Day 28 (Oct 12)

 Today we headed home!
We were up early and left for the Airport by 9am.  Even though our flight wasn't until 2:15, we we wanted to be sure we had enough time in case we got lost trying to maneuver the subway.  As it turned out, that was the easiest part.  We arrived at the airport shortly before 10am and found our way the WestJet counter, which wasn't busy at all.  We checked in, and were advised to go through security right away.
The line-up to the security line up started outside the terminal building and wound it's way through two floors in a snake-like pattern until you reached the actual security area.  We stood in line waiting for almost three hours.  Periodically staff would walk through calling flights within the next half hour and fast track those people.  Of course, with false knees, both of us ended upgoing through enhanced screening, and Bob was "lucky" enough to have his back selected for a random search. We made it to our gate half and hour before boarding!
The flight itself was unremarkable.  I was amazed at the simplicity of coming through customs and immigration in Calgary.  It is much easier than it was the last time we went through a few years ago.  We  were so glad to see David  and know we were almost home. 
We arrived home just before 9pm after being up for the past 19 hours!
It is good to be home.  We are tired but happy.  This has been a great trip.

I can't end this blog without thanking the people that helped make it happen.  Thanks to Earl and Shirley for looking after our house while we were gone. Thanks to Gord and Susan who let us know about this bus tour. Thanks to Marian who organized and coordinated the trip.  Thanks to George who took us to the airport at the last minute when our arranged ride was derailed by Covid.  Thanks to Ken for keeping the website updated and loaned us the adapters so we could get power.

Thanks to Fiona, our tour guide, and Julian, our driver, for making the bus tour a fun and informative trip.  And a special thanks to Matthew, friend and guide, who made the last week in London so special.  And last...to our son, David, for the ride home.

NO PHOTOS TODAY

Until the next trip....

Day 27 (October 11) Mayfair-St. James Park

This is the last day of our holiday.  We had decided this would be a down day as we prepare for our trip home. Our plan was to not take our cameras. I was thrilled because I wouldn't have to worry about photos tonight.  NOT!  I forgot about cameras in phones. 

We had arranged to meet Matthew for a last lunch together. He suggested the Guinea Pub which is the oldest pub in Britain.  It is located in the Mayfair District, which is a very high end business district.

We took the subway to Green Park and got off prepared to walk to the restaurant.  To my dismay, I could not get a GPS signal to get Google to show me the way.  We had to rely on the old fashioned way ...ask for help.  A delightful, cheery man carefully gave us directions, although he said it was a long way away.  His comment of the day: "London...you come to the biggest city and you can't get internet".  

We followed his instructions and found the Pub with no difficulty.  When we walked in the restaurant, the one thing we first noticed were all the suits.  This was obviously a high end district and it looked like several business lunches. The first thing they brought us was the wine menu.  I have never seen a 23 page wine menue before.  We opted for a couple of Guinness and a coke.  We also had steak and kidney pie which was excellent!

After lunch, we walked along towards Picadilly looking for an ice cream store, which, when we found it, was unfortunately closed.  Along the way, we passed a number of car dealerships who had cars selling for 250,000 pounds.  Did I mention that Mayfair was a wealthy area.

As we entered St. James Park, we found an ice cream vendor, so were able to get our ice cream.  We sat on a bench, savouring our ice cream and watching the crowds.

We later walked through the park. We noticed some crocuses blooming... they must have their seasons mixed up. We passed the pond we had seen the other day, where Bob found many birds to entertain him.  One particular parrot was particularly interested in Matthew.

We continued our walk, and ended by our hotel.  We bid goodbye to Matthew, after a wonderful week.  We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay and London, and are incredibly grateful that he was willing to take his holiday time to show us around.  It would not have been the same holiday without him.

Tomorrow we head home, so tonight are preparing to say our last goodbyes.

Hotel:  Resident Inn Victoria
Weather: sunny but a little cooler  -high 14c

PHOTOS

Day 26 (Oct10) Westminster Abbey

We were on our own today!  After a leisurely wakeup, we decided we would visit Westminster Abbey today.  After finding the best route on Google maps, we headed out to find the correct bus stop. It actually wasn't too hard at all.  Four stops later we were in front of the abbey.  

We joined the queue, which was about 40 minutes long.  We were surprised to learn that it didn't matter whether you already had tickets or not, you joined the same line.

We met a friendly woman from California and and had a good chat about health care in Canada.  It's interesting to learn what Americans are being told about a Public Health Care system.  It was a good conversation.

While we were in line, Bob slipped into St. Mary's Church for a quick photo op.

About 40 minutes in line, we gained entrance to the Abbey.  Words cannot describe what we found inside. The ornateness and carvings are absolutely amazing. 

The Abbey also serves as a mausoleum for about 30 kings and queens.  We were able to visit many of these resting places.

Leaving the abbey proper, we visited the cloistered area, including the oldest part of the Abbey, as well as the oldest door in Britain.

Leaving the Abbey, we wandered across to the Supreme Court, where we sat in the sun for a few minutes.  We had just decided to visit the court, when a huge group of students got to the door before us.  We got just inside the entrance and decided that this was probably not the best time to visit.

We grabbed a bus, heading for home.  Unfortunately, this time we missed our stop.  Fortunately, the next stop was Westminster Cathedral, so we popped in there for a view.  There was a service in progress so we weren't able to take and photos.

From the cathedral we walked home.  Later we walked over to a local pub, The Phoenix, for a pint and burger.  The atmosphere was typically British pub and the food was very good. (It helped we were hunger)

After a rest in our room, we headed out once again for Westminster Abbey to attend the Evensong service. The boys choir was singing this evening.  The acoustics are amazing in the building.  One of the things we both realized was that we are glad we attend a more relaxed church!

Back in our room, we are relaxing and planning our last day tomorrow.

Hotel:  Resident Inn Victoria
Weather:  Sunny and warm  high 18c

PHOTOS

Day 25 (October 9) Eastbourne

Today we took a train and went to Eastbourne on the south coast.  Eastbourne has the highest cliffs on the English Channel.  They are also known for having the highest suicide rate. They say people come from all over the world to commit suicide here.

