When Mount Vesuvius exploded in Italy in AD 79, it not only buried the city of Pompeii but a lot of the surrounding homes as well. One of the most luxuries properties engulfed by layers of ash was the Villa of Papyri located in nearby Herculaneum.
Read MoreReads For The Road: "Mossad" by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal
You can't turn on the TV without coming across fictional shows about the FBI, CIA, NCIS, MI6 or some other covert organization operating somewhere in the world. I have to admit that I am definitely a sucker for these shows (who doesn't love Homeland?), and while I have managed to figure out generally what these organizations do in the real world, the one that I have always been a bit confused about is the Mossad.
Read MoreExploring The Queen's Royal Yacht "Britannia" in Edinburgh, Scotland
I have to admit, the last tourist site that I was interested in visiting when I was in Edinburgh, was the former Royal Yacht Britannia.
It was well off the beaten path, and as far as I knew was just a boat.
What was the big deal?
Read MoreDrinking Champagne Out of Marie Antoinette's Breast (or, the history of champagne glasses)
The small bowl, or saucer-shaped champagne glass (called a coupe) is often claimed to be modeled on the left breast of the famed French aristocrat Marie Antoinette (1721-1793).
Read MoreStephenson, William Stephenson: Did you know that James Bond was based on a real person?
Often considered to be the inspiration for the romanticized, over-sexed spy, and credited with being a key player in the creation of the CIA, Sir William Samuel Stephenson was an inventor, real-life master spy, and businessman.
Read MoreFact or Fiction? The Great American Streetcar Conspiracy
Like most big cities, the one that I live in used to have an efficient and elaborate street-car system that was dismantled long before I ever came along, and the streets were overtaken by cars.
Read MoreSaving Pompeii: What Archaeologists Are Doing to Save This Important Site
Located at the base of a now dormant volcano, the ancient city of Pompeii is one of the most visited spots in Italy.
This incredible city, active archeological site, and invaluable piece of history always seems to be under constant threat, however. The site has to content with looting tourists, the elements, the Italian mafia (archeologists working at the site often receive death threats), and lack of funds for restoration.
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