Melody's 2007 Trips

I spent Christmas and New Year's in Scotland, where I continued my exploration of this beautiful country.  I visited Edinburgh, and toured Glasgow's museums, including the  Burrell Collection and Pollock House, The People's Palace and the amazing Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. I also visited the countryside surrounding Glasgow -- small towns like Eaglesham and historic sites such as the New Lanark World Heritage Site and the scenic Falls of Clyde.

In November I visited Scotland again.  This time, I was based in Glasgow (East Kilbride), and traveled to Dumfries and Galloway, along the South West coast of the country, where I visited Robert Burns birthplace and Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Wigtown (Scotland's National Book Town), and a variety of other charming towns such as Kirkcudbright, Rockcliffe, Kippford, New Abbey and Dumfries.

This photo was taken at Dundrennan Abbey, just before sunset on a cold, windy, but beautifully sunny day in the Borders.

During Columbus Day weekend, in October, I traveled to New York City, visiting the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and a lot of interesting places in New Jersey, such as the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame Museum, the Morris Museum, the Museum of Early Trades, and the gardens at Duke Farms.  I also took a behind-the-scenes tour of Giants Stadium (that's me in the photo, contemplating a change of career -- pro-football anyone?) 

My sister and I grew up in New Jersey, and when I told her about this trip, she said she had no idea New Jersey was so interesting!  There's a lot more to see and do in this state than most people realize.

For more information on New Jersey, check out the New Jersey Tourism website.

In August I visited Edinburgh, Scotland, where I went for the Edinburgh International Book Festival.  I also visited Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and Stirling Castle, and St. Andrews and the villages of Fife.  Scotland is a beautiful country and I was so surprised at how friendly everyone was.

Before Scotland, I spent the last weekend in June in Hampton, Portsmouth, and Newport News, Virginia.

Here in this photo I took at Jamestown Settlement (where they're celebrating America's 400th Anniversary), you can see a sailing ship, one of three replicas of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607.  There's also a special indoor exhibit in the exhibition building, where you can learn about the history of America's first permanent English colony in a global context.  I also visited the site of the original Jamestown colony, historic Jamestowne, located on Jamestown Island. 

Keep an eye out for posts on the Virginia Living Museum, Jamestown settlement, the Mariners Museum, and much more.  If you go, allow a lot of time, these places are great!

And...

I spent the first two weeks of June, 2007 on a fabulous two-week journey through El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize!  Check back for blog posts on San Salvador, El Salvador; Copan, Honduras; Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Tikal, Guatemala; Caracol and the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in Belize -- among other places! 

The photo, above, left, is of me exploring the Mayan ruins in Tikal, Guatemala.  Also, see some Guatemalan girls at a market (right).  Or watch a photo montage from the El Salvador and Honduras portion of this trip...