The train ride down was relatively uneventful.  Much of the time there were trees on either side of the train.  We did watch the changing landscape as we went south.  In some places, there seemed to be family farms, and in others it looked like untamed land.  There were many small villages that we passed on the way.  It was impressive to see how many of the houses had solar panels on the roof.  We even passed a few tall buildings, whose roofs were slanted towards the sun and had solar panels.

Closer to the coast, we started to see cliffs in the distance.

We arrived at Eastbourne and started to walk towards the information office, but instead decided to take a taxi to Biring Gap and Beachy Head where the cliffs and the eight sisters are.

The cliffs are amazing. Tall ragged cliffs and a beach of stones.

Looking out over the English Channel, you can almost imagine that you see the coast of France. The cliffs are deteriorating and are very unstable.  We were warned not to go to the edge and they could give way anytime.  It is particularly bad following a rain, apparently. 

We wandered the beach for awhile, although the footing was very unstable with all the rocks on what felt like a spongy underpinning.  Later, Matthew and Bob climbed the cliff while I soaked up some sun.

After taking a taxi back to town, we walked down the pier, which is very ornate with lots of "gold".  We were told the same person that owned the pier also owned three hotels there, and you can tell which one by the gold. We stopped for some traditional fish and chips served in paper and with little wooden utensils.  We ate on the pier, overlooking the channel, listening to the waves lapping on shore.

By then, it was close to the time for our return train, so we took a taxi back to the train station.  We watched as they added an additional four cars to the train before we got on.  Already, the coaches were full and got fuller as we headed to London.  I think the previous day strike, and the fact that it was a Sunday and people were returning to London from the weekend might have explained how busy it was - definitely standing room only.

Arriving back at Victoria Station, we said goodnight to Matthew and headed back to our hotel, satisfied and content.

Hotel:  Resident Inn Victoria
Weather:  Sunny and warm  -high 18c

PHOTOS

Day 24 (October 8) London - British Museum

Today we spent the day at the British Museum.  Matthew met us at Victoria Station and we took a bus to the museum. When we arrived, there was a bit of a queue but it moved quickly.

Once inside the museum, it was overwhelming.  We started in the Ancient Eygpt room. Unfortunately, the Rosetta Stone was recently removed from the permanent display pending movement for display at another museum.  The artifacts were amazing.  The overpowering size and complexity was breathtaking.  I was amazed at the intricacy of some of the carvings

We moved through Ancient Greece and Rome, and also moved through the ages.  It was very interesting.

We moved to the Africa Display and on to America.  I was surprised, although I shouldn't have been, how much of the display was American, not Canadian, although there were a number of Inuit artifacts.

We took the elevator to the Japanese display only to find it closed, so took one floor down and walked through "paper and print" display. One of the areas was listed as "pornographic".

After that, we went down one more floor, and walked our way through a number of exhibits to the theme room on Clocks and watches.  This room was fascinating.

By this time, our minds were pretty much overflowing, and our feet were complaining, so we headed towards home.

We stopped at Dammikas, a Sri Lankan restaurant on Ken Glover's recommendation.  It was a good decision!  The food was excellent.

After supper, we said goodnight to Matthew and headed for our hotel.  On our way, we passed some interesting bobble heads

We arrived home shortly after 6pm, ready to settle in for the evening

Hotel: Resident Inn Victoria
Weather:  sunny and warm (I think - we were indoors)  high ?

PHOTOS

Day 23 (October 7) London

Another remarkable day.  We had decided to explore the local area today, so Matthew met us at our hotel at 10am.

We headed towards Buckingham Palace, which is literally just around the corner when we noticed that there seemed to be a lot of people gathering.  We soon realized that there was the Changing of the Guards today.  We decided to hang around a bit to see what we could see. We were not able to see the actual changing inside the palace walls, but we got a spectacular view of the guards march both in and out the palace.  

Later we walked through Green Park towards Soho. Matthew explained some of the greenery in the area.  The park has trees that are several hundred years old. There is one kind of tree that periodically loses its bark so it always "looks clean".  

On the other side of the park, we walked down Piccadilly to Piccadilly Circus.  We stopped there for a sit down and cup of tea.

From there we wandered through SOHO, a district well known for its partying and food.  We walked through the gay district and on to Broadwick Street and the Broad Street Pump.  This pump is a famous symbol of Public Health as the removal of the handle of this pump ended a cholera epidemic in 1854. We stopped for  drink in the John Snow Pulic House located nearby.

We then down walked Berwick Market, where there was a long row of tents featuring food from any country you might want.  The smells were amazing.

Next was China town with lanterns strung across the walkway. We stopped at C R Cafe for a Malaysian lunch.  The food was excellent!  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

We walked through Covent Garden and window shopped along the way.  There were also a number of street performers to add the to atmosphere. Matthew explained the history of Covent Garden and Market.

From Covent Garden, we headed to Trafalgar Square.  At this point, I was getting a little tired, so sat down in the square for a rest and did some people watching. 

We walked through St. James Park on our way back to our hotel.  We did some bird watching by the lake in the park.  We watched swans, ducks, coots, parrots and one heron.  There was even a black swan.  

We got home around 7pm, again exhausted but well satisfied with our day.  My steptracker said 15,596 steps.

Hotel: Resident Inn Victoria
Weather: mixed sun and cloud -high 16c

PHOTOS

Day 22 (October 6) London - Greenwich

What a day!  We had agreed to meet Matthew near Big Ben at 10am. We headed out of our hotel with Google maps on hand.  The new live view works very well and kept us on track.  We walked along Victoria Street through what looks like a business district. Along the way, we passed by Westminster Abbey, a stop for another day. 

It took us longer than google says to get to Big Ben, but we do walk quite a bit slower than most, and stopped numerous times along the way to confirm our direction and to look around. Matthew had suggested we walk through St. James Park, but I think we missed that.  All that being said, we are getting more confident in our journey.

The scaffolding has been removed from Big Ben and the clock is running, but it is not yet open.  It is an amazing structure.

We met Matthew and headed off for Greenwich.  We took a "river bus" which is part of the regular transit system, only on water.  Matthew gave me a running commentary on the the buildings we passed while Bob took photos out the back.  We passed Cleopatra's needle, which Egypt wants back, under London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and past numerous other buildings etc along the way.  It was great getting a local's comments.

Arriving at Greenwich, we wandered the village and then walked past the university.  We stopped for lunch at a local tavern, and then took a taxi up to the Observatory.  There was a detour to get there, but the driver did not charge us for the extra distance - a "decent chap".

