Inn on Britannia – A Terrific Place to Stay in Stratford, Ontario! 

We have been going to Stratford Theater Festival, our beloved place of theatrical pilgrimage, for almost thirty years, missing only two seasons due to the pandemic.  For theater lovers, Stratford offers arguably the best English-language theater outside London, UK. We also admired one more treasure, unique to Stratford, Canada. Stratford, with its forward-thinking and innovative approach to theater, stays ageless otherwise, seemingly frozen in time: the river, the swans, the boats, the streets, the gardens, and the houses, all look the same as years before. And we try to believe that we too have not changed, that time has no power over us all. Even with a new, brilliantly designed, Tom Patterson theater, Stratford seems to be that magical place where nothing and nobody ever gets old.

As we discovered, Stratford was also able to unveil for us, old-timers, wonderful newcomers to its “stage.” Just a few weeks before our mid-August arrival at the Festival, we unexpectedly found ourselves desperately seeking a place to stay in a town where everything – from restaurants to B&Bs – gets booked up solid for the summer. And then, when we almost resigned to try our luck 20 or more miles outside of Stratford, we found the Inn on Britannia.

This brand new establishment opened in June 2022 and is not yet broadly advertised. It remains largely unknown to Stratford visitors. The owners, Vern and Catherine, he – a retired communication towers business owner and she – a registered full-time midwife, have always been in love with the town itself and its crowds of theater-worshipers. This passion was the reason that Vern and Catherine had decided some time ago to acquire a 1908 house and turn it into an elegant B&B. They restored the outside of this old century house to the original look it used to have 114 years ago. Inside, you will find a beautiful interior, period furniture, and a stunning staircase. Each of the three double rooms and a suite with their oak trims and heated floors testify to the owners’ elegant taste and carry what Catherine called “a touch of magnificence.” The large bathrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art showers, towel warmers, expensive toiletries, and plush bath robes.

Hall
Hall: all three double bedrooms and a suite open up into this hall.
Bedroom
Bedroom.
Spacious bathroom
Spacious bathroom .
Bathroom interior.
Bathroom interior.

The professionally equipped kitchen is also state-of-the-art with a built-in coffee and tea maker producing anything from chi latte to elaborate cappuccino to double expresso. The kitchen is Vern’s kingdom, where this successful communications industry business owner transformed himself into an amazing gourmet cook.  Breakfasts are turned into an edible art exhibit: homemade yogurt and whipped cream parfait with fresh fruit or glazed fresh figs with raspberry coils as appetizers followed by either most tasteful scones or omelet quiche or asparagus crepes. And these are just a few examples.

Kitchen, Inn on Britannia
Kitchen.
Caramelized fresh figs with raspberry coils and cream
Caramelized fresh figs with raspberry coils and cream.

When we returned to our room either for a quick change after the matinee or late at night after an evening show, the beds were prepared, and gluten-free fruit and chocolate muffins and pitchers with reverse osmosis mint water were waiting for us.

If the B&Bs were rated like hotels, the Inn on Britannia would rightfully get its five-star rating.

We will be definitely returning to the Inn on Britannia next year!

Click here to find out more about Inn on Britannia

Read more blog posts by Irene Shaland

Irene and Alex Shaland Present Their Books at Author Alley

Irene Shaland and Books

Irene Shaland and Alex Shaland will present their books at the Loganberry Books Author Alley annual event on Saturday, August 20th, 2022 between 12:00 noon and 4:00 PM.

Event Location: 13015 Larchmere Boulevard, Shaker Hts., Ohio

Here is the Event Page on the Loganberry Books website: Click here to view the event info.

Irene Shaland presents her latest book “Shaland’s Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica: A Trusted Travel Companion for the Jewish History Explorer” and her previous book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories: Tales of Jewish Diaspora, Persecution, the Holocaust and Rebirth in Europe, Africa and Asia

Alex Shaland presents his latest book “Jackie the Penguin Goes on Safari: A Story of One Little Penguin Who Wanted to Meet the Wild Animals of Africa” and his previous book “Suburbanites on Safari: Chasing Lions and Giraffes in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Alex Shaland and his children's book

Learn more about Irene Shaland and Alex Shaland

Author Alley is an annual event organized by the Loganberry Books bookstore. This even showcases books written by the local authors. 

