Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
When we’re somewhat close, we usually go out of our way to visit Unesco World Heritage sites. In this case, we tore ourselves away from the Bushmill’s Irish Whiskey Distillery … Read more
Tom Bartel
Bloody Sunday Monument, Derry, Northern Ireland
The “Troubles” in Northern Island may be over, but they’re not forgotten. In Bogside, the Catholic area of Derry, signs, murals, monuments still proliferate in the streets.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland
As the line of Union Jacks in the transept of Dublin’s Saint Patrick’s Cathedral suggests, this Saint Patrick’s is not a Catholic church. It’s the cathedral of the Church of … Read more
Churchyard, Glendalough, Wicklow, Ireland
As we strolled around the Upper Lake at Glendalough National Park in County Wicklow, Ireland, signs led us to the ruins of this small Romanesque church tucked back in a … Read more
Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire, England
In the early years of the 16th Century, King Henry VIII of England decided that the various Catholic abbeys held too much wealth and power. (It is estimated that the … Read more
Chapter House, York Minster, York, England
The entire cathedral at York, England, called York Minster, features amazing glass works. To my mind, only those of Leon, Spain’s cathedral are their equal.
Playa Pescadores, Tulúm, Mexico
Playa Pescadores means Fishermen’s Beach, and the boats were lined up on the sand side by side. Occasionally, a pair of men would drag the boat into the surf, fish … Read more
Divinity School, Oxford University
We visited Oxford University more than 30 years ago when we were living in London. Back then, it was much easier to roam the campuses of the various colleges. Oxford … Read more
Stonehenge and the Avebury Stones, England
Yes, it’s a bit of a tourist cliche, but Stonehenge does amaze. When you look at Christian cathedrals and think of the religious fervor that inspired their construction and decoration, … Read more
St. George’s Church, Dunster, England
We went to Dunster to see the Dunster Castle, which wasn’t so much a castle as an elaborate English country house. As happened to many large estates after World War … Read more