At the obseratory, we stood on the prime meridian! There is a marker on top of the observatory that helps mark the time.  There is a red ball that falls at exactly 1pm every day.

On the walk down from the observatory, Matthew pointed out the different types of trees there.  There are two types of chestnuts growing there.  He explained the difference as one of them is poisonous.  We tasted chestnuts right off the tree.

We took the train back to London, and then the tube to "The Strand".  This is the tallest building in Europe.  We took an elevator to the 68th and then 72nd floor.  The views from this area are absolutely amazing.  The sky was clear so we were able to see for miles!

We then took the subway back to Victoria Station and home.  We said goodnight to Matthew and started our walk back to the hotel. We stopped at a local restaurant for drinks and chicken wings.  We sat outside and people watched for almost an hour.

Back in our rooms, we are exhausted, but very satisfied.  My tracker said I did over 14000 steps.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Hotel:  Resident Inn Victoria
Weather:  warm and sunny - high 19c

PHOTOS

Day 21 (October 5) Edinburgh to London

Today was a travelling day.  The bus tour ended with breakfast.  We said goodbyes to our travel-mates for the past 3 weeks and set out on our own.

Today is strike day on the railways.  The railway station was just down a hill and around the corner from the hotel. Along with another couple (Phyllis and Dennis), we made our way down the hill and into the train station.  Because we had scoped it out a few days ago, we were quite comfortable at this point.  We found our platform and got on the train.  For a strike day with limited trains running, I expected this train to be fully loaded.  Our coach, however, was almost empty.  It got a bit busier as the trip went on, but never filled.

It was an uneventful ride.  We made 9 short stops at smaller communities to let folks on and off, and arrive at London's King Cross at 3:40pm exactly. 

Then the fun began.  We had to find the Victoria underground line.  Fortunately, Matthew had provided us with detailed directions (Some of you will remember Matthew - the young fellow we met at the Arctic Circle, who said "if you're ever my way, look me up".)  We did.  The walk to the Victoria line was VERY VERY long, with heavy luggage, and took three elevators. But we found our way and got on the "tube".  Our trip took four stops and then we had to find our way to our hotel.  Again, with Matthew's help, and that of a few good women, we were able to find our way to our hotel.  Did you know you could set maps to live view, and it would actually point you the way if you showed it where you are!  Fantastic little tool!

We checked in with an absolutely delightful front desk hostess, Bianca.  Our room is comfortable and a decent size with a king bed.  It has a coffee maker, which neither Bob nor I could get to give us anything but hot water.  Biance was good enough to come to our room and show us how.  I swear she didn't do anything differently that we had done, but she got coffee, and now we do too.

After a short rest, we headed out to explore the area a bit, and find a bite to eat.  There is a plaza a short walk from our hotel with a wealth of different restaurants.  We ate a Franco's which makes Italian pizza with a sourdough crust(much different than what we have at home). After a good supper, we stopped by the grocery store for some orange juice and bananas and have settled in for a restful sleep.

Tomorrow, Matthew is meeting us near Big Ben (hopefully we don't get lost looking for it) for breakfast and a bus ride on the Thames to Grenich. From there, we will decide what to do next.

Hotel:  Resident Inn Victoria
Weather: cloudy with scattering rain, high18c

PHOTOS

Day 20 (October 4) Edinburgh

This morning, we had some time for ourselves.  We slept in until 7:30am, and had a leisurely shower and start to the morning.  After breakfast, we decided to walk down to the National Gallery. After checking Google Maps, we set off for our destination - after deciding NOT to take our cameras with us.  It was a refreshing break to just view the area with our eyes and not camera lens.  After checking with someone only once, we found the National Gallery.  It was amazing!  Art work dating back to the 1300s.  Much of the older art was biblically related. Note for Jordan - one of the paintings has a red-haired Jesus.  

We spent a couple of hours wandering the gallery, from the early works to some fairly contemporary Scottish art.

We headed home through Princes Park and up Cockburn Street.  Cockburn Street is all up-hill.  Did I mention earlier that Edinburgh is built on Hills?  Half way up the hill, we stopped at a tea shop for a coffee and pastry for lunch.  The proprietors' were delightful and we fully enjoyed our stop.

Back in our hotel room, we had about an hour before heading out to visit Rosslyn Church

I had visited this church about 30 years ago and had fond memories of it, from the lone piper outside the kirk, to the amazing carvings inside.  It is now much more commercialized, and more restricted in what we can do.  No photography is allowed inside.  

Rosslyn Chapel is built in the Gothic style of architecture. There was an interesting presentation on the history of the church and its restoration.  There was quite a bit of discussion on Da Vinci Code that brought Rosslyn Chapel to awareness. (I remember when I visited previously, the discussion was mostly on the masons, Knights Templar and the intricacy and meanings of the carvings.)

           Learn more here.

On the way back to the hotel, we past Holyrood to see if the King was still in residence, and his royal standard was flying high, indicating he was still there.

After a bit of a break, we headed out again for a night of Scottish music, dance and food.  It was a great time.. lots of Scottish dancing, music and song. 

Tomorrow we begin a new adventure.

Hotel: Hilton Edinburgh
Weather: overcast  high 17c

PHOTOS

Day 19 (October 3) Edinburgh

Up and on the coach by 8:30am.  We each received "Whisperers".. audio hearing devices.  A local guide took us around Edinburgh on the coach and explained the difference between Old Town and New Town, and how New Town was built on top of Old Town.  It was all very confusing but very interesting. We saw many of the monuments, old buildings and residences of past important people like Robert Louis Stevenson etc.  

Later we drove down past Holyrood, which we had visited yesterday.  Everything was closed off today in preparation for the arrival King Charles.  We caught a glimpse of the Royal Guard preparing for his arrival. (Later in the day we could see the King's Royal Standard waving, indicating he was present in the palace.).  

Next, we stopped at Edinburgh Castle and our local guide did a quick tour of the castle, pointing out the highlights, and then turned us loose for a couple of hours.  We saw Scotland's Crown Jewels, the dungeon/prison area, the military museum, palace apartments and much more.  We were glad that we arrived early in the morning, as when we came out of the castle, the crowds were overwhelming. This was a very interesting visit to learn the history of the castle, and particularly the changing relationship between England and Scotland.  