Why We Went to Portugal

Tomar Castle, Tomar, Portugal

Dear friends and followers,

Many of you know that we just spent 6 weeks crisscrossing Portugal and jumping to Madeira and Azores archipelagos. We explored in depth cultural and historical centers like Lisbon, Evora, Coimbra, Belmonte, and Porto, which also served as our bases for trips to towns like Guimarães and Guarda and a dozen or so enchanting small mountain villages saturated with rich history and Jewish stories. We met with many wonderful people on this trip who opened the doors to special museum and archival collections helping us to reach our objectives. And, just as importantly, we made new friends. So, why did we go to Portugal for so long?

Yes, you guessed it right: we were on the hunt for materials and photos for our next book “Shaland’s Jewish Travel Guide to Portugal.” This will be the second book in our Jewish Travel Guide series, following the “Shaland’s Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica” published last year and available at Amazon in the paperback and eBook formats: https://amzn.to/3nfjH9s

Shaare Tikvah Synagogue, Lisbon, Portugal

The writing and photo editing phase of the projects will start soon after our return from the Tiger Safari in India at the end of May. Stay tuned for updates!

Irene & Alex

Undiscovered Jewish Malta 

Malta

Save the date for our upcoming free virtual lecture on March 6th, 2022: The Tayar Foundation for Jewish Heritage in Malta presents:

 “Undiscovered Jewish Malta – Through the Eyes of a Historian, Travel Author and Lecturer Irene Shaland.”

Day/Date: Sunday March 6th 2022

Time: 2:00 PM EST US/19:00 Portugal/20:00 Malta and Italy/21:00 Israel

The event is free, but registration is required. Here is the link to register for this free presentation:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrcuiopjktGt0WrOeueofw-ApLZbpn9LFb

Join Irene Shaland, internationally-published art and travel writer, educator, and lecturer for a deeper look into Malta’s Jewish history and present-day society. This presentation will highlight Malta’s spellbinding Jewish narrative still under-the-radar for most historians and travelers: from Israelites sailing there with Phoenicians three thousand years ago, to the first Jewish traveler, the Biblical Paul, arriving in Malta in the first century CE, through the dark times of Jewish slavery during the Knights of St. John’s rule in the 16th century, to today’s blossoming Jewish community.

Much of what will be shared has been captured in Irene’s latest book “Shaland’s Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica” available in paperback and eBook editions on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nfjH9s

 

About The Tayar Foundation for Jewish Heritage: https://jewishheritagemalta.org/

The Tayar Foundation was established to safeguard Malta’s precious Jewish History. The Foundation aims
– To bring awareness to the general public, locally and internationally, of the Jewish communities that lived in the archipelago.
– To promote the study of Jewish communities in Malta since Roman times.
– To hold events highlighting Jewish History and Culture for the benefit of the Maltese community.
– To restore the Kalkara and Ta’ Braxia cemeteries on behalf of the Jewish Community of Malta.

Mandel JCC Cleveland Jewish Book Festival 2022

Book cover of Shaland's Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica

During the Cleveland Jewish Book Festival,  Irene Shaland will introduce her latest book  “Shaland’s Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica.”

Date/time of event: Sunday February 6th 2022, 11:00 AM EST

Event Host: Mandel JCC Cleveland

JCC Website: 

https://clevelandjewishbookfestival.eventive.org/schedule/local-author-day-61ae481e9fed72004ce7db95

Location of event:   Free Virtual Event. Please click the link below to join the event:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82067065720

Or One tap mobile :     US: +16465588656,,82067065720#  or +13017158592,,82067065720#

Introducing Irene Shaland’s Book:

Book Review by Corinne J. Brown, author and HaLapid Editor. Reprinted with permission from the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies and the HaLapid magazine

“Shaland’s Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica: A Trusted Travel Companion for the Jewish History Explorer”

by  Irene Shaland

Link to book: https://amzn.to/3uJRTeQ

Irene Shaland never ceases to amaze with her commitment to Jewish history and travel and her expertise in writing about it. Her latest release is a handbook for discovery and adventure: a reason in and of itself to book a flight to the islands of Corsica and Malta. Drawn to the roads-less-traveled, Irene and her husband Alex, her official photographer, do all the necessary homework, from researching ancient history to the latest advice on where to go and what to see that matters.

            This easy-to carry book is loaded with 186 photos and 12 maps. It takes you back in time to a period 3000 years ago when the Israelites first came to Malta. Fun facts to remember about Corsica include the earthshaking proclamation that, in 1763, Corsica was the first country to proclaim equality for its Jews.

