United States Virgin Islands (USVI)

The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of four islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island [Water Island was purchased by the U.S. on June 19, 1944 for $10,000 to protect the submarine base on Saint Thomas during World War II]. The three islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John) are about 135 square miles and have a population of less than a quarter of a million people. The islands were purchased from Denmark on January 17, 1917 for $25 million in gold because the United States government feared Germany would attack the islands, establishing a  submarine base there during WWI.

If there was a steady breeze, cane was brought to the windmill. Revolving sails turned a central shaft, rotating the rollers and crushing the stalks. Juice ran down the rollers into the gutter, flowing downhill to the factory. The windmill was built around 1797.          

Magens Bay

London

           Windsor Castle

The Royal Guard

 

One of the largest and the most commercially successful cities in the world, London is also regarded as the financial heart of the United Kingdom. The city was established in 43 AD and is actually a combining of two ancient cities: the City of Westminster and the City of London. London, capital of United Kingdom, is an exhilarating fusion of unyielding tradition and free-spirited avant-garde. With spellbinding attractions like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge and London Eye, visiting this city is a fun-filled adventure!

Fun & Interesting Facts About London

•  London is the most densely populated area in Britain and is the ninth largest city in the world. 

• During the time of the Roman Invasion, London was know as Londinium. In Saxon times, it was know as Lundenwic and during the kingdom of Alfred the Great, its name was changed to Lundenburg.

• Contrary to what many people believe, Big Ben is not the name of the clock tower, but a 13-ton bell   inside the clock. The tower is known as St. Stephen's Tower.

• The City of London is home to four World Heritage Sites: the Palace of Westminster, (Houses of Parliament), the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich and Kew Botanical gardens. 

• The Thames River is the longest river in England. Starting out as a trickle in a Gloucestershire meadow, flowing for more than 135 miles before reaching London.

• The  London Eye or Millennium Wheel of the city is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.

• Wilton's Music Hall is the world's oldest surviving musical hall and was built in 1743.

• The London Underground or "Tube" was built in 1863 and is the oldest underground transit system. 

• Canary Wharf Tower is the tallest building in London. 

• London is one of three command centers for the world economy and is the sixth largest city economy after Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Paris.

• Buckingham Palace, the Queen's official residence built in 1702, was built on a infamous brothel.

• The Great Fire of London in 1666 create widespread devastation, causing major reconstruction work across the city. 

• London is a multi-ethnic city and domiciles people speaking over 300 languages.       

• Windsor Castle of London is the largest and oldest castle in the world that is still in use.

Buckingham Palace

Tower of London

Tower Bridge is the name of a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London. It has been constructed over River Thames and is sited near the Tower of London, from which it got its name. Tower Bridge comprises of two towers, with two horizontal walkways tying it at the upper level. Completed in 1894, the bridge was believed to be one of the greatest engineering marvels of its age.

                          Westminster Abbey

Wellington Arch

Oxford

The University of Oxford located in the city of Oxford is the oldest surviving university in the English-speaking world and is regarded as one of the world's leading academic institutions. The University does not have a clear date of inception. Teaching at Oxford is believed to existed in some form in 1096. There are 38 colleges at the University of Oxford and 6 Permanent Private Halls, each with its own internal structure and activities. All resident students, and most academic staff, must be members both of a college or hall, and of the university. A few famous people who studied at Oxford include: Margaret Thatcher, Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and Bill Clinton.

Radcliffe Camera (Library)

A Pub & Meeting Place of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

Galway

Galway is a city in Ireland located in the West Region and the province of Connacht. The buildings are brightly colored and it is the most central port on the West Coast of Ireland. Galway's Irish name, Gaillimh, originates from the Irish word gaill, meaning 'outsiders' or 'foreigners'. The city started out as a tiny fishing village at the mouth of the River Corrib and grew into an important town when the Anglo- Normans, under Richard de Burgo, captured territory from the local O'Flahertys in 1232. Its fortified walls were built from around 1270. 14 merchant families or tribes controlled the city from political, commercial and social life. These powerful, mostly English or Norman families clashed frequently with the leading Irish families of Connemara.

Dunguaire Castle

Peat Harvesting

Beautiful Galway Bay

Coventry

Coventry is a large city in the West Midlands region of England. In medieval times, the city thrived largely due to the textile and weaving trade. At the start of the Second World War, the city reestablished itself in the industry of metal-working, manufacturing automobiles, bicycles and airplane engines. Coventry was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe during World War II and much of the city was destroyed. Today Coventry is both an industrial center and a cathedral city.

Cathedral Ruins of St. Michael

Lady Godiva was an 11th century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry in an attempt to persuade her husband to lower the taxes that were crippling the poor citizens of Coventry.

Coventry Clock Tower 

The legend of peeping Tom is that of a tailor named Tom who dared to view the noblewoman Lady Godiva's ride. Lady Godiva had instructed the townsfolk to stay indoors during her ride, everyone did except Tom who not resist peeking at her, hence the term "Peeping Tom."