After the castle, we had some free time back at our hotel.  We took this opportunity to scope out Waverly Station - the train station that will take us to London on Wednesday.  I have to say that it was pretty overwhelming when we first walked in, but with some exploring and the help of one of the train agents, I think we are fairly comfortable with our journey on Wednesday.  Hopefully the strike doesn't create chaos.  

Later in the day, we joined our tour guide for a tour of the "Vaults" under Edinburgh. We opted not to take our cameras for this part of the tour.  We walked along High Street to meet our local guide, who took us to the old Scottish parliament, hidden by Gothic Architecture. We are learning more and more about the political relationship between England and Scotland.  After a brief tour of the streets and buildings, we were taken down to the vaults, a series of caverns underneath South Bridge which were discovered in the 1980s.  The Vaults were originally the support structure for the bridge, but as buildings were built on the Bridge, the structures were closed in and became storage for the buildings above.  They also became sights of illicit alcohol production, and homes for the poorest of Edinburgh. It was fascinating to think how lives were lived 200 or more years ago.

After the vault visit, we had a delightful supper in a local restaurant.  The dessert was Eton Mess.

Back home after a busy day, we fell into bed.

Hotel:  Edinburgh Hilton
Weather:  Overcast  high 14c

PHOTOS

Day 18 (October 2) Dundee-St. Andrews-Edinburgh

 We were able to sleep in today - bags out by 8am, but not on the bus until 9:30am.

We drove through the countryside, but field crops and small villages until we arrived at our first stop - St. Andrews.  St. Andrews is known for its golfing!  Today was the final day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Competition, so the area was quite busy.  We were dropped off near the golf course and were given three hours to explore the town.  Bob and I weren't interested too much in the golf, so we wandered down by the seashore.  St. Andrews is on the east coast of the Fife.  We watched the birds for awhile, and walked along the rugged coastline.

We wandered up through the town to the University of St. Andrews, currently ranked the top university in the British Isles.  It was amazing to wander through the campus with its ancient buildings.  We walked past Purdy's, through the church courtyard, and down to the University Library.  It had a strong "academic" feel to it.

Later we walked down Market Street, which is where the stores... and tourists are.  There, we stopped for a cup of coffee and watched the bustle.

Back on the bus, we drove to Edinburgh and on to Holyrood Palace. This was absolutely fascination.  Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the King of England in Scotland.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos inside the palace. We were provided with audio headsets which described the palace as we walked from room to room.  It's hard to believe that some people can live in such opulence.

After the palace, we checked in to our hotel, and had the rest of the day to ourselves.  After a short rest, we dropped by the bar for and drink and then set out to find a hamburger joint.  Which we did.. Byron's.  The burgers were great, and the recommended cheesecake was sooo good.  It was good to get some down home food.  Our waiter was a young fellow with a twinkle in his eye.  He has been to Canada once - to Banff to ski.

Back in our room, we are settling in as tomorrow is an early day again.

Hotel:  Hilton Edinburgh
Weather:  Sunny and warm  high 18c

PHOTOS

Day 17 (Oct 1) -Inverness to Dundee

First, a note about yesterday's blog.  The wireless at the hotel was slow and erratic.  As a result, the blog and photos did not get posted until this afternoon when we arrived in Dundee.

Back to October 1 - Today, we started a little later than we have been lately..we were on the bus and on our way by 8:30am.  The weather was threatening rain, but there were a few blue spots in the sky, so we were hopeful. We drove through Cairngorms National Park.  It was more like a forest, with patches of clearings and the mountain hills in the background.  It would have been more spectacular but for the rain and foggy conditions.  But even so, it was interesting to see the varying landscape along the road.  There were two areas of constructions where we had a bit of a wait - Canada is not the only country to have highway construction, lol.  

Arriving at Pitlochry, we drove a little further to Blair Athol Distillery where we had a tour and tasting. This distillery is a small one, with only 4 stills. But they manage to put out about one million litres of scotch whiskey every year.  The tour guide covered much the same information as the guide did yesterday, but with a slightly different approach, focusing on some of the differences between different distillerys.  All in all, very interesting.

Five minutes down the road, we parked in the centre of Pitlochry, where we were given just under two hours to explore the town, shop, and eat.  Bob and I opted to take a short walk down to the train station, which was quiet today because of a rail strike, and they wandered down to the Pitlochry dam and fish ladder. With the development of the dam, used for creating energy, it was necessary to provide a way for the thousands of salmon to make their way upstream. The ladder as it is known is 310 metres in length and has 34 pools, 3 of which are resting pools.

After our visit to the dam, we stopped at a small shop for our usual scone and coffee lunch.

By then it was time to head back to the bus...so no shopping.. ahh.. what a shame.

We continued our travels towards Dundee.  We passed what looked like a single vehicle accident on the road, and immediately noted the backup of oncoming traffic that literally went on for miles (not km..we are in Scotland).

We arrived at our hotel around 3:30pm and after settling in, wandered out to see the water park just outside the hotel.  It was a massive park, with lots of water sports available.  We watched a group of kids for awhile, and then came back to the hotel so I could get today's blog done before supper.  Bob is on the bed, reading his tablet.

A word about Covid. We first experienced Covid on the bus on Day 3 of our trip.  Up to now, there have been 8 people confirmed positive, and several others with symptoms who are either negative or who have not tested.  The back of the bus (where Bob and I were sitting) was declared the isolation zone and those affected travelled there.  Fortunately, no-one has been very ill, and it mostly seems to be behind us as very few folk are still coughing.

Hotel:  Apex City Quay Hotel
Weather: mix of sun and rain - high 16c 

PHOTOS

Day 16 (September 30th) -Isle of Skye to Inverness

 We acknowledge National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada.

Throughout the night, we could hear the wind howling outside our window.  As a result, we woke earlier than usual, so were up, showered and dressed before 6:30am.  

The bus left at 8am.  It has been very windy and rainy today.  There was some question whether we would actually get off the island, and the bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles.  Julian decided that we weren't in one of those, so ...very carefully.... we drove slower over the bridge.  We could feel the wind buffeting the vehicle as we drove.

Once across the river, we headed along Loch Ness, and learned the many stories of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. 