            As always, Irene’s’ command of the English language and easy writing style compels the reader to enjoy these travel books whether you make the trip or not. Just one more part of the amazing story of the global Jewish Diaspora, the history of these two far-off places in the Mediterranean helps close the gap between who we are today and where the Jewish people have been.  This reader can hardly wait to see where she takes us next.

Link to book: https://amzn.to/3uJRTeQ

Day of Learning Yom Limmud 2022

Bonifacio, Corsica
Malta
Malta

Please register for our upcoming free virtual lecture
February 20, 2022:

“Acts of Loving Kindness During the Holocaust: Unknown Stories from Corsica and Malta.”

Hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston TX.

Annual Day of Learning Yom Limmud 2022.

Date of event: Sunday, February 20th,  2022

Time: 12:15 PM CST (Houston) /  1:15 PM  EST (New York)

Please register in advance: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcumtrzsvEtCPHeT7g7O57ZMhQ2GwaVuL

The Jewish story of Corsica is not well known, and many are surprised to hear that the island has any to reveal. However, in 1763, Corsica was the first modern country to proclaim social and political equality for the Jews: 27 years ahead of the US and 28 years ahead of France. The history of the Jews in Corsica goes back at least a millennium.  Reconstructing that history in its entirety what firmly comes across, is the welcoming Corsican heart, always open to those who seek refuge from cruelty and injustice. In addition, the island’s Jewish narrative reveals an irony of Omerta (mafia’s code of silence) that led many Corsicans to risk their lives in saving thousands of Jews fleeing the Nazi-occupied mainland France to escape deportation and death.

The Maltese Jewish narrative manifests a spellbinding trajectory still under-the-radar for most historians: from Israelites sailing there with Phoenicians three thousand years ago, to the first Jewish traveler, the Biblical Paul, arriving in Malta in the first century CE, through the dark times of Jewish slavery during the Knights of St. John’s rule in the 16th century, to today’s blossoming Jewish community. The tiny archipelago of Malta was the only country in the world during WWII that did not require entry visas, therefore saving the lives of untold thousands of European refugees.

The lecture concludes with the Lessons Learned from the “acts of loving kindness” and Jewish stories in Malta, Corsica, and Q&A.

Please register in advance: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcumtrzsvEtCPHeT7g7O57ZMhQ2GwaVuL

Acts of Loving Kindness During the Holocaust

Great Harbor of Malta

Save the date for our upcoming virtual lecture on January 30, 2022: “Acts of Loving Kindness During the Holocaust: Unknown Stories from Corsica and Malta.”

Date: January 30th, 2022 
Time: 2:00 PM EST US/20:00 Italy/21:00 Israel

Hosted by the Italian Jewish Cultural Center of Calabria and Synagogue Ner Tamid del Sud, Serrastretta, Italy

Presented by Irene Shaland

This virtual lecture is free and open to the public. No registration is required. To attend, click on the zoom link a few minutes before the starting time: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83848871371

The Jewish story of Corsica is not well known, and many are surprised to hear that the island has any to reveal. However, in 1763, Corsica was the first modern country to proclaim social and political equality for the Jews: 27 years ahead of the US and 28 years ahead of France. The history of the Jews in Corsica goes back at least a millennium.  Reconstructing that history in its entirety what firmly comes across, is the welcoming Corsican heart, always open to those who seek refuge from cruelty and injustice. In addition, the island’s Jewish narrative reveals an irony of Omerta (mafia’s code of silence) that led many Corsicans to risk their lives in saving thousands of Jews fleeing the Nazi-occupied mainland France to escape deportation and death.

The Maltese Jewish narrative manifests a spellbinding trajectory still under-the-radar for most historians: from Israelites sailing there with Phoenicians three thousand years ago, to the first Jewish traveler, the Biblical Paul, arriving in Malta in the first century CE, through the dark times of Jewish slavery during the Knights of St. John’s rule in the 16th century, to today’s blossoming Jewish community. The tiny archipelago of Malta was the only country in the world during WWII that did not require entry visas, therefore saving the lives of untold thousands of European refugees.

The lecture concludes with the Lessons Learned from the “acts of loving kindness” and Jewish stories in Malta, Corsica, and Q&A.

Understanding the Czech Jewish Narrative and Kafka

old jewish cemetery in Prague

Please join our free virtual (Zoom) lecture on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 

Time:  7:00pm – 8:30pm

Presenter: Irene Shaland

This event is hosted by New City Library, NY

This free and open to the public program will take place online, but registration is required.

