Temple of Literature, Hanoi, Vietnam
The Egyptian Temple of Dendur in the Met
The ONLY ancient Egyptian temple in the U.S. 2,000 Years Ago: The temple was built by the Roman emperor Augustus when Egypt was ruled by the Roman Empire. 1965: Egyptian Government gifted it to the U.S., took it apart in Egypt, packed it into 660 crates, transported to NYC by ship, and put back together... Continue Reading →
The Immigrant History of the NYC Neighborhood Behind ‘In the Heights’
The film adaptation of Lin- Manuel Miranda's “In the Heights” draws on the real history of Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhoodknown colloquially as “Little Dominican Republic,” comes alive on stage and on screen, imbuing every scene with an unmistakable, pulsating presence Situated between 155th Street and 195th Street The neighborhood’s story is one of hardship, prosperity... Continue Reading →
Why is it called “The Bronx” instead of just “Bronx”?
‣ 1639: A Swedish sea captain named Jonas Bronck sailed from the Netherlands with his wife, some domestic servants, and a number of other emigrants to New Amsterdam—still 25 years away from being rechristened “New York” ‣ Upon Bronck’s arrival, the Dutch West India Company granted him about 500 acres of land that had belonged... Continue Reading →
NEW: American Pop Culture Exhibition at Smithsonian American History Museum
January, 2023: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History brings television, film, music and sports together in one enthralling space with its big new permanent exhibition, “Entertainment Nation.” After Gloria Estefan met Emilio Estefan (above: costume worn by Gloria and Emilio's drum) through her work with the local Cuban-Americanquartet Miami Latin Boys, Miami Sound Machine... Continue Reading →
“Domino Sugar” sign returns to Williamsburg, Brooklyn
A replica of the 40-foot Domino Sugar sign was installed and fully illuminated this week atop Williamsburg’s Domino Sugar Refinery building, which was part of a massive sugar factory that operated from the 1880s to the early 2000s. All photos by Wes Tarca THE SIGN: It is not neon like the original one, but instead... Continue Reading →
Silver Line to IAD (Dulles) is OPEN!
Stop spending $55 on Ubers or switching from the Metro at Rosslyn to a city bus, or the Washington Flyer from Reston Station… ditch all of that! How long will it take from DCA? 62 minutes How long will it take from the Smithsonian? 58 minutes What will it cost to ride? Like the rest... Continue Reading →
Cairns, Standing Stones & Finding a way back to Jaimie.
By: Liz Stuckey August 25, 2022
💕 Glencoe (sadly, leaving), Kilchurn Castle & Carnasserie Castle, Scotland
Glencoe Mountains just before it started pouring Glencoe Mountain Range Pass About 10 miles outside of Glencoe Kilchurn Castle (behind the sheep) Carnasserie Castle
Dunvegan Castle (The Isle of Skye), Caledonian Canal, and GLENCOE! ❤️Scotland
Dunvegan Castle, on the western shore of Isle of Skye. Inner Hebrides. Caledonian Canal Glencoe Mountain Range Glencoe Mountain Pass
Oban, Eileen Donnan Castle & the Isle of Skye, Scotland
My home for the night. A beautiful Caravan site right on the coast From the inside of my warm and dry car I made a valiant attempt to cross this inlet to the island To find the lighthouse on the far side - but never made it. I blame the tide coming in and not... Continue Reading →
Stonefield Castle, Skipness Castle & Tarbert, Scotland
Stonefield Castle (Hotel) Tarbert Harbor Tarbert’s Healing Garden Skipness Castle Climbing onto this roof was… interesting.
Inveraray Castle & Gorgeous Rest Area, Scotland
“Rest and Be Thankful” Viewpoint Invarary Castle Inveraray Castle has been standing on the shores of Loch Fyne since the 1400s, although the impressive castle we know today was inspired by a sketch by Vanbrugh, the architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard in the 1700s. Vanbrugh died soon afterwards, but the great architect's gem... Continue Reading →
Balloch Castle and park, Luss Village
Balloch Castle- a county park now Park’s view of Loch Lomond Sassenach Coffee in Luss Village Luss Village Around 1,500 years ago, an Irish missionary, St Kessog, arrived at Loch Lomond, bringing Christianity to the area. At the time Luss was called Clachan Dhu (the dark village) because it lay in the shadow of the... Continue Reading →
Dunblane Cathedral & Village
The church is dedicated to the 6th century saint, St. Blane and this gives its name to the settlement: dunblane meaning hill of St Blane. The church also had an altar to St. Lawrence. The oldest surviving part of the church is the lower four storeys of the tower which date from around 1100AD. The... Continue Reading →
Crief Highland Gathering & Drummond Castle Gardens, Scotland
OK there was absolutely no way that I was only going to visit one highland games. Today was my second Highland Games in Crief. It's said the Highland Games originate from Ireland in 2000 BC and that they crossed the water to Scotland with the fourth and fifth century migrations of the Scotti into Dalriada... Continue Reading →
Stirling Highland Games, Wallace Memorial, Allowa Castle & the Falkirk Wheel, Scotland
Today was the reason I flew all the way over here to Scotland. Seeing the Highland games has been on my bucket list for 20 years. ✔️ Toss that caber! William Wallace’s gravesite (allegedly). It points to where he was killed King James III. Killed in a battle. Or murdered? Mystery. William Wallace national monument... Continue Reading →
Glamis Castle, Scotland
Glamis Castle has been the ancestral seat of the Lyon family since 1372 when King Robert II granted the thanage of Glamis to Sir John Lyon. Four years later Sir John married the King’s daughter, Princess Johanna Stewart. Four years later Sir John married the King’s daughter, Princess Johanna Stewart. In the 1400s on the... Continue Reading →
Stonehaven Harbor & House of Dun, Scotland
Coffee stop in Stonehaven Harbor Entrance for the staff (the nicest, I think) Rear garden Death carriage Side garden Front entrance Tub, for a very small person. I would need crisco.
Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, Scotland
440 Million years ago, this 3-sided, 160 foot rock, surrounded by the North Sea, was formed. 5000 BC - 700 AD: Evidence of Picts living on the sea stack of Dunnicaer, just north of where the Castle is situated today, has been found by archaeologists from the University of Aberdeen. Carbon dating shows this to... Continue Reading →
On the Road in 2025 