Tag: archaeology
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The Ancient City of Jerash | Discovering Jordan
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…
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Mount Nebo – Memorial of Moses | 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…
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The Ancient Amman Citadel | Discovering Jordan
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 contains historical…
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Amman’s Ancient Roman Amphitheatre – 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…
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The Medieval Kerak Castle | 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…
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The Colonial Quarter & Castillo de San Marcos | Historic St. Augustine, Florida
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. I had come…
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Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park | Discovering 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…
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Skipton’s Medieval Castle | 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…
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Ch̢teau de Caen РCaen Castle | Discovering France
Exploring castles throughout Europe has been a fascination of mine for over a decade, simply due to their interesting history and fortified construction. They are visual remnants and reminders of an era in history where the need for a fortified stronghold (both offensive and defensive) were important forms of land security, as well as a…
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The Magic of Machu Picchu | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Machu Picchu is a place of magic and mysticism, and those who have made the lengthy journey to visit it have experienced just that. Even while looking at photos of this sacred Incan site, it opens up inspiration and wonderment. Machu Picchu’s energy is that powerful and special. It is one of those locations on…
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The Historical City of Lima – A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Discovering Peru
The remarkable city of Lima was our first introduction into Peru. From here we traveled throughout the country into Nazca, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, and onto the grand prize of the trip, Machu Picchu. Lima was a brilliant way to get ourselves grounded into this country, as well as its climate. If…
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The Ancient Mosaics of Madaba | Discovering Jordan
While exploring Jordan my friends and I spent a day in the city of Madaba, which is famous for their Byzantine Mosaics. One of our friends was an art history professor, and visiting these ancient mosaics was quite stimulating for him. It was exciting for me as well, since the mosaics were right up my…
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Visiting Skopje | Discovering North Macedonia
If I were to break it down to two things that stood out for me during my visit to the capital of North Macedonia, Skopje; the amount of prominent statues that line the streets, and the amount of friendly stray dogs, who made me part of their pack. I do like statues and I do…
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Welcome to York | Discovering England
Welcome to York! This vibrant city in northern England has been a favorite of mine while traveling throughout the United Kingdom. The times that I had visited were always filled with fun and funny moments; from climbing the tower of York Minster, to a ghostly episode inside the city’s most haunted pub. There are no…
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Aran Islands – Inis Mor | Discovering Ireland
Exploring the Aran Islands was one of those “off the beaten track” trips that I had taken while traveling through Europe. They are not resort style islands with sandy beaches, and vacationers tanning on beach towels. The Aran Islands were rocky, cold, and windy. The ferry ride from Galway was frigid, and far from being…
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Cologne’s Best Museums | Discovering Germany
The vibrant city of Cologne, which overlooks the Rhine River is layered with rich history and culture. The city is built upon a Roman village, and over the centuries has evolved into an urban sprawl with excellent architecture and art scene. With the many things that I experienced in Cologne, the city’s museum scene and…
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Murano, Burano and Torcello | The Islands of Venice, Italy
The little islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello were a sensational way to extend our trip in Venice, Italy. They are all picturesque and unique in their own way- One is famous for glass blowing, another has rows of colorful buildings and small canals, while the other has an impressive archaeological heritage. These islands of…
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National Archaeology Museum in Athens | Discovering Greece
The definition of ”Masterpiece” is a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. The National Archaeology Museum in Athens is full of masterpieces, but the museum itself is a masterpiece on its own. This centrally located museum houses the largest collection of Ancient Greek art, antiquities, and artifacts in Greece. For myself, it is a…
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London’s FREE Museum Scene | Discovering England
One of my favorite activities to do whenever I travel London is to visit the city’s museum scene. London is the cultural hub of England, and is saturated with outstanding museums containing priceless masterpieces, archaeological artifacts, and global treasures. The best part of London’s museum scene is that it is absolutely free. Viewing museums in…
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The Mythical Island of Delos – A UNESCO World Heritage Site
While we were taking a ferry across the Grecian Sea to the Island of Delos, my daughter who at the time was 18 years old commented, “No wonder people wrote stories about crossing the sea in Greece”. As we both looked out onto that deep sea, riding the choppy waves with harsh winds in our…
Trixie Navarre 