Highclere Castle is not only the location for the hit television series Downton Abbey, but the secret lives of some of the castle’s former inhabitants are reflected in the fictional drama. Check out my latest web piece for TODAY entertainment and MSNBC.com!
SPRING BREAK PREVIEW
A few pictures from the Canary Islands and Barcelona — more pictures and comments to come soon!
MUNICH, DACHAU & SALZBURG
First stop, Munich:
Above is the Neues Rathaus (New City Hall) in the heart of Munich. It is in the center of Munich’s old town. The Rathaus holds Munich’s famous Glockenspiel.
The Mariensäule (The Virgin Mary column) in the middle of Marienplatz.
We also walked through Munich’s outdoor market, Viktualienmarkt. In addition to selling flowers, trinkets, they sell lots and lots of Weisswurst.
Munich has definitely kept its culinary culture alive. At nearly every restaurant, you can find Weisswurst, giant pretzels, and one liter beers.
Katie, Katie, Kelsey and I headed to the famous Hofbräuhaus to get the full, all-in-one experience.
Although the beer hall is mostly filled with tourists, locals still hold down their reserved tables and even have their mugs locked in special holders.
On Saturday, we took a 15-minute train to the Dachau concentration camp memorial site.
The Nazis established Dachau as the first concentration camp in 1933. Primarily, Dachau was a camp for men, political and religious dissidents, gypsys and other men who were considered dangerous or “enemies of the state.” Here, over 200,000 prisoners entered the camp. On April 29, 1945, U.S. troops liberated the camp.
Although the afternoon was very sad, I’m so glad I visited. It was an incredibly moving experience.
The gate of Dachau reads: “Arbeit Macht Frei” which translates to Work Makes (One) Free.
Later in the afternoon, we returned to Munich. My friends and I stopped by the Paulaner.
On our last afternoon, we took about an hour and a half train to Salzburg, Austria.
Salzburg’s claim to fame is that it is the home of Mozart and where the Sound of Music was filmed…And it’s gorgeous!
Many Sound of Music scenes were filmed here in the Mirabell Gardens.
Mozart’s two homes.
Salzburg Cathedral.
THE GLOBE
On Wednesday, I went to the Globe Theatre for a press day.
This weekend we’re heading to Munich, Germany and Salzburg, Austria.
Auf Wiedersehen!
10 DOWNING AND NIGHTLY NEWS
On Monday, I had the opportunity to assist on Brian Williams’ Rock Center interview with Prime Minister David Cameron at his residence, 10 Downing Street.
From the ‘Number 10’s website, “10 Downing Street, the locale of British Prime Ministers since 1735, vies with the White House as being the most important political building anywhere in the world in the modern era. Behind its black door have been taken the most important decisions affecting Britain for the last 275 years.”
I also got my 15 seconds of fame sitting in the Monday night broadcast of Nightly News from the London bureau.
Brian’s interview with Prime Minister David Cameron will air on Wednesday.
Week 8
During week 8, we had a walking tour of the Southbank area.
Southbank skate park that the city almost shut down has some of the coolest graffiti artwork.
Then we went to the Tate Modern museum.
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Katie, Katie and I stopped by the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on our way home from class for dinner. The YOCC was built in the 17th century and is located on Fleet Street in the City of London. Until the 1980s, all of the British newspapers were located on Fleet Street. The YOCC is famously known as the restaurant for the “hacks and the flacks.” Charles Dickens used to frequent the YOCC when he was a journalist.
This weekend, we stayed in London and did some more exploring.
On our way to Borough Market, Katie and I stumbled upon the monument to the Great Fire of London.
DUBLIN
Our trip to Dublin. More pictures and videos coming soon…
London -> Dublin
Our beautiful bed and breakfast, The Ariel House.
Guinness factory.
Learned how to pour the “perfect pint.”
Viewing deck in Guinness factory.
The Irish Times.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
St. Stephen’s Green
Got my Irish Coffee…yum.
Temple Bar.
St. Paul’s
For Ash Wednesday, Katie B. and I met at St. Paul’s for church.
Occupy London Protesters outside of St. Paul’s Cathedral
Here are some recent photos as well:
I had the opportunity to cover Kate’s first public engagement as a royal patron of The Art Room in Oxford.
Then, my camera man gave me a nice tour of Bucklebury in Berkshire where the Duchess is originally from.
Kate’s childhood home.
Local pub in Bucklebury.
Mistaken for Kate’s church during the royal wedding, but famous St. Mary the Virgin Church outside of Bucklebury.
From their website, “The beautiful church of St Mary the Virgin has stood on the same site ever since the 11th century, and the manor was held by Edward the Confessor until his death in 1066. After the Norman conquest the Royal manor was held by the King as part of the property of the Crown. In the ancient manuscript known as theTesta de Nevillthere is a brief entry recording the gift by Henry I of his estate here, which included the advowson of the church, to the Abbot and Convent of Reading.”
And we had a lovely little lunch at The Trout in Wolvercote.
I had the opportunity to cover London Fashion Week.