Our first stop was at  the remains of Urquart Castle. When we first arrived, we watched a film on the castle from the 6th century when Saint Columba arrived to convert the inhabitants, to the to 17th century when it then current inhabitants blew up the castle rather than turn it over.  We then explored the ruins in the rain.

While we were in the obligatory shop at the Castle, we found a painting that we both fell in love with.  If only we had wall space.

Continuing on, we headed to Culloden Moor.  For those of you who are Outlander fans, you will remember the battle of Culloden.  There is a wall there that has bricks sticking out to represent the lives lost... it was very dramatic the few loyalists lives lost compared to the 1500 Jakobeits lost. We stopped for lunch here and watched the rain and heavy wind.

Next on our agenda was a visit to Glen Ord Distillery.  On our way there, we passed through Ord of Muir.  This is the first time I have seen the name Muir, other than a brief reference to John Muir.

At the distillery, we had an excellent tour where we learned how scotch whisky is made.  We then visited the warehouse where we saw the barrels aging.  This distillery ages its whiskey about 8 - 12 years, while some are still aging after 38 years.  We were then treated to a tasting.  All in all a great visit.

The weather was starting to clear up by now, as we headed to our hotel for the night.   We are now settled in our room, waiting for our dinner at 7pm.

On another note, the British Railway is staging a rotating strike on October 5th, the day we are scheduled to travel by train to London. From the information I have been looking it, it looks like we have lucked out and that our scheduled train is still scheduled to run.  More to follow.

Hotel: Mecure Inverness Hotel
Weather:  Windy and Rainy - high 11c

PHOTOS

Day 15 (September 29th) -Isle of Skye

Today was another early day - out and on the bus by 8am. This was mostly a touring day, although we did make a couple of stops.  We drove around one part of the Isle of Skye through spectacular, dramatic, and changing scenery.  It was almost impossible to take it all in.  

At the north tip of the peninsula, we visited the Museum of Life, a private museum that showed the life of earlier islanders. There were seven thatched roof homes that each showed a different aspect of early island life.  This museum was a passion for the owner and it was amazing to see all the historic collectibles he had gathered over the years.  A fascinating stop.

This stop was also near the gravesite of Flora McDonald.

The roads in this area are VERY narrow, only wide enough for one vehicle.  Every once in awhile, there would be a passing just out that would allow one vehicle to pull over and leave just enough room for the other vehicle to pass.  Combine that with winding roads and it was a harrowing experience.  I'm sure Julian was "thrilled" with the idea of having to drive it.  At one point, an oncoming camper van seemed confused about what the process was, as we, ie. Julian, waiting patiently for her to figure it out.

Coming down the other side of the island, the scenery was just as spectacular. We even managed to see a few highland cows.

We stopped at Portree, the capital of the island, for lunch and a visit around the town.  Bob and I managed to find a local craft fair, and a wood turned apple made from local wood - lignum vitae. We also had a feed of fish and chips in a local restaurant.

We were back at our hotel around 3pm, and spent the afternoon relaxing.  

Hotel:  King Arms Hotel - Kyleakin
Weather: mostly sunny - high 18c

PHOTOS

Day 14 (September 28th) Glasgow -Fort William-Glenfinnan-Isle of Skye

It seems like our days of late starting are over. We were up and out at the bus by 8am.

Today was mostly a driving day.  But the scenery has changed dramatically!  The hills are giving way to mountains (Scottish Style) and moors. The heather is pretty much at the end of the season.  While there were still patches of purple, it had mostly given way to brown.

We travelled north towards Fort William, a small Scottish town. We stopped for a bit of a break and wandered the town a bit. 

Back on the bus, we headed to Glenfinnan.  This is supposedly the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie stood his ground.  There is a monument built to honour him there.  Bob also took a small path to the top of the hill to catch a glimpse of the landscape. He fell on his way back down, and says he "rolled" a bit.  All I know is that his pants were stained red by his knee.. he assures me it is just from the red berries on the ground.

While Bob performed his acrobatics, I wandered the small museum.  They had a display of the battle with figurines.  I found one figurine pretty interesting - the guide notes suggested he "had something else on his mind".

Glenfinnan is also the home to the viaduct in Harry Potter.

Leaving Glenfinnan, we drove to the ferry which would take us to the Isle of Skye.  It was a short boat ride of about 30 minutes.. very windy, but a pretty ride.

Arriving on the Island, our next visit was to Eilean Donan Castle, which is a recreation of the original castle.  We had a guided tour which was very interesting, learning about the history of the castle and the role of the MacDonald's and Frasers' in the area.  Unfortunately, photographs were not allowed.

After the castle visit, we visited a local pub for a pint before dinner.  I think we overwhelmed the place, taking the majority of seats as I don't think it would have held more than 30 people.

We then went on to our hotel for the next two nights.  This is an interesting hotel.  The bathroom door cannot open completely because it runs into the bed.  It was a challenge to find floor space for our luggage.  The bed reminded me of Grandma Williams (Jake). A quaint and interesting experience.  We had supper at the hotel, which was excellent, and the service was very good.

After supper, we settled into our room so I could work on the blog and be ready for an early start tomorrow.

Hotel:  King Arms Hotel - Kyleakin
Weather: Cloudy with some sun - high 16c

PHOTOS

Day 13 (September 27th) Glasgow-Loch Lomond- Stirling Castle-Glasgow

The day started early as we headed to Loch Lomond for a cruise on the lake.  But first, we did a quick tour of some of the interesting sites of Glasgow.  Glasgow is a mix of the old and the new. We didn't see the ruins that we saw in Ireland, but many of the still functioning buildings are from the 1600s to 1700s, sitting next to modern constructions.

The Loch Lomond route took us down wandering tree lined roads.  There were hills in the background.  Arriving at Loch Lomond, we boarded a boat for a cruise around the lake.  The tour guide told us about the history of the Loch and pointed out historical and other interesting features of the lake.

Back in the road, we headed further down the road towards Stirling Castle.  This castle celebrates the Renaissance period, and has several buildings with several different exhibits.  There is the palace apartments with remarkable tapestries to visit, the Sterling Heads Gallery, a Chapel Royale, the gardens, and the Regimental Museum.  There is even an Accessible vault where visitors who find the castle difficult to manuever get to see the exhibits remotely.

One of the exhibits we found most interesting was the Regimental Museum which followed the Sutherland and Argyle Regiments through the centuries.  Fascinating.

