NEWBURY, England — He is a farmer, she says, and she is a farmer’s wife. They are active in their community. She writes a bit on the side, her writing room only recently having been wired for electricity.On my recent visit to her home, she was warm and welcoming. Her yellow Lab, Bella, followed her closely as her mistress ushered visitors into the house.And oh my. What a house. Two hundred rooms. Forty bedrooms. Silk wallcoverings in one room, 16th century Spanish leather wallcoverings in another. An original Van Dyck. A display on Egyptology, in honor of one of the previous occupants who just happened to have discovered King Tut’s tomb.Hundreds of other treasures make it abundantly clear that you are not in Kansas anymore. You are, instead, on the set of “Downton Abbey,” but it’s not a set at all. It is Highclere Castle, and when Season 4 begins Sunday for American viewers of the wildly popular PBS show, it is this magnificent home they will see, … [Read more...] about Under the spell of Highclere Castle and ‘Downton Abbey’
Baxter in downton abbey
‘Joker’ tops box office again beats ‘Addams Family’
“Joker” kept winning at the box office.The R-rated comic book villain origin story had a phenomenal second weekend box office, topping the charts once more over newcomers like the animated “The Addams Family” and the Will Smith action pic “Gemini Man.”Studios on Sunday estimate that “Joker” added $55 million from North American theaters, down only 43% from its record-breaking debut.“The Addams Family” exceeded expectations and took second place in its first weekend in theaters with $30.3 million. “Gemini Man” stumbled out of the gates. The Ang Lee film about an assassin on the run from a younger version of himself opened in third place with $20.5 million. The film cost a reported $140 million to make.“Abominable” and “Downton Abbey” rounded out the top five. … [Read more...] about ‘Joker’ tops box office again beats ‘Addams Family’
Lots to see and do in beautiful Barbados
By Samantha Feuss | October 6, 2019 at 12:32 am I’ve been obsessed with Barbados since I was a kid, when I read the Newbery Medal-winning book “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” by Elizabeth George Speare. For anyone who somehow managed to escape their summer reading, the book is about a fictional 17th century young woman who, orphaned, must leave her home in Barbados and travel to New England. Now in Puritan Connecticut, she often reminisces about her home and her childhood growing up in beautiful Barbados. Yes, as an adult, I now realize the colonizer themes that ran rampant in the book. However, the images left in my mind’s eye of the lush and balmy Barbados had impressed on me the desire to make my way over to the tiny island as soon as I was able. No better time then the present, so we headed over to finally see the nation well known as the birthplace of rum. Located in the lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of North America, just 166 … [Read more...] about Lots to see and do in beautiful Barbados
10 Timeless Cities Where the Past Comes to Life
The world’s oldest cities are once-in-a-lifetime destinations, places that effortlessly inspire awe and put you in the shoes of a time traveler. To walk labyrinthine streets, marvel at crumbling fortress walls, or see kings’ tombs that have endured thousands of years is to experience a fleeting moment of what life was like for the first civilizations on Earth. Read on to be transported to 10 ancient cities to visit (without travel advisories) where you can take part in age-old rituals and learn about the legends that have been passed down for more generations than you can ever fathom. Luoyang, China First Inhabited: Around 2070 BCE Asia’s oldest continuously inhabited city, Luoyang was considered to be the geographical center and one of the four great ancient capitals of China. It lies on the north or sunny (yang) side of the Luo River where it converges with the Yi River. Stunning mountains surround the city, where Chinese Buddhist temples and monuments are carved … [Read more...] about 10 Timeless Cities Where the Past Comes to Life
20 Fall Hikes You Can Do Right Now
Catch the best of the season all across the country. Author: Kristin Smith Updated: Oct 11, 2019 Original: Oct 10, 2019 Unless you live in south Florida, there's a fall show happening near you. Case in point: these 20 spectacular autumn hikes, which mix fall leaves with everything from beaches to waterfalls. Pick your region and get going. West Mt. Constitution Loop, Moran State Park, WA Aim for the sweet spot between summer crowds and winter cold on this 6.7-mile loop to the highest point in the San Juan Islands. With the first dusting of snow settling over the Cascade and Coast Ranges and bright red berries decorating the island’s madrones, the views are gorgeous near and far. On Orcas Island, Park at Mountain Lake, then brace your quads for the 1,500-foot, steep eastern face of Mt. Constitution. The climb winds through an evergreen and madrone forest until you reach the bare rock summit. Take a moment away from the mountain-to-sea panorama to look for … [Read more...] about 20 Fall Hikes You Can Do Right Now
