and is taking me to places I've never been. While I enjoy travel and love seeing new places, right now I couldn't afford transportation or accommodations for this trek across the world. So I'm travelling from my chair, at my keyboard, in front of my computer screen.
Just finished reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I have enjoyed several of Follett's books, but only read this one because of a friend's recommendation and loan of the tome. It's a large book, compared to my usual reading and covers much of the 12th century, a period I didn't think I'd be interested in. The book kept me engaged and I really enjoyed it. See www.goodreads.com for a comments on the book.
In conversations with friend who loaned the book, I contemplated the history, the individual stories and the information I gleaned from the book. We discussed character names, which indicate how naming occurred and has continued. Tom, the Builder, was Tom Builder. Jack, son of Jack, was Jack Jackson. And most of us realize miller was the person who milled grain, cooper was the person who built barrels.
Well, I found myself asking where 'martin' originated. Funny that I'd be 50-15 and just now ask that question. I've often said, I'm a slow learner but if you give me some time I'll get it.
SO if you check out 'martin' on line, you can find 'martyn' and 'martin' on wikipedia, which is a good start. Turns out the earliest Martyns, or Martins, recorded were from Galway, Ireland and probably had Norman background. So that put my ancestors on the world stage against an interesting backdrop. But I know nothing of the characters or the stories ('cause I've never had the script).
My geography is quite poor, so I went to some world maps for pictures of the layout and juxtaposition of one place to another. As I saw names of places and saw how they fit together or how they are spread apart, my interest in seeing and learning more grew.
Scanning the maps reminded me of reading Guernsey Literary ...... Society which takes place in the Channel Islands; and there they are on the map. Right now I'm reading the one Aunt Dimity book I've not read, and it takes place in the Scottish isles. AND there they are on a map of Europe, the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea.
At lunch recently with a friend from England, I learned a little bit about Great Britain and European travel. She's experienced and offers knowledge and insight.
Funny how these things occur, one growing from the other, and some occurring randomly. I feel like a kid that just opened a catalog of wonderful things and wants it all for Christmas because she can't choose. I think that a trip to Europe is absolutely necessary for my sense of place. It's a big item, but I'm putting it at the top of my wish list. The planning starts now.
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