If you want to learn more go here: https://www.stirlingcastle.scot/discover/

After Sterling Castle, just a little way on, we visited Wallace Monument - a monument built to honour William Wallace. Stirling’s famous landmark stands above the fields where William Wallace led his troops to victory at The Battle of Stirling Bridge and tells the story of the patriot and martyr who became Scotland’s National Hero.  There are 270 or so steps to the top of the monument..all up through very narrow, circular stone stairs.  There are four levels to the top, each about 71 steps.  At each level there is a display.  I made it to the first level, but Bob managed all the way to the top!

After Wallace Monument, we visited the Kelpies. The Kelpies are 30-metre-high  horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits). Built of structural steel with a stainless steel cladding, The Kelpies weigh 300 tonnes each. Construction began in June 2013 and was complete by October 2013. 

After this visit, we returned to our hotel.  Bob and I walked down the street to a local pub (Molly Malone's) for wings and a pint.  We had hot honey wings which were really very good.  I would never have thought of combining honey with spicy heat.

Back in our room, exhausted from a fascinating day, we curled up and almost immediately fell asleep.

Hotel:  Maldron Hotel
Weather:  Cooler with a mix of sun and cloud -scattered sprinkles high 14c

PHOTOS

Day 12 (September 26th) Belfast to Glasgow

Happy Birthday, Bob

Today was a sleep-in day.  Which of course, we didn't do.  We were down to breakfast before 8am.  The bus left at 10:15, headed for the ferry across the channel to Scotland.

The ferry was fancier than any we have in Canada.  There was an area especially for children, including computer games, movies and other children's activities.  The restaurants were comfortable and had a variety of food.  We had our usual lunch - scone and coffee/tea. It was a bit of a rush to get back to the coach as we approached shore, but everyone got back on the bus before the scheduled departure.

Once off the ferry, we followed the road towards Glasgow.  Our first stop was Culzean Castle.  It was probably one of my favourite castles so far this trip.  It was built in the mid 1800s and had the architecture of the time period..very ornate and detailed in design.  The weapons room was particularly interesting as the weapons were organized in geometric designs.  We thoroughly enjoyed this stop, despite the smattering of rain as we walked back to the bus.

The rest of the trip was to Glasgow.  The roads are wider than Ireland, and for the most part, we were on a freeway.  We noticed that the pitch of the roofs, although still steeper than in Canada, was not as steep as in Ireland.  The houses were more along the architecture of old Canada.  The countryside was not as rocky as Ireland, although the coastline was more rugged and the highlands more defined.

We arrived at our hotel around 5:30pm and after a rather disappointing meal at 7:30pm, we are now settled in our rooms, enjoying a spot of tea, before settling in for the night.  

Tomorrow is an early day.

Hotel:  Maldron Hotel
Weather:  Overcast and some rain when we were on the bus..sunny periods when we were off.  High 14c

PHOTOS

Day 11 (September 25th) Belfast

Today we toured Belfast on a coach tour. The local guide, Ian, showed us much of the interesting architecture in Belfast.  He also explained a little about the separation of the catholic and protestant sections, and showed us the large fence dividing the areas.  It's hard to imagine a country with such stark divisions.  

One of the things we noted were the number of wall murals throughout the city, many of them "protest" oriented.  I was fascinated by the number and variety of them.  We also passed another protest.

After the city tour, we went to the "Titanic Experience".  This was a massive museum showcasing the construction and disaster of the Titanic.  It was extremely well done and highlighted the lives that were lost.  I even found some Ginger Beer to enjoy.

We had free time in the afternoon.  Bob and I chose to go back to the room for a little rest, to get ready for tomorrow.... when we head to Scotland.

Hotel:  Stormont
Weather:  overcast, cooler   high 14c

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Day 10 (September 24th) Sligo to Belfast

 Today we left the Republic of Ireland and entered Northern Ireland.  As we travelled north, the scenery changed from rocky and hilly to more plains like.  The amazing green was still with us. The border into Northern Ireland was an "invisible border".  There was no indication that we had crossed, but money was now Pounds, and we now travelled in miles instead of km.

Our first stop  was (London)Derry. Derry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland, and the 5th largest in all Ireland.  It's name comes from the old Irish "daire" or oak grove. While it's formal name is Londonderry, most nationalists refer to it as Derry.  While there, Ronan, a local guide, took us on a walking tour along the city wall.  He explained the challenges of Ireland and the "troubles" of the late 1900s (civil war). It was a very interesting presentation and has started to clear some of my confusion about the divisions in Ireland.  While it is often referred to as Catholic and Protestant... and Presbyterian, essentially, the disagreement relates more to loyalty to Britain or loyalty to Ireland (The formation of the Republic of Ireland in 1921).  Following the walking tour, we had the opportunity to visit City Hall and wander the streets a bit.  The city hall is a dramatic, very ornate building, with amazing stained glass windows. It is home to an incredible pipe organ! 

Nearby is also a "Peace" bridge. We even managed to find a rainbow crosswalk! After wandering the shops and stopping for a scone and cuppa tea, we headed back to our bus, to come upon a protest. (we soon learned that these are not uncommon in Northern Ireland).  This protest seemed to be about the need for adequate funding for housing the most vulnerable.

Continuing on our travels, we next arrived at the Causeway of Giants.  This is a natural rock and cliff formation that is absolutely incredible.  It was  named a world heritage site in 1986.  The walk down to it was long, but was well worth it.  Formations that looked hand carved jutted out into the ocean.  Many people climbed the cliffs and rocks.  Unfortunately, just before we arrived, someone had fallen and emergency vehicles were performing a rescue.  It looked like they were ok, though. 

    More Info: Causeway of Giants

 Before leaving the causeway, we took a group picture.  As we continued on our way, we took a wrong turn and headed further into the country. It gave us a chance to see more of the countryside.  After returning to our original route, we carried on to Belfast, where we settled in for the night.

Hotel:  Stormont Hotel
Weather: mix of sun and cloud   High 17c

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Day 8-9

Day 8 was a very busy day that started early in the morning and didn't end until midnight, so you are getting two days for the price of one.

Day 8 Excursion to the Aran Islands

The day started early as we headed to the ferry to visit the Aran Islands.  These islands are known for their wool, although they say that very little wool is produced there nowadays. We visited one of the three islands, Inis Mor.

