By Kirk Petersen The Episcopal Church has chosen a weird city as the venue for the 2018 General Convention. That’s not a criticism. The Austin Independent Business Alliance adopted “Keep Austin Weird” as its marketing slogan in 2002. General Convention, a triennial event, will meet on July 5-13 in Austin’s convention center, which is weirdlessly named the Austin … [Read more...] about Welcome to Austin
tourism
Fees Hurt Cathedral Visits
Should visitors pay to visit England’s cathedrals and historic churches? The issue has a subject of debate since Westminster Abbey and others led the way by charging entrance fees in the 1990s. Some like Bath Abbey, Durham Cathedral, and Ripon Cathedrals get by without imposing entrance charges. You do not have to pay if you tell staff at the entrance you are attending a … [Read more...] about Fees Hurt Cathedral Visits
Retratos de Trinidad (Portraits of Trinity)
Trinidad (English: Trinity), a UNESCO world heritage site in south-central Cuba, is home to colorful buildings in a winding labyrinth of narrow streets. As in much of Cuba, the town offers visions of colonial charm and examples of unsightly decay. Once a center for the Caribbean sugar trade, Trinidad now depends upon income from tourism and tobacco processing. All photos by … [Read more...] about Retratos de Trinidad (Portraits of Trinity)
Googling St. Paul’s
By Matthew Townsend Users of Google Maps are likely familiar with the digital giant’s Street View system, which allows for virtual exploration of many streets throughout the world. Google’s camera truck drives down a street, taking photos of everything its lenses see as it passes by. Google then integrates these images into Street View. These panoramic images help users … [Read more...] about Googling St. Paul’s
Church Doubts Bell’s Legend
By G. Jeffrey MacDonaldTourism boosters in the town of East Haddam, Connecticut, are hitting a stumbling block as they vie to capitalize on what some believe is a milestone anniversary for the steeple bell at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.The problem: St. Stephen’s believes the town might be wrong when it claims the bell, marked “ano de 815” on one side, was in fact cast 1,200 … [Read more...] about Church Doubts Bell’s Legend
Bermuda’s Anglican Way Station
The oldest Anglican church outside the British Isles cannot afford to do outreach these days. But that does not stop St. Peter’s Church in St. George’s, Bermuda, from its ministry to 70,000 annually. Crowds keep showing up, no invitation necessary — and St. Peter’s welcomes them.With roots dating back to Bermuda’s first permanent settlement in 1612, St. Peter’s attracts more … [Read more...] about Bermuda’s Anglican Way Station