York

York is a small northern English city with over 2,000 years of history, offering a treasure-trove of medieval wealth from Roman and Viking ages. The Romans knew it as Eboracum and the Saxons called it Eoforwick. The Vikings who came as invaders, stayed in settlements and called it Jorvik. Markets reside in the same squares and stalls they have occupied for hundreds of years, selling the latest goods. Streets and lanes are scattered with black and white half-timbered buildings (the Shambles). 



The York Wall

York Minster

Consecrated in 1472, this beautiful building took 250 years to build and contains England’s greatest concentration of medieval stained glass including the great east window which, at 2002 square feet, is thought to be the largest area of stained glass in the world.

Clifford's Tower

The Lake District

The Lake District is a popular holiday destination in a mountainous region of North West England. It is renowned for its lakes, jagged mountains, waterfalls, wooded valleys, stone-built villages and its association with the early 19th century poetry and writing of William Wordsworth.

The Charming Village of Grasmere, Located in Cumbria, England

Melrose Abbey

Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks. The east end of the abbey was completed in 1146. Other buildings in the complex were added over the next 50 years. The abbey was built in the form of a St. John's cross. A considerable portion of the abbey is now in ruins.

Alexander II and other Scottish kings and nobles are buried at the abbey. The heart of Robert the Bruce is also said to rest on the abbey's grounds, while the rest of his body is buried in Dunfermline Abbey. In 1812, a stone coffin that some speculated was that of Michael Scot the philosopher and "wizard", was found in an aisle in the abbey's south chancel.

 

The Village of Melrose

King Arthur is Rumored to be Buried in the Hills Overlooking the Town

 

Edinburgh's Medieval Castle

Edinburgh Castle is situated on Castle Rock in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Castle Rock formed after a volcano erupted over 340 million years ago. The first castle that existed on the rock was known as “The Castle of the Maidens”. According to legend, the castle had been a shrine to the “Nine Maidens”, one of whom was Morgan le Fay.

 

Castle Rock had been a military base and royal residence for centuries. However, the edifice that is known as Edinburgh Castle was built during the 12th century by David I, son of Saint Margaret of Scotland.

Great Hall- Coats of Armor and Pikes

St. Margaret's Chapel

Irish Bridges, Castles and More!

Dozens of ancient castles and ruins are sprinkled across Ireland’s lush, green countryside in various states of ruin.  http://www.pinterest.com/shilio1/irish-ruins-and-castles/



Celtic Cross Origins

One popular legend has it that St. Patrick introduced the cross intending to convert pagan heathens to Christianity. At a time when church leaders thought it would be easier to convert pagans from their beliefs to Christian beliefs if they used symbols that they were already familiar with. 

 

It’s believed by some that the four arms of the cross represents the four elements, earth, air, fire and water.  They also represent the four directions of the compass, North, South, East and West.  And finally the four parts of man, mind, soul, heart and body.  The horizontal line of the cross symbolizes earth and the vertical portion symbolizes heaven.

Some believe that the ring on the Celtic cross represents the Roman sun-god, Invictus, therefore the sun. Others interpret it as the moon.  Catholics and Protestants say this ring represents eternity and emphasizes unending love as shown by the sacrifice on the cross.  Or, that it might represent the halo.  From a practical point of view it it’s said that the ring, or circle was a solution to keep the early stone crosses from breaking.

The Samuel Beckett "Harp" Bridge in Dublin

The bridge is inspired by traditional Irish harp. The harp is a true symbol of Ireland in its design so the cables are reminiscent of the strings and so the bridge is a mixture of symbolism and modernity. Calatrava Bridge was named for Samuel Beckett, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969.

Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry in the southwest of Ireland is one of our most scenic routes located in some of the most beautiful, unspoiled natural environments in Ireland. It is one of Ireland's best-known and most scenic circuits, skirting the edge of the Iveragh Peninsula – the middle and largest of three fingers of land reaching out into the Atlantic on the island's south-west extremity. Roughly 120-miles of scenic beauty, encountering some of Ireland's finest landscapes, a breathtaking mosaic of rugged, storm-bashed coast, steep mountains, velvety green fields, historic sites, slate-colored glacial lakes and welcoming towns and villages.

Iveragh Peninsula

Country Perfect for Grazing Sheep