Margo LestzThe Victorians Were Mad for MummiesToday mummies come to life in horror stories and haunt us at Halloween, but in Victorian England, they could be found in many upper-class…Oct 14, 2020Oct 14, 2020
Margo LestzWhen Cats Sold Gin in the Streets of London — The Curious Rambler -In eighteenth-century London, illegal gin was sold from a strange precursor of the vending machine which bore the image of a cat.Jan 25, 2020Jan 25, 2020
Margo LestzDickens and his Christmas CarolCharles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol wasn’t meant to be just an entertaining holiday story. It was also a serious attempt to change the…Nov 19, 20191Nov 19, 20191
Margo LestzWhy Carved Pumpkins are Called Jack-o’-Lanterns: An Irish LegendIt just wouldn’t be Halloween without those carved pumpkins. Some grin and others scowl, but the flickering candles within give their…Oct 26, 20191Oct 26, 20191
Margo LestzStendhal Syndrome: Having an Art Attack in Florence, ItalyIt seems that taking in too much art in Florence, Italy can be bad for your health. Stendhal Syndrome, also known as the Florence Syndrome…Oct 26, 20191Oct 26, 20191
Margo LestzMichelangelo’s Graffiti and a Peeing Lion: Two Curiosities From FlorenceEverywhere I go, I like to find little legends and oddities. Today I want to tell you about two that can be found in Florence. Palazzo…Oct 16, 2019Oct 16, 2019
Margo LestzThe Devil’s Wind: A Legendary Wind Blows Through Florence, ItalyI was walking through Piazza del Duomo in Florence admiring the beautiful cathedral and trying not to be trampled by tourists. It was…Oct 8, 2019Oct 8, 2019
Margo LestzBladud: Legendary Founder of Bath, England Was the First King to Spread his Wings and FlyKing Bladud, the 9th King of the Britons, is known for two very different things: First, he (and his pigs) discovered the healing powers…Aug 16, 2019Aug 16, 2019
Margo LestzIn 1925 Victor Lustig Sold the Eiffel Tower — Even Though It Wasn’t HisIt was 1925 and Victor Lustig was sitting in his Paris hotel room reading a newspaper article about the Eiffel Tower. That gigantic…Aug 10, 2019Aug 10, 2019