Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

Palace Grounds We reached Windsor Castle early Sunday morning, just before the it opened. Although it is a private home for the Queen and her family, many parts of the castle and its grounds are open for viewing and are managed by the Royal Trust. As our tour guide...
A Taste of Scotland

A Taste of Scotland

Kelso We had called ahead to reserve one of the last rooms available at Cross Keys Hotel in Kelso. When we arrived, we were surprised to see a large, impressive building dating from 1769.  Even before then, since the earliest days of the Scottish coaching inns, there...
The North

The North

As we left Aldeburgh and continued toward the town where the next day we’d be meeting friends, we began seeing highway signs saying, “The North.” It reminded us of the doomsday references in Game of Thrones. In the U.S., the only time you’d refer to “the North” is if...
In Search of Family History

In Search of Family History

Like many Canadian families, my mother’s family has its roots in Scotland, via England. Although I don’t know where my antecedents lived beyond my grandparents, I had a couple of places I very much wanted to see. Sitting at the right-hand wheel of our rental car...
London

London

I was sure I’d fall in love with London. We saw it first from the sky. Our plane flew over it just as the sun was coming up. Below us the Thames bisected the city and the iconic landmarks were easily recognizable. My mum lived in London as a young woman before the...