To Register and for the Zoom information follow the link below:

https://newcity.librarycalendar.com/events/understanding-czech-jewish-narrative-and-kafka

The history of the Jews in the Czech lands, which included the modern Czech Republic as well as Bohemia, Czech Silesia, and Moravia, goes back more than a thousand years. Jews are believed to have settled in Prague in the 10th century. By the end of the 19th century, most Czech Jews within the Austro-Hungarian Empire lived in large cities, spoke German, and considered themselves Germans.

In this presentation, we will explore the fascinating and little-studied phenomenon: the formation of the complex and fluid Jewish/non-Jewish sense of identity by peering into the mind of the greatest European modernist writer, Franz Kafka (1883-1924).  

Kafka was born and raised as a Jew and lived all his life in Prague. We will focus our exploration on Kafka in Prague and Prague in Kafka’s writing, even though, in his works we find no direct reference to Judaism or to the specific places of Prague or  Bohemia. However, Kafka took a keen interest in- and learned- Yiddish and Hebrew, and his diaries and letters reveal a repeated reflection on his identity as a Jew and on European Jewish life. He also anticipated the incoming Holocaust of the European Jewry.

Seeking Kafka in Prague and Prague in Kafka, we will attempt to understand the Jewish Czech narrative through reconciling this contradiction: strong Jewish and East European interest in life and lack of explicit reference to these interests in the great author’s literary work. If Kafka had not been born and raised as a Jew, would he become Kafka?

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Review of Jewish Guide to Malta and Corsica

Book cover of Shaland's Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica

By Barbara Miller, the author of “If I Survive: Nazi Germany and the Jews.”

This book is a masterpiece in bringing to light the unknown history and rich cultural treasures of Malta and Corsica which are situated in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea but off the beaten track for most tourists. Author Irene Shaland’s experience as an art and travel writer, educator, and theatre reviewer brings a richness and depth not normally found in travel guides. Her husband, Alex, an internationally-acclaimed photographer has contributed a huge number of amazing photos that bring the story to life.

And this is much more than a travel guide. It also opens the door on the Jewish story of Malta and Corsica. As Jewish migrants from Russia to the USA, they bring unique insights to this travel guide. 

Many gems of information for the curious are revealed like the first alphabet, the temples built well before the pyramids of Egypt, and much more but you need to read it to find out. You will be surprised at how pivotal these two small islands were in the history of Europe and the Middle East. When you pick this book up, you’ll not be able to put it down. Even if you don’t plan to travel there, you’ll be carried along as Irene’s skills as a detective and researcher draw you into this amazing story. 

If your Amazon account is in the US (www.amazon.com), please follow one of the links below to take a look at the paperback or eBook edition of Irene’s book:

Paperback edition: https://amzn.to/3nfjH9s

eBook (Kindle) edition:  https://amzn.to/3uJRTeQ

If you live outside of the US and your Amazon account is based in your country, please go to your Amazon account and type “Shaland’s Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica” in the search box.

Learn more about Irene Shaland.

travel literature, travel nonfiction, travel stories books, ultimate travel list, travel the world book, guide book, guide book europe, guide book of, jewish authors, jewish places, jewish sites, best sellers wwii jewish biography, jewish women authors.

Jews of the Jungles (and cities) in Brazil

Interior of Grand Temple, Rio de Janeiro

Irene Shaland’s Virtual Lecture

Thursday                     December 16th           2021                              7:30 PM

This virtual presentation is hosted by Adath Shalom Synagogue, Morris Plains, NJ.

Join Irene Shaland, a Jewish historian, internationally-published art and travel writer, and author of five books for a captivating journey through 500 years of Jewish history in Brazil. Encounter little-known stories of Brazil discovery in the 15th century’s context of a twisted world of politics, deceptions, and intrigues. Learn about the key role the  Crypto-Jews played in this country’s exploration and development. Find out why Anna Novinsky, a renowned expert in Jewish history in Sao Paolo, claimed that “Brazil was built by the Jews!”

Journey from the 15th to the 21st century of Brazilian history and visit Salvador Bahia, Manaus, the Amazon, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, and the Iguassu Falls to uncover fascinating Jewish narratives of this unique country and to meet the Brazilian Jews who dwell in its cities and in the jungle.

To attend, click on the “Zoom Link” 10 minutes prior to the event on the Adath Shalom site:

https://www.adathshalom.net/event/jews-of-the-jungle-travels-to-brazil-with-irene-shaland.html

 

Check out our Lecture Schedule.