The Two Best Reasons to Go to London
We’ve said it before, but one of our very favorite landing places is London. There’s (obviously) a lot to London. But you can pretty much keep the Tower and London … Read more
England
Musings on the Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece
There are some nice pieces of ancient Greek art at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Unfortunately, most of them are not from the Parthenon. A lot of them have been … Read more
International Use of National Parks
Last summer, while on a driving tour of the UK, we joined the National Trust. It’s essentially the historic preservation and national park organization for all of the UK: “We … Read more
Stairway to Chapter House, Wells Cathedral, England
The stairway up to the Chapter House and residences of the Wells Cathedral in England. The soft light coming through the windows just enhanced the edges of the stone steps, … Read more
2013 in 50 Photographs
Kris and I visited 13 foreign countries in 2013. In order: Spain, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Canada, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Japan, back to Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary. … Read more
Our Very Own Guided Tour of England
Who doesn’t love the information imparted by a zealous local who guides you around their turf like a friend. Even better if he or she is a friend. Oliver Nicholson … Read more
Advice for Driving in the UK and Ireland
I can talk about this now, and I’ll start by saying Tom is a very good driver. And I am a very good navigator. I can read a map, have a good sense of direction, and am good at planning routes, scenic or otherwise. But things are different here in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, and I’m not just talking about driving on the left. For both driver and passenger, I offer these true stories and tidbits of advice.
Durham Cathedral, England
The pillars and walls at Durham Cathedral, built in the 11th Century, are so massive when compared to the delicacy of the Exeter Cathedral, built almost 400 years later. The bulk is relieved slightly by carved design visible on the left pillars, but the overall sense is one of pure weight.
Site Blocked, and Other Little Surprises in the UK and Ireland
The message read, “This site has been blocked as potentially politically controversial. If you think this message has appeared in error, please see your network administrator,” or something like that. Had I accidentally Googled my way into a terrorist site? No, as a matter of fact, I was trying to look up UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ireland. I was in my room at Bewley’s Hotel in the Ballsbridge neighborhood of Dublin, a fairly nice place, the nicest place I’d been in for quite a while.
Coventry Cathedral, England
The Cathedral at Coventry, England, once thought to be among the most beautiful in England, was destroyed by German bombs on November 14, 1940. Some of the 14th Century walls … Read more