The moment I sunk into the warm mismatched chairs at The Haunch of Venison, I knew that Salisbury was a special place. Sitting down for a hearty meal of soup, bread, and beer in a city so old makes modern problems seem trivial. My thoughts were not on myself, but rather on who was there before … Continue reading A Quick Guide to the History of Salisbury, England
October 10, 732 It's the date that one man changed everything. Well, maybe not everything, just the course of European history. As a historian I've long known that the Battle of Tours is a key moment in world history. Why doesn't it receive more than a paragraph or two in world history textbooks? I can't … Continue reading Why You Should Know What Happened on October 10, 732
Let me tell you all about Malt'a's secret neolithic underground. It's been a while be since my last update. The last few months have gone by in a flash. The new school year started in early August (I teach 9th grade world history as many of you know), I got married on the day after Thanksgiving (whoo-hoo), there was … Continue reading Malta’s Neolithic Underground
Every time I look at the photo above I long to visit Greece again. It's not just the awe-inspiring scenery, amazing food, or ancient history. It's the way of life. Slow, calm, relaxed, and beautiful. Yes, Greece is going through some tough economic times right now, but that shouldn't stop anyone from visiting. The U.S. Dollar goes … Continue reading Why it’s Time to go Back to Greece
We know many things about history, but what we don't know outweighs what we think we know. Throughout my travels, I have come not only to embrace, but to seek out history's mysteries. If your eyes and your mind are open you can find mysteries whenever and wherever you travel. Malta is one of those places where … Continue reading 7 Strange Artifacts from Malta
Although this photograph was taken in January, when I hear the words "summer solstice" it reminds me of Stonehenge. Although we are scientifically celebrating the tilt of the Earth's semi-axis, the summer solstice is so much more than that. From the Latin sol sistere (the sun stands still), the summer solstice has been celebrated for … Continue reading Happy Summer Solstice
After so many years of travel, it is difficult to choose one single place as a favorite, but there is one place stands out in my mind more than the others. Trier, Germany’s oldest city, and nicknamed, “the Rome of the North," calls me back again and again. Every visit to Trier is like the first … Continue reading Trier: The Rome of the North
Even though I've only been back from Malta for about three months, there's no place that I miss more than this superbissima, or most proud city. My favorite place on this beautiful earth used to be Greece. Greece was bumped to the status of second place favorite after I landed in Valetta, Malta one day last January. This … Continue reading Valetta, Malta: The Most Proud City
Nine Men’s Morris really is everywhere. When I first noticed the scratches on the side of Charlemagne’s throne back in 2008, I had no idea what they were. I did a little bit of research, and I found out that the stone in Charlemagne’s throne probably came from the floor of a church in the Middle East. Apparently, … Continue reading Nine Men’s Morris, Everywhere
The Oldest Pub in England? Probably not, but the Haunch of Venison is definitely the oldest in Salisbury, and the most unique pub that I have ever visited. From the 'ladies box" up front with its own door; to the pewter bar and severed hand on display, this place certainly has character and history. When … Continue reading A Severed Hand, A Hidden Tunnel, and Salisbury’s Oldest Pub
I’ve neglected my blog for a little while to pursue my license to teach middle and high school history. When I first started Jaunting Jen, I thought I wanted to travel full time, but after two months in Europe and Malta, it's clear to me that it's better to maintain a base to travel from for … Continue reading Curse Scrolls, Mystery Cults, and the Secret Roman History of Mainz
In light of the recently released news that "Charlemagne's Bones are Probably Real" I thought this would be a good time to share my experience visiting Charlemagne's Palace of Aachen, Germany. The first time I visited Aachen, it was the early spring of 2008, and there were few tourists in sight. When I returned, two … Continue reading Charlemagne’s Bones and Aachen Cathedral