The main industry is tourism. On arrival we were escorted to a local pub for sandwiches and tea.  While there, we were entertained with the history of the island and some Irish music.  The population of the Islands is currently around 800. 

Following the entertainment, we went on a tour around the island. It was a quiet, but beautiful place, with mountains and fields surrounding small communities of about 130 people in each.  There were a number of sheep grazing freely in the pastures.  The familiar stone fences were also present in great abundance.  It's clear that this island was mostly rock.  

We stopped at a cemetery and church which has been around since between the 10th and 14th century. There were a mixture of those very old gravestones and newer ones, as it is still functioning.

Following the visit to the cemetery, we took in the highlight of the tour - a visit to Dun Aengus - or the black fort.  The walk to the fort is long and arduous, and not very stable.  It was too much for me, but Bob managed to get there... and back.  From the photos, it looked like an amazing view.  The cliffs were high and sheer - and you could get right to the edge!

After arriving back at the hotel, we had about a half hour break at the hotel, we headed out for dinner out in a castle about 40  minutes away.  It was an intimate affair with just our group and one other.  The host and hostess were great and a lot of fun, as was the harpist.  We were blessed to honoured as King and Queen for the evening.  Bob made a wonderful king... charging taxes, and sentencing folk to lashes. It was a great and fun evening.

We arrived home just before midnight and collapsed in our rooms.

Hotel:  The Ardilaun Hotel
Weather: Mainly sunny with a little cloud... Rain only when we were on the bus.  High 18c 

Day 9 - Galway to Kylemore Abbey- Sligo

Today was mainly a travelling day as we travelled up the western coast, just a little bit inland.  The scenery started to change as we moved away from the rocky hills to more flat green land.  The stone fences gave way to barbed wire and wooden ones.

Our stop for the day was at Kylemore Abbey, which has housed the Benedictine nuns since 1921.

The highlight of this visit was to the Walled Garden. It was a massive walled garden with a formal area, as well as garden beds heated with hot water pipes, an area with just ferns, and a walk through a wooded area.

The abbey was beautiful, and restored to what it looked like in the 1800s.

Following our visit to the abbey, we continued on our way through rugged countryside to our resting place for this evening, Sligo, after a brief stop at Westport.  Bob managed to sleep through some pretty interesting scenery.

Hotel:  Radisson Blu Sligo
Weather: Cooler, but sunny - patches of rain, but only when we were on the bus    high 16c

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Day 7 (September 21th) Limerick -Galway

Our day started out at 9am, which is what seems to be the common start time. It makes for a much more relaxed day.  

As we started out, we passed the airport, we noticed a statue of a person with wings - seems apropos for an airport entrance.  Our journey took us to the Cliffs of Moher, huge rugged cliffs that rise up 668ft.  They were amazing to see.

After spending some time at the cliffs, we continued our journey, travelling to Rathbaurn farm, a working sheep farm.  We were greeted by a delightful couple of folks and treated to hot scones and tea, served with clotted cream and rhubarb ginger jam.  After stories of life on the farm, we were taken to the barn to meet several different species of sheep, and then watched some sheep herding.  The dog was only about 4 months old and had not yet started her training.  What we saw was amazing, especially since it was solely based on instinct.  We watched as she herded several sheep deftly into a corral, without any prompting from the farmer.  He did indicate that this was one of the best dogs he has seen.

Later, we continued on to Galway and were dropped at the pier to explore the tourist side of the city.  Bob and I stopped at a local pub for an Irish coffee before returning to the bus and on to our hotel.  

After a delicious meal with the group, we are now retired to our room to prepare for tomorrow's adventures.

Hotel:  The Ardilaun Hotel

Weather:  overcast, with light rain in the afternoon,  high 17c

PHOTOS

Day 6 (September 20th) Kilarney to Limerick

Today, we checked out of our hotel around 9am and headed for the Dingle Peninsula.

But first, a little bit more about yesterday.  For those of you that were wondering about why we had images of a goat wearing a crown - every year the people of Killorgin in Kerry Country celebrate "Puck Faire". This is one of the oldest fairs in Ireland. It stands for Fair of the He goat. Every year a group of people go up into the mountains and catch a wild goat. The goat is brought back to the town and the "Queen of Puck", traditionally a young school girl from one of the local primary schools, crowns the goat "King Puck".

The goat is then put into a small cage on a high stand for three days, and on the 3rd day of the fair, he is brought down to be led back to the mountains. In the middle of the town square, he is crowned and this signifies that the festivities may begin. Hence the statue of the crowned goat.

Today, we traveled the Dingle Peninsula towards the Blasket Islands.  The scenery was quite beautiful along this road. As usual, there were many many sheep along the way. It was interesting to see the ruins from the 12th and 13th century alongside home constructed recently, as though the two eras were coincided together.  It was as though new construction was just built around old ruins.

One of the interesting pieces of old architecture were "basket homes" - round hut-like structures with thatched roofs.

At the end of the peninsula, we stopped at the Blasket Islands Centre, which was an interpretive centre that described life on the Basket Islands, just off the coastline of Dingle Peninsula.  It described the hard life of the island inhabitants, resulting in its evacuation in 1953.

From the Blasket Islands, we continued our travels through many small villages and on to Limerick.  Limerick is one of the larger cities in Ireland,  with a population of around 60,000.  It was first established around 922 AD when the Vikings landed.

We checked in to our hotel, and discovered we had been assigned an executive room, complete with Executive lounge with complimentary wine and snacks.  The room was large, and very comfortable.

The whole group were treated to a three course meal in the hotel dining room.  It was a wonderful meal with great company.

We settled in to our room shortly after 9pm, ready for sleep.

Hotel:  Limerick Strand Hotel

Weather:  mix of sun and cloud - high 19c

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 Day 5 (September 19) Killarney - Ring of Kerry

Today was an easy start.  Breakfast at 8am, and on the bus by 9am.  Today we had a replacement driver for the day - Mossy.  I suspect it was Julian's day off.  Our tour for the day took us to the Ring of Kerry - "a 100 mile panoramic drive of the mountains adjacent to Killarney.

Ireland is bilingual - all the road signs have been in both English and Irish which has been very interesting. Today, as we head into more local areas, some of the signs are in Irish only.  We had NO idea what they were saying!  But since we weren't driving, it wasn't a problem.  Mossy was a more aggressive driver which has been quite interesting as the Ring of Kerry road is VERY narrow and winding.  Enough said.

