Sep 17, 2010

Brett and I joke with each other that our 20 week European Adventure was ‘epic’ – and on all accounts, it really was. It totaled 140 days of travel. We weren’t on the go continuously (thank goodness!) and we didn’t see every inch of the land or site at each location either. But, we definitely tested my packing and organization...

Jul 12, 2010

I don’t feel like my teachers did a very thorough job in explaining the British Isles. Although, the two large islands – Great Britain and Ireland (plus hundreds of small islands) – are only a short distance from mainland Europe, they are so insulated from it and so intertwined amongst themselves – that mainland Europe may as well be...

Jun 22, 2010

For those of you who don’t know, Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom. It occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain (plus 790 small islands), making it the 117th largest country in the world. With over 5.1 million people, Scotland would be the 112th largest country by population if it were a sovereign state. The largest city in...

Jun 19, 2010

Edinburgh Castle rests on top of a dormant volcano, and human settlements were present here as far back as the 9th century BC. With sheer cliffs on the north and south and a steep ascent from the west, the location of the castle was ideal. The castle can be divided into three distinct areas: the lower ward, middle ward and upper ward. The lower ward is the...

Jun 18, 2010

Edinburgh’s Royal Mile begins at the Edinburgh Castle and stretches for a little over a mile before ending at the Holyrood Palace. Over the course of its journey, the Royal Mile is comprised of six streets: Castle Esplanade, Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate, and Abbey Strand. Part of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, this street figures...