Hollywoodland

Today we’ll be zipping at rocket speed around Europe, visiting locations that play parts in four Shakespearean plays.

• Kronborg Castle in Helsingor, Denmark was the basis for Elsinore in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It’s a star-shaped fortress which was built in the 1420s by the Danish king, Eric of Pomerania (yes, as in the dogs). In 1629, most of the castle went up in flames due to carelessness by two workmen.

• Cawdor Castle in Scotland was fictionalized by Shakespeare as the home of Macbeth. The earliest date for the castle is 1454. It was built with an interior courtyard which held a holly tree known to have died in the late 1300s, leading historians to believe the castle is much older than the 15th Century. There are beautiful gardens at the castle.

• Veronais a city in northern Italy. Its origins are something of a mystery. But it’s been around since before the time of Christ. In addition to the amazing medieval architecture, it’s probably best known as the home of Romeo & Juliet.

• Agincourt in France is famous as the site of Henry V‘s battle in 1415.

Today in history:

• 1886 – An earthquake killed 100 in Charleston, South Carolina. A timely mention given recent history!

• 1888 – Mary Ann Nichols was murdered. She was the first of Jack the Ripper’s confirmed victims.

• 1895 – German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin patented his Navigable Balloon. And steampunk travel was born! LOL!

• 1897 – Thomas Edison patented the Kinetoscope, the first movie projector.

• 1897 – Actor Fredric March was born.

• 1903 – TV host Arthur Godfrey was born.

• 1907 – Editor William Shawn was born. I mostly include him because he was the father of character actor Wallace Shawn who’s been on Eureka the last couple of weeks.

• 1914 – Actor Richard Basehart was born.

• 1918 – Lyricist Alan Jay Lerner was born.

• 1920 – The first radio news program was broadcast in Detroit, Michigan.

• 1924 – Actor/comedian Buddy Hackett was born.

• 1928 – Actor James Coburn was born.

On TV tonight: a new episode of Deadliest Warrior. Tonight it’s Ivan the Terrible vs Hernan Cortes.

Reading: Still reading Conspiracy in Death which I should finish tonight.

Today we’re heading to the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland to visit Lugano. The city lies on Lake Lugano. It’s a lovely area and has, in recent years, become known as the Monte Carlo of Switzerland due the celebrities who’ve begun going there.

Not a lot going on around here.

The only thing on tonight is a new episode of Top Shot and 9/11 specials. Oh and baseball but the novelty’s worn off of that. *g*

Reading: Still reading Conspiracy in Death which is, of course, made of awesome.

Today we’re traveling just outside London, England to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. It’s an amazing complex of gardens and botanical greenhouses. It began in the 18th Century and expanded across the years. There’s the modern Alpine House, a Japanese pagoda, the Palm House which was built in the mid-1800s, and many other attractions. I would love to see it some day!

Today in history:

• 1885 – Gottlieb Daimler patented the world’s first internal combustion motorcycle, the Reitwagen.

• 1898 – The Goodyear tire company was founded.

• 1898 – Filmmaker Preston Sturges was born.

• 1915 – Actress Ingrid Bergman was born.

• 1922 – The first radio advertisement was broadcast on WEAF-AM in New York City.

On TV tonight: Eureka, Warehouse 13 and Rizzoli & Isles.

Reading: The most recent Georgette Heyer book I read, I knew who the killer was on page one. Um….. probably not a good thing. Now I’m reading Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb which, as with all that series, rocks!