Odds n’ Ends – Page 37 – The Intentional Travelers

Florida History In Ocala

It’s unusual to come across an early nineteenth century stockade fort in the middle of a Florida town. Not something you expect outside of Disney World, but that’s what you’ll find in Ocala. It’s a historically accurate replica of Fort King on its original site. Designated a National Historic Landmark the site is being developedContinue reading “Florida History In Ocala”

Ancient Athens and the Acropolis

Rising up out of the center of Athens, Greece is the Acropolis. It sits atop a rock formation that rises 490 ft above the sea with a semi-flat surface that covers an area of about 7.4 acres. Considering its size it’s a pretty small place to be recognized as the birthplace of Western democratic civilization.Continue reading “Ancient Athens and the Acropolis”

Blarney Castle Ireland

The Magical Blarney Stone & The Gift of Gab The ritual of kissing the Blarney Stone has been performed by “millions of people”, including “famous statesmen, literary giants and legends of the silver screen” according to the castle keepers. The kiss actually is not an easy task. Kissing the stone, requires you to climb toContinue reading “Blarney Castle Ireland”

Thera/Santorini And the Death Of A Civilization

You’re standing on the deck of a cruise ship near Santorini, Greece that’s anchored in the middle of a ring of islands. The near island’s sheer cliffs rise almost a six hundred feet right out of the water. You are looking at the aftermath of the largest explosive event in all of human history. OverContinue reading “Thera/Santorini And the Death Of A Civilization”

A Ladder Sits At A Church Window

A Ladder At The Church of the Holy Sepulchre Located in the northwest quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is a church erected on the most sacred site in Christianity. It sits against a hill known as Calvary or Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. Within the church dating back to the forth century isContinue reading “A Ladder Sits At A Church Window”

Richard The Lionheart In The Holy Land

King Richard I And The Third Crusade In the twelfth century various orders of knights controlled land and cities along the Mediterranean coast from Tyre in Lebanon to south of Acre in Israel. The major orders included the Order of the Knights of St. John or The Hospitallers, the Order of the Temple of SolomonContinue reading “Richard The Lionheart In The Holy Land”