Notre Dame: A Picture Walk from 2017
~ By Sarah Levesque When I got the news that Notre Dame was burning, I was at work. All my coworkers and I were aghast that such a treasure was burning. Thankfully, we soon got…
Tag: Travel
The Hajj: My Reflections and Revelations
It’s been eleven long, interminable years since I traversed land and sea, crossed oceans and sand dunes, and embarked upon the most sacred journey a Muslim can possibly make: the Hajj (pilgrimage to…
Edinburgh and the Stately Palace of Holyroodhouse
Of all of Britain’s cities, perhaps Edinburgh has the most picturesque views – from Calton Hill to Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat. Any of those places presents an opportunity to take in panoramic vistas, so…
Titanic Quarter: Belfast and the Exhibition of its Most Famous Legacy
If London was the first UK city I had known about, then Belfast was the second one thanks to its connection to the RMS Titanic, which has been a long-time interest of mine and remains…
Solo Flight: Finding Inspiration in the Airport
It was my first solo flight. I’d made it through customs with only two near panic attacks and had now for two solid hours clung to both my backpack and my plane ticket like either…
Why I Avoid Sorcery in My Fantasy Novels
Magic. Sorcery. Wizards. They seem to be pretty essential components to any fantasy or whimsical story. And as a reader—and author—of fantasy novels, I’ve definitely discovered my fair share of magicians and sorcerers. However, in…
When in Rome: A Pilgrim's Experiences in the City of St. Peter
I had the pleasure and the joy of traveling to Rome in May and the beginning of June 2013. It is not at all easy to describe the power that such an experience contains for…
Walking the Green Path: An Herbalist Discovers Her Calling in Assisi
I never set out to be an herbalist. As a graduate student I was offered a scholarship to study art history in Rome. My plan was to explore Neoplatonism as it was expressed in Renaissance…
The Great Cabin: An Adventure on Board HMS Victory
In 2013, I had a very special and ever-memorable adventure on board the historic HMS Victory. But before telling my story, I’d like give a little background as to how I came to be a…
Portsmouth vs. Plymouth: A Traveler’s Comparison
Well, here, we have it: my comparison of the two big naval bases in Britain: Portsmouth, also known affectionately as Pompey, and Plymouth, nicknamed ‘Guzz’ (and I don’t think anyone is exactly sure why!). I’ve…