National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington DC
The genesis of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC - if that is the right word to use here - is 1847 when Pope Pius IX named the Virgin Mary as patroness of the United States, under her title of Immaculate Conception. In...
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Why a child in rural Perthshire should know the song “John Brown’s body lies a mouldering in the grave” is a mystery, but this civil war song was quite known to me, although at the time I had no idea who John Brown was. I thought of this when I went to Harpers Ferry...
Lincoln’s Cottage
In the spirit of continuing to discover Washington, we visited Lincoln’s Cottage which is located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in the Upper North-west quadrant of the city. Lincoln was not the only president to stay here in the summer months, but...
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Last weekend, we set out for Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, which is located in the district close to the border with Maryland. I doubt we’d have heard of it if we hadn’t received a little book called Secret Washington DC, as a gift. And it is a secret, because...
Richmond & Appomattox
Richmond, VA The day dawned suffocatingly hot and humid again. The intent had been to wander round Belle Isle and the James River Park Pipeline Walkway, but after wandering round Belle Isle for a bit I was already undone and had to take a break and sit on the rocks...
The capital of the kakistocracy to the capital of the confederacy
Richmond, Virginia Not wishing to be in the capital of the kakistocracy on the 4th of July, J and I repaired to the capital of the confederacy. I am not especially a fan of the 4th of July to begin with; as far as I’m concerned when you’ve seen one set of fireworks...
NC500: Dornoch to Inverness
As you drive south on the A99 from Latheron, lush green pastureland extends to the edge of craggy cliffs that drop sharply into the sea. By the time you get to Brora and Dornoch, the cliffs have given way to great curves of sandy beaches. Along this stretch of...
NC500; Headland of the Cats
The trees around Forss house are speckled with crows' nests and as we set off down the gravel path towards the car, we noted the sociable and very smart birds cawing and wheeling above the trees. Seconds later things of a more uncharitable nature were observed about...
NC500; Durness to Forss House
In the Highlands and Islands, unpronounceable place names of many consonants are usually Gaelic. Other names reflect the Viking heritage of the region, not least the county of Sutherland itself which just means 'southland' in Old Norse. Other names are Pictish which...
NC500: Handa Island & Loch Assynt
The zodiac boat to Handa Island runs from Tarbet, which is about a 10 minute drive north of Scourie - which we determined is properly pronounced Scowree and not Scoorie. In season the boat runs frequently, but off-season it runs on the hour, every hour, and naturally...