Rosslyn Chapel

Prior to the worldwide success of Dan Brown's bestseller The Da Vinci Code fewer than 20,000 people a year visited Rosslyn Chapel. Since then, the average has skyrocketed to more than 120,000 per year which is a good thing for both Scotland tourism and the Earl of Rosslyn. The additional revenue earned from entrance fees allows the St. Clair family (who have owned the chapel since 1446) to preserve it for future generations. The newer entrance includes a gift shop and tea room and is a nice juxtaposition with the much older chapel to the right.

Edinburgh Castle

This was our second visit to Edinburgh Castle, but the first was decades ago and while the exterior obviously hasn't changed, the interior and even the exhibits certainly have. Walking to the castle from our flat on Lothian Road we took Bread Street to Spittal and then onto Johnston Terrace. It's an uphill climb as you can well imagine given the castle built on a rock is the highest point in the city.

A Sense (Or Five) of Edinburgh

Our first full day in Edinburgh began with a brisk morning walk north along Lothian Road to a home on Glenfinlass Street as the couple who own our one-bedroom holiday flat invited us over for coffee. Besides welcoming us into their lovely home, providing cappuccino, lemon cake, chocolate ladyfingers and great conversation, they also shared insider travel tips on what to see and do in the city they're proud to call home. 

Glenfinlass Street

The UK From South to North

Travel by train in the UK is easy, affordable and best of all, stress free. We literally walked across Euston Street from our Airbnb flat to the Kings Cross station and bordered the East Coast passenger train to take us to Edinburgh's Waverley Station. It seemed mere minutes before we'd left the hustling and bustling city of London behind for peaceful, serene farmland.

A Wonderful Weekend in London, England

This visit to London IS different for so many reasons. Our age, temperament, interests, and even our stamina dictates what we'll see and do - as well as how we'll accomplish those items on our to-do list. The lovely thing about this visit is there is no need to rush, and while I tend to be a planner I've only decided on where we're staying and how we get there and have left the rest to serendipity.

Danvers, MA - The Real Salem

Salem, MA has long been associated with witches due to the infamous 1692 witch trials. In October 2013 we did the unthinkable and asked our daughter to take us to Salem on the final Sunday before Hallowe'en. We've since learned locals avoid Salem during October because of the throngs of people who descend upon the area (often donning witches hats and carrying brooms) determined to tour the Witch House, Wax Museum and other scary establishments. Nonetheless touristy Salem is a fun place to visit as it has everything 'witchy'...including Samantha Stephens of television fame!

Alexandria

It's never about the destination, but the journey itself and because we'd heard good things about Alexandria, a small community of approximately 3000 people in North Glengarry township just south of Ottawa, we decided to stop by for a quick looksee when we found ourselves in the vicinity. Settled by Scottish emigrants in 1792, the tall grey building in the middle of town is called the Priest's Mill.