history

Chicago, Illinois has many different names. The “Windy City” is probably the most famous moniker, but it’s also known as the “City of Big Shoulders” and the “City that Works”. Those aren’t quirky aliases, they’re references to Chicago's history.

Barcelona is the heart of Catalonia, a city steeped in history and culture. It is packed full of architectural wonders, from towering Gothic cathedrals to whimsical Modernist masterpieces. 

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the city's rich heritage is by embarking on a free walking tour of the Old Town and Gothic Quarter. Keep reading to learn more about these amazing tourist spots you can visit for free.

The desire a parent feels to protect their child is instinctive, consuming, and, sometimes, misguided.

Published to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the military mission that changed World War II, D-Day Landings: A Travel Guide to Normandy’s Beaches and Battlegrounds is Bradt’s new guidebook to visiting beaches, memorials, museums, battlefields, and other sites associated with D-Day and the Battle of Normandy (Operation Overlord). A simple-to-follow, portable guide for independent travellers, it will help visitors to explore World War II history.

I've got a great read for you today! Agricultural Treasures Guidebook, by renowned writer Cindy Ladage, is a deep look into 19 different agricultural treasures, mostly in the midwest (we ARE farm country, after all!). I grew up on a farm, and tractors, farming, and rural life were hallmarks of our town.

Learning more about and celebrating our agricultural treasures is both interesting and important. 

One of my favorite bands from my youth was The Moody Blues (still is). They were the champions of “concept albums” - collections of songs, poetry, and instrumental pieces that told a story or addressed an idea through music. The relevant quote that comes to mind is taken from their album “In Search of the Lost Chord” from 1968.

“Thinking is the best way to travel.”

Once in a great while, you come across a book so compelling, interesting, and important that you want to share it with everyone. Such is the case with the latest book from author Amy Chavez, entitled The Widow, The Priest and The Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island, published by one of our favorite publishers, Tuttle. 

This is one of those magnificent books. You know...a book that you cannot put down, that time travels you back to a specific place and, while you’re reading it, you’re so engrossed that you look up and are surprised to be in the now? 

Established in 2020, Dantedì is the Italian national day dedicated to Dante Alighieri. The date of March 25 was chosen because it was recognized by scholars as the day on which the poet embarked on his journey in the afterlife in the Divine Comedy.