The Roman Emperor Hadrian is best known for building Hadrian’s Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. He also rebuilt the Parthenon and constructed the Temple of Venus in Rome. In addition to these contributions to Rome, Hadrian built several important structures in the city of Athens. Hadrian was an ardent philhellene and lived for […]
A Rainy Day on the Salisbury Plain
The rain was pouring down, the wind blustering so hard it kept blowing my umbrella inside-out, but even in the stormy weather, the ancient Stone Circles of Avebury was an amazing sight. Perhaps the misty aura around the site made it even more mystical. I had waited years to see this place and I wasn’t […]
Celebrating a Greek Easter: Candles and Fireworks
Greece is beautiful in any season, but one of the most special times to visit is during the Greek Easter. Greece follows the Julian calendar, so Easter is calculated differently than “Western Easter”, which is calculated on the Gregorian calendar. And if you go, one of the best places to celebrate is on the island of […]
Tinos, Mykonos and Delos: the Divine and the Decadent Islands of Greece
Only a few nautical miles separate them, but the islands of Tinos, Mykonos and Delos in the Greek Cyclades group are as diverse as the Elysian Fields and the Underworld: The Divine and the Decadent. Tinos is ascetic: a holy island, famed for one of the most important shrines of the Orthodox Church. Mikonos […]
Tracing Britain’s History Through its Cathedrals
You don’t have to be a religious person to appreciate the majesty of Britain’s many cathedrals. All of them are significant in British history and each contains historical relics such as the tombs of kings and statesmen. Westminster Abbey A trip to London wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Westminster Abbey. This magnificent Gothic […]
Adventure in Marrakech, the Exotic Red-Rose City of Morocco
Marrakech is known as ‘the red rose city’ because of its pink-tinged buildings and the rose hue that envelopes the city. The city nestles like a rose-quartz gemstone near the foothills of the snow-capped High Atlas Mountain. Outside the city walls, the rock-strewn fields turn into a desert with little vegetation except for patches of […]
Hampton Court Palace: Looking for Henry VIII
It was an invitation to attend a royal wedding that caught my eye — a re-enactment of the marriage of Katherine Parr to Henry VIII, at Hampton Court Palace. How could I resist? And just to keep it all authentic, I opted to take the Thames cruise from the London docks up the Thames River to […]
Trekking in Morocco
My Moroccan trekking adventure began from the beautiful city of Marrakech near the foothills of the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains. I was with a group of trekkers from England: Ramblers Holidays. The Ourika Valley Our first trekking destination was the Ourika Valley in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. It was November, and the […]
Venice, Italy: Mistress of the Seas
Venice, Italy: Mistress of the Seas They Called Her Serenissima, “The Most Serene Republic of Venice.” Once her navy was the mistress of the seas, and for centuries she has been the romantic inspiration of artists, poets and lovers. Venice casts a spell on you. She has an allure that stays with you long after you […]
Greek Carnival: Apokreas – A Hint of Ancient Dionysian Revels
If you’re sightseeing in the middle of Athens before Lent and you’re suddenly descended upon by a roving gang of young men wielding plastic bats, don’t be alarmed. They hit people over the head, but the head-bonking is part of the playful merriment that is Apokreas – Carnival. Since ancient times, the Greeks have […]