A new exhibit, “Kings & Scribes: The Birth of a Nation,” opened in England in May at Winchester Cathedral (9 The Close, Winchester, Hampshire, UK; phone +44 1962 857200, www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk).
The exhibit is anchored by the Winchester Bible, which, at 2x11⁄3 feet, is the largest 12th-century illuminated English Bible in existence. Also on display are the painted caskets of Anglo-Saxon rulers buried at the medieval cathedral.
For our trip to Armenia in May 2019, my wife and I hired Hayk Avagyan (phone +374 93 57 22 66, armeniantourguide.com) as our driver and guide. He turned out to be one of the best guides we’ve ever had.
From our initial contact with him at his website through the end of our four days in Armenia, Hayk (pronounced “hike”) was engaging and very informative. He responded quickly to my emails, and we soon had our 4-day itinerary set.
9-day, 8-night “moderate-difficult” walking tour in JAPAN. Departures Nov. 2019, March-May & Sept.-Nov. 2020. Group limit, 12. Highlights: Osaka/train to Koyasan for pilgrimage walk/climb from Takijiri-oji to Takahara, Hashiori-Toge Pass/hot springs of Yunomine Onsen/descend from Fushiogami to Hongū Taisha for 111-foot-tall torii/Nachi-no-taki waterfall. ¥388,000-¥400,000 (near $3,638-$3,750) ppdo. Single supp., from ¥34,000 ($314).
During the 1940-1941 Blitz, much of the area called The City, London’s historic center as well as its central business district, was destroyed. Years after the end of World War II, bombed-out sites were still being excavated. In 1952-1954, one of these sites, located on Walbrook between Cannon Street and Queen Victoria Street in the heart of The City, yielded a remarkable discovery buried 23 feet below the surface: the remains of a Roman temple.
At least three churches in Burkina Faso have been attacked in 2019 in an uptick of Islamist violence in the West African country.
In April, four people were killed when a Catholic church was attacked in the village of Dori. The attackers also destroyed parts of the village.
Also in April, a Protestant church in the town of Silgadji was targeted by gunmen on motorcycles. They killed six people.
On May 12, a Catholic church in the city of Dablo was attacked by at least 20 armed men during Mass. At least six people were killed, including the priest.
9 days, 8 nights. Departures Nov. 2019-March 2020. Highlights: In Lisbon, historic Alfama district, 16th-century Jerónimos Monastery/medieval Óbidos/in Alcobaça, 12th-century monastery/in Fátima, Sanctuary of Fátima pilgrimage site/in Tomar, Convent of Christ/in Porto, port wine tasting/in Belmonte, Jewish Museum, olive oil tasting/in Évora, walled medieval center, Chapel of Bones. $1,249-$1,349 ppdo, per date and US departure city, or $999-$1,099 ppdo, land only.
