Durham is a picturesque city in the north west of England full of beautiful bridges that span the River Wear. No trip to Durham, England is complete without a visit to it’s spectacular cathedral. Durham Cathedral was built in 1093 to host St. Cuthbert’s shrine. It was home to a community of Benedictine monks and… Continue reading Walk in Harry Potter’s Footsteps at Durham Cathedral

Looking for some where cool to go in Italy? I mean really cool? Head to Matera! It’s a bit off the beaten path compared to the most popular of Italian destinations, but it is worth the extra effort. In a previous post, I talked about spending a few days in trulli houses on Italy’s heel… Continue reading Explore the Ancient Cave City of Matera, Italy

Only an hour from Toyko, Kamakura, Japan is a coastal city, small in size, but big in history, culture and charm. It’s history as a former capital of Japan (1192-1333) was coincided with the spread of Buddhism and the establishment of Kamakura as a town of temples. In the 19th century, the area became known… Continue reading Kamakura, Japan: A Day at Hase-dera Temple

] “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, when Europe’s Christmas markets open for the season. Edinburgh’s market opened on November 19 and runs until  January 7, 2017. The market begins just past Waverly Station and stretches past Princes Street Gardens. Here are some highlights that will delight both the truly young, and the… Continue reading Edinburgh’s Christmas Market 2016

France is intimidating to me, especially Paris. Everything seems so…. well, French. The best food, the best wine, the best fashion, the best art. When we were stationed in Italy, we decided to spend a long spring weekend in Nice, France. I figured it would be the epitome of “fancy” since it was the French… Continue reading What To Do if You Only Have a Few Days in Nice, France

I have a slight obsession with charity shops. They are called charity shops here in the UK, thrift stores in the US and recycle shops in Japan. The ones in the UK and US specifically benefit a charity, while recycle shops in Japan are private and for profit, but they all sell used items. The… Continue reading Edinburgh Charity Shops by Neighborhood: STOCKBRIDGE

Only an hour and 45 minute train ride from Edinburgh, Pitlochry is a great jumping off point for a visit to the Scottish Highlands. The town is known for its hill walking, natural beauty and well preserved Victorian stone buildings. Its popularity increased after a visit by Queen Victoria in 1842 when she expressed her… Continue reading 6 Things to do in Pitlochry, Scotland

Istanbul, Turkey – a city of 14 million people that bridges two continents, Asia and Europe, and therefore has attributes of both. While living Italy we went there for a few days when Sam was just three months old. It was our first trip outside of Italy after his birth. Yes, we visited Hagia Sophia,… Continue reading Don’t Miss Out on Istanbul’s Street Scene

Tomorrow is November 11th, in the US that is Veterans Day and here in the UK it is Remembrance Day and Armistice Day. While in the US Veterans Day honors those who have served in the armed forces, Remembrance Day in the UK remembers those who have died in the line of duty, more like… Continue reading Observing Holidays Overseas

I never met a salvage yard I didn’t like, so I was shocked to find out from my friend and upcycling furniture painter extraordinaire, Roz from Whimsical Furnishings, that there was a salvage yard in Edinburgh I did not know about. I took a trip out to Holyrood Architectural Salvage yesterday. They are the largest… Continue reading Treasure Hunting at Edinburgh’s Holyrood Salvage Yard