Matilda of Canossa was one of the most powerful European nobles in her day. She is revered as a warrior for women’s rights and spiritual freedom. Matilda was a skilled leader in both diplomatic and military affairs. In 1076 she negotiated a truce between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor. She died in 1115 at the age of 69 and was the first woman ever to be … [Read more...] about The Woman Who Controlled History
The Mystery of the Crumbling Castle
Many centuries ago, during the Middle Ages, the Welsh King Vortigern and his men were fighting the Anglo-Saxon invaders. He found a lofty hill in Wales, which looked like a good place to build a defensive tower. But a mysterious force seemed not to want the royal castle to be constructed. At the end of every working day, King Vortigern's royal stonemasons would lay down … [Read more...] about The Mystery of the Crumbling Castle
The Ghostly Vision of an Irish Maid
Once upon a time there was a fair Irish maiden who, on a lovely spring morning, went down to the shore of Lough Gur to wash some laundry. As she worked, she noticed that a handsome man was approaching her. She had never seen him before, but he was finely dressed with a high hat. She assumed he was a gentleman who had come from the big house nearby. He showed her his hand, … [Read more...] about The Ghostly Vision of an Irish Maid
The Most Beautiful City in the United States
Redbook just published their list of the 30 most beautiful cities in the world, and five of them are in the United States. The four runner-ups were San Francisco, Sedona, Charleston and Chicago. Can you guess which city came out on top? Santa Fe, New Mexico. They wrote, "Santa Fe is famous for its adobe architecture, art galleries, and museums (the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum … [Read more...] about The Most Beautiful City in the United States
Do You Hear The Call of Albion?
You may not know it, but - deep inside - you are probably longing to visit Albion. I'm talking about the land more commonly called "Britain" - England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Some etymologists believe the name came from "albus," the ancient Greek word for white, because of the white cliffs of Dover, visible across the channel from France. When Francis Drake landed … [Read more...] about Do You Hear The Call of Albion?