Last month we took a fantastic trip to Egypt and Jordan. I finally got to visit the pyramids of Giza, which had been on my bucket list for years. … More What’s Inside the Pyramids of Egypt?
Recently I visited the Dooley Mansion, located in Maymont Park in Richmond. The 33-room house, an outstanding example of the Gilded Age, was completed in 1893. It was the home of wealthy Richmonders James and Sallie Dooley, who made their money in railroads, steel, real estate and banking. … More The Dooley Mansion
Strasbourg, France, with its medieval half-timbered houses and curved cobblestone streets, looks like it was lifted from a Grimm brothers’ fairy tale. Located in northeastern France on the Rhine River, the city has been claimed by both France and Germany over the years, and its culture and architecture show the influence of both countries. Hundreds … More Travel Tips: Strasbourg, France
In this month’s travel section, I focus on an issue very close to home – how to grow plants that deer won’t eat. Deer used to bound through the neighborhood at dusk or later. Now it’s common to see them in the middle of the day, munching on greenery. They’re very fond of azaleas. They … More Ten Deer-Resistant Plants for Virginia Gardens
Mont Saint-Michel in France is an impressive moutside MSMonastery that at high tide is completely surrounded by water. At low tide its salt marshes provide a popular grazing site for sheep. The difference between high and low tides can be as much as 46 feet. First developed in the 8th century, the monastery is now a UNESCO … More Travel Tips: Mont Saint-Michel, France
Manaus, Brazil, called the “Paris of the Tropics,” was the richest city in South America in the late 1800s due to the rubber trade. To celebrate its affluence, the city constructed a magnificent opera house known as Teatro Amazonas, which contained marble, crystal, tiles, and paintings imported from all over Europe. The rubber trade collapsed … More Manaus: Paris of the Tropics
The largest cashew tree in the world is located in Natal, Brazil. The tree is estimated to be over 1,000 years old, covers almost three acres, and produces 60,000 fruits a year. A chain link fence surrounds the tree to protect it from damage. The principal trunk (tronco principal) is pictured below, along with shots … More The Largest Cashew Tree in the World
I just got back from a three-week Brazilian cruise, starting in Buenos Aires, Argentina and then traveling north along the Brazilian coast to the Amazonian city of Manaus. Along the way we stopped at Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Salvador de Bahia, Ilhabela, Natal, Fortaleza and Santare̒m. It was a terrific trip! I’ll give some … More Travel Tips: Brazil
Winter this year has been cold and snowy and long. I’m ready for sunshine and warmer temperatures, so Robbie Bradford and I are heading south to cruise the Amazon River. We’ll have some fun pictures to share with you in the next newsletter. But first, some final memories of winter. The temperature dropped to three … More Let’s Say Goodbye to Winter
Let’s escape from the snow and cold of January by viewing some summertime pictures of Chautauqua Institution in southwestern New York, which I visited a few years ago. Each summer, this beautiful lakeside resort offers nine weeks of thought-provoking presentations on religious, social and political topics. The topic for the session I attended was healthcare. At 17 … More Chautauqua, New York
Frances Aylor 