May 27, 2025 Doune Castle and Dunblane Cathedral Doune Castle and Dunblane Cathedral were two big destinations today that were only a short drive from Stirling. Let's start with Doune Castle. What do Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Outlander have in common? They were both filmed, at least some portions, at Doune Castle. We weren't aware of this fact before we arrived, but it was a little bonus to our adventure. Approaching Doune Castle. The courtyard (or bailey) of the castle looking one direction. Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany had plans to add to this wall, hence the windows, but died before his project was complete. The bailey of the castle looking the other direction. Let's go inside starting with the kitchen. The kitchen with arched pass through windows on the left where food would be taken upstairs to the Great Hall. Clare and Paul standing in the enormous oven! We went up these stairs and they felt like one way stairs to me! So narr...
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March 11, 2025 The city of San Gimignano stands on the site of a small Etruscan settlement dating from the Hellenistic period 3rd-2nd century B.C. It's history begins around the 10th century. We started in the center plaza. This is another walled city and our first major attraction was the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta consecrated in 1148. The main altar. I will tell you who is under the "table cloth" in front later in this post. The amazing thing about this church was the amount of frescos! Remember, this is 1148 and the population is essentially illiterate. If you followed the flow of frescos it was salvation history from Genesis to the Resurrection of Christ and His Ascension into heaven. There are three layers of frescos. Here's how the timeline works. First, you follow the top pictures around the church, then the second row, and finally the third row. Here are three examples. Top: The Annunciation, Middle: Palm Sunday, Bottom: Judas receiving 3...
May 29, 2025 Goodbye Europe! Time to go home. Our last day in Europe was met with mixed feelings from all of us. It's the kind of experience that at the same time felt long and over too quickly. It's similar to the "post Christmas blues". You look forward to something for a long time, put in the work to make it happen, the event goes quickly, and you feel a little depressed when it's all done. Rod and I recognize the blessing of time with our children, those still at home, those already on their own, and those somewhere in-between. Looking back on the trip as a whole, it was everything we hoped for. There were no medical emergencies. The was no lost luggage. There were no delayed or canceled flights. There were no car accidents or breakdowns of any kind. All the goals we had at the beginning of the trip were fulfilled. 1. Get a break from the responsibilities of life back home. 2. See stuff you can't see in America. 3. Strengthen family bonds through new e...
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