Chained Libraries in England It took a large investment of time, labor, and funding to produce books before the development of the printing press. Locking books in chests, housing them in private collections, and protecting with supernatural curses written into the book were some of the many methods of theft protection in the Middle Ages. …
The Nottingham Robin Hood Trail Many sites in Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, ranging from the historical to the legendary, are associated with the adventures of Robin Hood and his band of merry men. There are various interpretations of what to see on the Nottingham Robin Hood Trail, which includes dozens of locations and covers a 100-mile …
The Holy Mountain of Ireland: Croagh Patrick Croagh Patrick, one of the highest peaks in western Ireland, rises above the village of Murrisk about 8km (5 miles) from Westport in County Mayo, Ireland. Tradition says the mountain is ‘the holiest mountain in Ireland’ due to its connection with St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron, and the many …
Eberbach Monastery (Kloster Eberbach) is a former Cistercian monastery near Eltville in the Rheingau Valley of Hesse, Germany (famous for its Riesling wine). In addition to being a world heritage site, the monastery provided the interior scenes for the 1980s film, The Name of the Rose. It is also the site of the Rheingau Musik Festival, and …
In his novel, Hyperion, which follows the adventures of an American traveler in Germany, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow states, “beneath me flows the Rhine and, like the stream of time, it flows amid the ruins of the past.” There is a section of the Rhine River that flows through the wine-growing region of Germany in …
Located on the Rhine River outside the major metropolitan district of Frankfurt, the German city of Mainz is a sight to behold. The fanciful buildings of the Mainz plaza (sparkling with Christmas lights in the winter), the historic surrounding district, and the adjacent sandstone cathedrals, make this a unique destination. Mainz is best enjoyed on foot …
The monastic settlement of the Glendalough Valley in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains is one of the most beautiful and haunting places in Ireland. And, it’s a bit surprising that this isolated area is not far from Dublin, one of Europe’s busiest metropolises. The untouched wilderness of the Glendalough Valley, with its ancient stone buildings, down to earth …
Before I moved to England, I was given the following warning from an expat: ‘don’t drink English coffee, we only know how to make tea’. Fortunately, I didn’t heed his advice and have discovered that the land of tea is also very good at making coffee. The following is a selection of personal favorites gathered …
Dunluce Castle was an accidental destination on my travels to Northern Ireland. I was on my way into Portstewart, County Antrim when I caught sight of this magnificent ruin shimmering in the last glow of sunlight. While I might have stumbled upon it, I highly recommend you put it on your list of places to visit …
Northern Ireland is undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful places. Blessed with a stunning coastline and a culture continually voted one of ‘the world’s friendliest’, this small country (of only 6 counties) should be on the must-visit list of every traveler who longs to experience genuine hospitality and a more relaxed way of life. Northern …