Turning tragedy into timeless romance.
While Craigievar Castle is reputed to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle, this haunted pinkish monstrosity is the furthest thing from fairy tales. Located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, this castle hosts some interesting ghosts, particularly a fiddler and a naked man.
Coined by Richard Lassels (1603-1668), a Catholic priest and travel writer, the term “Grand Tour” was applied to sons from wealthy English families that embarked on travels abroad to Europe. The height of the Grand Tour’s popularity was in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Mary Seacole was a nurse, hotelier, and traveler. She traveled across the globe learning nursing techniques, aiding soldiers and patients, and assisted during the Crimean War, even after the British government turned her away. This is the story of Mary Seacole, known to those she helped as "Mother Seacole."
Lady Hester Stanhope was an all-around badass. She was an adventurer and archaeologist in an age when women were restricted to the domestic sphere. She helped form the field of archaeology while changing opinions on women's roles.
My final day in Ireland was one of sadness. I would be leaving the airport early the next morning, and I was not yet ready to leave this country of emerald green fields. It was as if I had just arrived. I was starting to get into the groove of the cities without skyscrapers. I... Continue Reading →
Ireland sure had a watery adventure in store for me on my 6th day in the country, but this didn't come until the afternoon. And honestly, I had no idea how much of a thrilling adventure awaited me, nor how much my calf muscles would be worked. I thought it was going to be another... Continue Reading →
This was when I really started to have the most fun in Ireland and in the days to follow. I woke up in beautiful Cork City, and it finally dawned on me how amazing it was I was in this country. I walked around the small city, going into some of the small pharmacies and... Continue Reading →
My travels brought me to a few obscure places on my fourth day in Ireland. I visited a handful of interesting places, filling my day with marvelous sights along the coast. I first visited Charles Fort, which is a star fort on the watery edge of Summer Cove in Kinsale. Charles Fort was built in... Continue Reading →
Day #3 in Ireland really spurred my excitement. I'd been on Irish soil for two days, and I had already seen so much. I had visited Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, the James Joyce Tower, and the eerie site of Glendalough (which had my imagination spinning with possibilities for stories). But one... Continue Reading →
Please read about my first day in Ireland if you'd like to keep with chronological order! My second day started with jet lag hangover. I stumbled about my hotel room finding my clothes and shoes for the day. Although, all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed. I mean, the blankets in my... Continue Reading →