Curious Traveler

England’s Great West Way follows the ancient path from London to Bristol. We take the train & get curious at stops along the way.

Why is there a giant wall in the middle of Cardiff? Who built Cardiff Castle? And Coch Castle? Why does Cardiff have so many Victorian and Georgian arcades? What is a bara brith?

How did Manchester kick-start ‘Railway Mania’ in the Industrial Age? What is Manchester’s Water Palace?

How did Hong Kong get its name? What is so junk-y about a junk boat? Get curious about the Big Buddha, the Po Lin Monastery, and the Wisdom Path on Lantau Island.

We get curious about the stunning natural landscape of Wales. We visit Brecon Beacons National Park, Pembrokeshire National Park, St. Davids, and Hay-onWye (Wales’“Town of Books”).

Who were the Flemish Masters, and how did they leave their mark on art history? Who stole Michelangelo’s Madonna of Bruges? And who rescued her?

Why is Dublin so known for its pubs? Where did traditional Irish music come from? Why are there always flowers decorating a pub? What does the word “pub” mean? What is a “snug?”

Who stole the famous Ghent Altarpiece, and who recovered it? And who is restoring it? What is Prinsenhof, and why is it so pretty? Where did the famous Ghent Dragon fly in from?

Why does George IV’s Royal Pavilion look so different than other British royal palaces? What happened at the Seven Sisters Cliffs? What is a Smugglers Pub?