October 9, 2018 You know you are in for an adventure when the guide to the house meets you at the road and tells you how you are about to see the ugliest house in Ireland. It has more to do with a penny-pinching rich man and an excellent architect not agreeing on a budget. … Read more
October 8, 2018 Armagh is the site of two cathedrals, both on hills and both named after Saint Patrick. Considered the spiritual Capital of Ireland for 1500 years it is the seat of both Church of Ireland and Catholic archbishops. The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Patrick, (Church of Ireland) sits on the hill in the … Read more
October 18, 2016 In 1620, during the Venetian rule in Crete, the constant threat of the Ottoman Turks led the Venetians to fortify Chania with Firka Fortress at the harbor. It was originally built with 319 cannons, 30,695 cannonballs and 414 pounds of gunpowder. Firka means barracks in Turkish. It is possible to still see the … Read more
This is El Cobre, a church with a colorful history and a stunning interior. Built in 1926, El Cobre lies about 12 miles outside of Santiago de Cuba. A focus of intese popular devotion—not just for Catholics but also for followers of Santería and even those who aren’t otherwise religious—the beloved Virgin of Charity was declared … Read more