And that they’ll factor in regional differences with departure points from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Manchester and London Heathrow.
Either a general house tour for $26 for adults, $24 senior citizens, and $14 for kids and a living history tour for $29 for all adults and $21 for kids.
We’d always plump for living history, particularly when it’s interactive.
With an actor playing one of Twain’s servants and sharing his wisdom.
Including tales of the Great Eccentric such as the cats he would keep in the pockets of his billiards table.
Families are well catered for in Nook Farm with a Growing up in the Gilded Age interactive tour, best-suited for children between the ages of four and nine.
While Twain’s sense of fun is to the fore in a Cluedo-based tour with the victim Huck-themed and named Pap Finn.
And a Graveyard Shift Ghost Tour.
Stowe way
The long and short of it: Stowe and Lincoln
Harriet Beecher Stowe was well ensconced, having moved into Nook Farm in 1871.
And going on to live here for the last 23 years of her life.
By then abolitionist Harriet was firmly embedded as the most famous woman in America.
On the back of her pioneering book Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
All of which prompted Abraham Lincoln to greet her in Washington DC in 1862 thus: ‘So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.’
Student life: With Handsome Dan at Yale
Look out for that reference in a framed photo near the foot of the staircase in the Stowe House.
And seeing you’ll be in Hartford then you’ll be sure to take the Riverwalk.
And dwell a while at the statue of Lincoln and Stowe built by Bruno Lucchesi in 2006.
Thank you 2022, old friends and new so now let’s party in 2023.
As is tradition at this time of year it’s fun to look back on what we all did over the past 365 days.
Of course even the most travelled of us will spend most of our time at home.
And we’re blessed to live by the sea near one of the great cities, Edinburgh, which is why we have been fortunate to receive visitors from around the world.
Swish Swiss
Put them on a podium: With Fran and Myriam
Auld Reekie’s winds and bends have long captivated the most imaginative which is why it’s oft-used for film locations.
And that’s part of the fun of it all as even those who thought they knew Edinburgh’s streets found themself taking detours around building works.
Before alighting on the charming Ondine on George IV Bridge, in between St Giles’ Cathedral and the Camera Obscura.
Royal watchers, of course, would become acquainted with the historic Royal Mile and St Giles Cathedral.
With Queen Elizabeth taking up residence there in September (but more of that later).
We rounded off the afternoon warming ourselves with Scottish drink in the institution that is the Greyfriars Bobby pub which like Bobby we always come back to.
As we will Switzerland, and had, earlier in the year when we tarried as long as we could in Zurich airport and the Montreaux Jazz Cafe Geneva which does exactly what it says on the tin.
Ski and easy in Val D’Isere
Way to go Jo: In Val D’Isere
There was dancing in ski boots on the slopes of Val D’Isere too as skiing got back on the slopes after Covid.
It’s safe to say that I’m more comfortable at the apres than the ski as I raved at La Folie Douce.
And fell on the magic carpet up to the slopes.
With the help of my new amis I managed to stay upright on the mountains.
But it was now and beckoning me on from my Envoy Hotel window.
As was a return to my old haunt, the Irish Black Rose pub and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market.
And a trek on the tracks to other wonders of New England in arty Providence in Rhode Island and kooky Connecticut with its academia and culinary pizza and hamburger heritage.
More America
Don’t forget the Motor City: Detroit
I wasn’t finished with the Oo Es of Eh, and it hadn’t had it with me either, and while we weren’t dancing in the streets of Detroit we were singing its praises.
