Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru, on a 7,970 feet mountain ridge. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The purpose of Machu Picchu remains a mystery, though it is believed to have been built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti. It was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and remained largely unknown to the outside world until 1911, when it was rediscovered by American historian Hiram Bingham.
It is not unusual to see Scots in Halifax wearing traditional dress. Scots represent a significant percentage of the population (over 30% are of Scottish ancestry) and there are numerous Scottish social groups and civic events. Starting in 1768, the North British Society in Halifax (also known as “The Scots”) became the oldest Scottish heritageContinue reading “In A Halifax Pub”
So far this year we’ve taken eight flights – all international and we’ve come to realize that we just don’t know what our bags will cost until we check-in at the counter. Twice we expected to pay US$70 per bag and nobody asked for money. On one flight we were told that a carry-on weighingContinue reading “Airline Baggage Fees 2025 • UPDATED”
A Wet Day In Tallinn, Estonia Every tourist with a camera or cellphone can’t walk by without “shooting the bull”. Same with us on a visit to, Estonia’s Tallinn, except in our case it was raining and in haste we thought it was a pig. It’s actually called The Black Angus by Tauno Kangro, andContinue reading “Sitting And Shooting The Bull”
A Wet Day In Blarney When you have a limited number of days to visit a country you just keep going, even when the weather turns foul. Such was the case when we traveled to Blarney Castle. Not so much cold but a persistent on and off drizzle. I’m still not sure what brought usContinue reading “A Visitor’s Guide to Blarney Castle: Kissing the Stone”