Week 4: White Cliffs of Dover

For our final destination, we will travel to one of the most beautiful places England has to offer, the White Cliffs of Dover.  Thought to be made by ice age floods, the cliffs have been a great symbol of Great Britain's resistance to invasions for thousands of years.  The cliffs, which stretch from eastern to western Dover, face the Strait of Dover and France.  Before the cliffs were a popular tourist spot, they used to hid underground tunnels used as a safe haven for British troops in the 1700 and 1800's.  Today, though badly damaged, some of the tunnels can be toured.  Currently the tunnels are under construction and are expected to open to the public sometime in the future.  There is also a need for volunteers who are willing to help not only reinforce the tunnels, but talk to the public about the future tours of these wonderful pieces of history.  If you are interested in visiting this beautiful place, I recommend going on a guided tour which includes a walk along the coastline and lunch.  Though the cliffs themselves are astounding, there is also a wide variety of living organisms that surround the cliffs as well.  The beautiful chalkhill blue butterfly and pyramidal orchid are just a few of the different insects that surround the cliffs.  For those who love birds, the black-legged kittiwake bird is known to nest in the cliffs as well.  If you would like more information about the cliffs, please visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/white-cliffs-dover.

Week 3: Stonehenge

This week we are traveling to Wiltshire, England which is home to one of the most famous prehistoric sites in England, Stonehenge.  Most scientists believe this amazing site was built somewhere around 3000 B.C. to 2000 B.C. according to carbon dating.  The most amazing thing about Stonehenge though is the way in which is was erected.  With the tallest stone stretching 22 feet high, there are a few theories of how prehistoric people were able to create this fascinating monument.  One theory includes using timber, most likely large logs, to move the stones into place and then using a different unknown contraption to stack them on top of each other.  Many myths surround Stonehenge because we do not know the actual way it was made.  One of the most famous myths is that a tribe of giants moved the stones from Africa to Ireland and then from there the stones were flown to England by the wizard Merlin.  Another myth including Merlin states that the stones were stolen from an Irish woman by the devil and were then re-erected on Salisbury Plain by Merlin.  Adding to the suspicions about Stonehenge, there has been a discovery of human bones around the site as well.  Because of this discovery, many scientists believe that Stonehenge was used as a burial ground.  Though we do not know if this is true, we do know that Stonehenge can be used to predict the solstice, equinox and eclipse.  If you are interested in learning more about Stonehenge then you should definitely visit this place someday.  An all new visitors center opened its doors in December of 2013.  This is where you can learn more about the history of this amazing attraction.

Week 2: London House

Gordon Ramsay is most popularly known here in America as the chef that screams at his cooks on the Fox television show Hell's Kitchen and in the United Kingdom on The F Word.  In London though, he owns thirteen high class restaurants featuring cocktails, afternoon tea times and a variety of European food.  Scottish by birth, Ramsay studied hotel management in college and his talent allowed him to work with some of the worlds most famous cooks including Albert Roux and Guy Savoy.  Today he owns restaurants in England, the United States, France and Qatar.  The London House, one of the most popular, is located in southwest London and overlooks the River Thames.  There, guests can choose from a large menu of items including braised pig's head, crab tortellini or roasted chicken wings.  For dessert there is passion fruit posset or Yorkshire rhubarb.  A variety of wines and cocktails are also available at this restaurant.  On a cold London day (which is most days in this huge city) patrons can sit in the lounge, a large open blue tinted room flanked on all ends by fireplaces.  Though the food is quite expensive, tables are reserved early every week and are almost always taken by mid-week.  This is the second destination in our tour of England and for good reason.  If you would like to know more about any of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants, visit his website: www.gordonramsay.com.

Week 1: Buckingham Palace

It is difficult to talk about the beautiful places that England has to offer without mentioning Buckingham Palace.  Located on the eastern boarder of London, since 1837, Buckingham Palace has served as the headquarters of the Monarch.  With 775 rooms, priceless pieces of artwork and some of the most important people in the British government working there, it is no surprise that the Palace has thousands of visitors every year.  And for those of you who would like to see the very popular Changing the Guard, it happens on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at 11:30 a.m.  If history is your thing it may be interesting to note that famous figures such as Wolfgang Mozart, Charles Dickens and Neil Armstrong are just a few of the many historical people who have visited this stunning attraction.  On any given day inside the palace 30 different species of birds and over 350 different wildflowers can be

seen, smelled and touched.  Tours are available of the Palace and although they can be quite expensive, it is all worth it in the end.  The amazing sense of history as well as importance that one can feel while looking at the massive building and it's grounds is astounding.  If anyone is traveling to England, they should definitely make sure that this is on the list.  John McEnroe, an American tennis player, was right when he said, "It's a fabulous place, I'll never forget it."