by Penny Zibula | Jul 8, 2016 | Europe, Weekly Wow!
Teachable, Touchable Stones that are Anything But Ordinary. “If you like Stonehenge, Avebury will blow you away.” It was this piece of advice, along with a chance meeting, that led us to a WOW of an experience. Simon, Otto and I had just spent two extraordinary days... by Penny Zibula | Jul 1, 2016 | Europe, Weekly Wow!
Ritual Bath Opens a Window on a Once-Thriving Jewish Community. It was thirty-six stairs down from the square in Besalu’s Jewish Quarter into the 14th century ritual bath, known as a mikvah. With each step I noticed the air gradually cooling, as the daylight receded,... by Penny Zibula | Jun 24, 2016 | Europe, Weekly Wow!
The Grand Dame of Medieval Churches Gets a Facelift. When I first read the book, it was drier than day-old toast, but Henry Adams’s “Mont St. Michel and Chartres” made me want to get close to both these magnificent medieval religious structures. So, in the words of... by Penny Zibula | Jun 17, 2016 | Europe, Weekly Wow!
One Day Each Year, these Botanical Masterpieces are Produced Through Faith, Family and Fun. As we entered the square in front of Girona Cathedral, Gemma, our guide drew our attention to a floral tapestry in progress. Floral tapestry? Yes, floral tapestry, which turned... by Penny Zibula | Jun 10, 2016 | Europe, Weekly Wow!
You’ll Never Look at Your Shaker or Grinder the Same Way Again. It was a hard lump, with a rough, irregular surface. Holding it in my hand, it was difficult to imagine this strange object could have anything to do with food preservation, flavor enhancement or high... by Penny Zibula | Jun 3, 2016 | Europe, Weekly Wow!
Small in Size, But Huge When It comes to Accessibility Awareness. It was easy for me to figure out our location, as my feet navigated stone steps and walkways atop the wall surrounding the medieval town of Avila. This was because, earlier that day, Simon, Otto and I...