Go Know!

Hello, Dolly!

Edinburgh, Scotland We ended our day at the National Museum of Scotland, greeting the world’s most famous sheep. Dolly was the world’s first cloned mammal, born in Edinburgh and proudly preserved here.

A rather unholy day

Edinburgh, Scotland We started out with great ambitions today, booked on a tour that would take us to the Holy Island, Lindisfarne. The priory on this island was a prime target of the Viking raiders, who thought those monks had a great gift shop. It was going to be a long day, but we were very eager to see this famous place, where Saint Aidan founded his monastery in 635AD.

Every stone tells a story

Edinburgh, Scotland Today we walked the Royal Mile, the ridge where people have lived before recorded history. At its top was the perfect place to place a castle, and to start our walk. We have toured the castle previously, and have also been here on the esplanade when the Military Tattoo was gloriously paraded.

Feels like home

Edinburgh, Scotland We took the train north to Edinburgh today, and it felt nice to be back in a place with so many memories.

Back in the time machine

Beamish, outside of Newcastle, England If you ever wondered what life was like in 19th and early 20th century northeast England, Beamish is the place to visit. This 300-acre open air museum is rated England’s best.

The end of the Empire

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England We took a small jaunt today to visit one site of Hadrian’s Wall. This defensive fortification, begun in about 122AD, stretched 73 miles across the narrowest part of northern England, and the northernmost part of the Roman Empire.

Exploring the ‘hood

Grantham, England Grantham has a special place in the hearts of many Britons, specifically those who were fans of Margaret Thatcher. She was born here, where her father owned a corner grocery store, and despite her humble beginnings, rose to lead her country. This is a photo of that grocery store today, housing a chiropractor/beauty treatment establishment.

Visiting the neighbors

Near Grantham, England Today we went to visit the home of the gentry at Belton, sometimes called the ‘perfect’ English country house estate. It was built in the late 17th century by Sir John Brownlow and was home to the same family for nearly 300 years. Each generation made their mark on Belton, commissioning the finest designers and craftsmen of their age.

Not your ordinary apple tree

Environs of Grantham, England This morning we traveled to Woolsthorpe Manor, outside of Grantham in Lincolnshire. This was a pilgrimage to the home of Sir Isaac Newton, born here in 1643.

Living Large

Stamford, England We left York this morning via what had been the world’s largest train station when it opened in 1877. Now it’s merely a very nice very large station, with elevators, which we appreciated.