Edinburgh (Ed’-in-burra-a) is the easternmost of Scotland’s two largest cities (the other is Glasgow). The 2015 population was 489,000.  The city is situated on the Firth of Forth, a fjord that runs into the North Sea to the east.  It is quite old with almost mind-numbing history.  There have been invaders (Vikings, Romans, etc.) and conquerors (England). The setting is…...

Philadelphia is one of America's most historic cities as well as the largest city in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is home to numerous colleges and universities including Penn and Villanova. It is also home to many neighborhoods and a vital, historic downtown surrounded by 2 major rivers....

Alamo is a rapidly growing town of about 17,000 on the southernmost tip of Texas, just west of Brownsville. It has nothing to do with and is far away from the Alamo mission in San Antonio.   About 3/4 of the population is Hispanic, but many retirees live near here, attracted by the climate and proximity to the Gulf. The…...

St. Andrews is an ancient town just to the north of Edinburgh on Scotland’s eastern coast.  The magnificent ruins of the cathedral and castle here hint at a long and historic past.  Many of the city’s early walls and "ports" (gates) remain as charming reminders of days gone by when visitors from the sea were often dangerous. Although to many…...