensive work, on the orders of King John of England. After a Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169,… Continue reading Dublin Castle | Discovering Ireland
Main Hall When I toured Kilmainham Gaol, walked its gloomy corridors, and peered into the grim cells through its peep holes, I could feel its sadness within its walls. Although this former Dublin prison is now empty, one could only imagine the anguish it once held; all the men, women, and children (as young as… Continue reading Dublin’s Kilmainham Gaol | Discovering Ireland
I will admit that the main reason I stopped by St. Michan's church in Dublin was to visit the below level crypt, and see their mummies. Yes, there are legitimate mummy's in Dublin and I did get the opportunity to not only see them, but to touch a mummy finger. I have seen a few… Continue reading St. Michan’s Mummies | Discovering Dublin, Ireland
During my travels I have visited all sorts of museums including Eden Camp Modern History Museum, located in Malton, North Yorkshire, which was unlike other museums that I have been to. This is a family owned property that originated as a WWII prisoner of war camp, and for over 30 years has been a history… Continue reading Eden Camp Modern History Museum | Discovering England
Cliffe Castle located in Keighley, West Yorkshire is a fascinating place to visit; not only for their interesting exhibitions and collections, but for the Victorian Neo-Gothic home that they are housed in. The building and interiors are stunning, and have been through several transformations since it was first built. It is considered a Grade II… Continue reading Cliffe Castle Museum and Gallery | Discovering England
I have been to many museums during my travels, but none as sweet and cheerful as the Ilkley Toy Museum in West Yorkshire, England. For over two decades this museum has housed a private collection of dolls, teddies, games, toys, and much more. This charming museum contains one of the best toy collections in England,… Continue reading Ilkley Toy Museum | Discovering England
East Riddlesden Hall Enterance Visiting a manor house in England is just another lovely way to spend time learning about this country's architecture and lifestyle of centuries past. I am all about exploring older homes and locations, seeing the craftmanship of furnishings and decoratives, as well as feeding my curiosity of how other people lived.… Continue reading East Riddlesden Hall – National Trust | Discovering England
Skipton Castle located in North Yorkshire is a fine example of an English medieval fortified castle, with over 900 years of history. It was originally built in 1090 by a Norman Baron, Robert de Romile, as a motte and baily type castle, and was later rebuilt in stone to withstand Scottish attacks. Skipton Castle is… Continue reading Skipton’s Medieval Castle | Discovering England
Exploring Wadi Rum Wadi Rum in Jordan is beautifully referred to as the "Valley of the Moon". That name came to life for me when I visited this sandstone desert in the Middle East. I had spent the day exploring the sands of Wadi Rum, which led to quietly watching the evening sunset, and finishing… Continue reading Wadi Rum ‘Valley of the Moon’ – Jordan | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Milan is just one of those cities that stir up grandiose fantasies of chic high-end fashion, and sophisticated retail therapy. Shopping certainly is one of Milan's high points, but there is a lot more to this marvelous city. Leonardo da Vinci monument Milan is the capital of Lombardy, and for centuries… Continue reading The Marvelous City of Milan | Discovering Italy
Trixie Navarre 