Houston claims the honour of its name being the first word spoken on the moon. Remember what Neil Armstrong said: “Houston, the eagle has landed.” Today the Houston Space Centre isn’t nearly as important as it once was because the space programme isn’t as important as it once was. It is still the Texan city’s most visited attraction with over a million visitors a year. … [Read more...] about Houston: space, history and food
Historic
Lyon: a culinary gem amid a violent history
Lyon is a gem of a city. Set on a hilly site, it's where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet – making it a it a natural military and commercial and an attractive location in its own right. Its long history dates back to Roman times when it was called Lugdunum and was the capital of Roman Gaul. By 1032 it was part of the Holy Roman Empire but was annexed to France in 1312. It … [Read more...] about Lyon: a culinary gem amid a violent history
Lake Charles LA, beautiful and quirky
Take a beautiful national park complete with nature trails, wildlife, including alligators and pink cranes, add a beach, some casinos, plenty of local history, some great local food and a rum distillery and you have Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana. Lake Charles is about 2-3 hours drive west of New Orleans and about the same distance east from Houston, Texas. It’s a town … [Read more...] about Lake Charles LA, beautiful and quirky
Civil rights in the United States: using the law to get around the law
In the southern states of the US the economic importance of slavery and the accompanying belief in the inherent superiority of the white race led to a system of racial segregation that was sanctified by law and practice. Though frequently challenged it became very difficult to change. This is the story consistently told by the leading civil rights museums I visited in … [Read more...] about Civil rights in the United States: using the law to get around the law
Boston’s Freedom Trail: Free to explore history
Boston’s Freedom Trail walks you around the sites of the events that make Boston the cradle of the American Revolution, although Philadelphia and other places do play a part. Take your map and walking guide and start at the Boston Common, a beautiful swathe of green in the heart of the city, and admire the State House built between 1795 and 1798. Now with a gold-leafed dome, … [Read more...] about Boston’s Freedom Trail: Free to explore history
Berlin, the sexy city that’s full of quirks and contrasts
Berlin never reached the heights of other imperial capitals in the age of empires. Even today it compares poorly both with other capital cities in Europe and with other German cities like Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Cologne. As a united country, Germany is young. It only became one country in 1871, after Bismarck's forces crushed Napoleon III's armies in the … [Read more...] about Berlin, the sexy city that’s full of quirks and contrasts
Brandenburg Gate – the heart of Berlin
If there is one single thing that says Berlin, it has to be the Brandenburg Gate. Opened in 1791 as a symbol of peace, the Brandenburg Gate has come to say Berlin in the same way as the Eiffel Tow- er says Paris, Big Ben says London and the Harbour Bridge says Sydney. Its 12 Doric columns in a neo-classical design echo the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens. On top is a … [Read more...] about Brandenburg Gate – the heart of Berlin
Slave to history
Baton Rouge, the state capital of Louisiana in the deep south of the US, is a drawcard for viewing alligators in the swamp, catching crawfish and its rich history of architecture and a “colourful” way of life. But among the highlights are the low-lights of Louisiana: its history of slavery. There are about 140 plantations you can visit along the Mississippi River … [Read more...] about Slave to history
Continental Drift
There are few things better in life than quietly drifting down two of Europe's best-known rivers in comfortable surroundings, well fed, with plentiful supplies of wine and other drinks, rising each day to anew town and anew experience. The river cruises between Amsterdam and Budapest along the Rhine and Danube rivers are Among the most popular trips for the over 60s from New … [Read more...] about Continental Drift