The road  travels around the base of the mountain for awhile and then up to the summit and around the other side.  Much of the road was tree lined, but the open areas showed a varied landscape from agriculture - many many sheep farms, rugged cliffs, valleys, mountains views and small villages and towns. 

Our first stop of the day at 9:30am was at the Red Fox Inn, a scheduled stop where we had a bathroom break and could pick up a "coffee" - Irish coffee. It soon became clear that this was a tourist mecca as we counted no less that 12 tour buses at this stop.  We realized we were sharing the views today.

We noticed that some of the sheep had their backs painted in different colours.  Our tour director explained that the purpose of the colours was to differentiate who owned the sheep.  The second colour was used during breeding season to indicate if the sheep had been "mated" and could be pregnant and who the "daddy" was.  It was cute to listen to the tour guide describe this process in "gentle" terms.

Lunch was at Scariff Inn, another stop that obviously catered to the tour traffic... a bit like a cattle call.  It was buffet style, but a "server" took our tray and pulled us along the buffet table and served the foods we chose.  Very little time for choice. Not my favourite process.

The scenery was quite varied and interesting.  We were entertained with stories about the area along the way.  I was particularly impressed with the rugged stony landscape.

We arrived back in town just after 2pm and had the rest of the day on our own.

We downloaded our photos for the day, and put our feet up for a bit, and then around 4pm headed out to explore the neighbourhood.  We wandered the shops for awhile and did some people watching.  

Around 5:30 we could feel the hunger slipping in, so headed to Laurel's pub for a pint and a meal.  It was already starting to get busy, and since the two of us were sitting at a table for four by ourselves, we invited another couple who couldn't find a table to join us.  Bill and Shelley are from Southern California and are exploring Ireland on their own.  Bill is a newly retired secondary school teacher.  We had good conversation and good food.  We also enjoy meeting new people.

After supper, we wandered back to our hotel and are now resting up from the day.  Bob might slip down and get a couple of nightcaps to bring back to the room later on.

Another good day!

Hotel: Killarney Towers Hotel
Weather: mixed sun and cloud - high 19c

Many of the photos today were taken through the window on a moving bus with reflection and motion.

PHOTOS

 Day 4 (September 18) Kilkenny - Cashel-Killarney

A few words about the leaders.  Our Tour Director is a delightful woman, named Fiona O'Donovan. I think, from listening to her, she has lived near Dublin for many years.  She is full of many stories about Ireland, its history and people, as well as her experiences over the years.  The driver is Julian. He is quite quiet but also delightful.  He is very attentive and attuned to his clients' needs.  We have been very lucky to be blessed with their attention.

Today was an early start - we were out and on the road by 8am. Our first stop was at the Rock of Cashel, about one and a half hours along the road.  The Rock of Cashel, known as St. Patrick's rock as it is where St. Patrick converted the Irish.  It was originally the home of the King of Muenster around the 6th Century, but was donated to the church in the 1200s. The ruins represent the architecture over the centuries, with buildings from around the 12th - 16th century.  We fortunate enough to be able to take a tour of Cormac Church, which is open only for limited tours of limited people because of the risk of deterioration of the ruins. Apparently a person breathes out about 1/2c of water breathing in the 15 minute tour, and too frequent tours will increase the rate of decay of the ruins.  The chapel contains evidence of early roman architecture combined with the tradition Irish architecture of the day.  One of the interesting features are the head carvings throughout the chapel  Another is the remains of the frescos in the ceiling.  These were only recently discovered as they had been whitewashed when the British brought over the "Church of England" - soon to be the "Church of Ireland".  The cathedral, built about 100 years later, demonstrates the change in architectural style, followed by what is now the museum, which was constructed in the 1600s.

Following our visit to Cashel Rock, we continued on to Killarney, about two hours away.  The countryside was predominantly agriculture, mostly animal stock but some farming.  Dotted along the way were numerous small villages and a few larger towns.  This looked like a more wealthy area with homes that were well maintained.  

Once in Killarney, we had an hour free time, so Bob and I found a small bakery for an apple spice muffin and cappuccino.  Next up was a horse drawn "Jaunty Ride" through Killarney National Park.  It was a beautiful ride through the trees, with a few overlooks of two lakes. The driver showed us some of the special features of the park and introduced us to his mare "Susie".

After the ride, we walked back to our hotel and checked in.  We relaxed until we rejoined the group for dinner at the hotel. Great food and great company!

We are now relaxing in our room, looking forward to another day of adventure.

Hotel:  Killarney Towers Hotel
Weather: Cloudy and cool in the morning, sunny and warmer in the afternoon  16c

PHOTOS

 Day 3 (September 17) Dublin to Kilkenny

We had a bit later start today, heading out about 9:30am.  About 10 minutes out, we had to turn around a go back to the hotel as one of the passengers had forgotten their passport in their room.

Half an hour later, we were on the road. 

After about an hour and half we arrived at our first stop: Glendalough, which stands for "the valley between two rivers".

The site is the ruins of the monastic era from around 6th to 12th centuries. This early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and from this developed the “Monastic City”. Most of the buildings that survive today date from the 10th through 12th centuries. Despite attacks by Vikings over the years, it was not destroyed until 1214 A.D.  Glendalough is one of the top attraction.  One of its features is the Round Tower, believed to be the oldest free standing tower of its kind in Ireland. Some of the other ruins include the cathedral, priest's house and the celtic cross, which combines the cross of Christianity and the sun which was important to the early Irish.  I really enjoyed this visit and was fascinated the ruins and the secrets they hide (Archeologic digs are not allowed anywhere on the site.)

Following our visit to the monastery, we had a pleasant drive through Wicklow Forest on our way to Kilkenny.  The "mountains" were more like the foothills, but they were covered with heather and another common yellow flower of Ireland - of which I cannot remember the name - but it was quite pretty.  The landscape was  rocky with coniferous trees that are not native to this part of the country, but had been planted by locals.

Our next stop was in Kilkenny at Kilkenny Castle. Founded soon after the Norman conquest of Ireland, the Castle has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to suit changing circumstances and uses over a period of 800 years.  The current castle is more of a representation of it's original form.  Some of the most interesting displays were tapestries from the 10th - 12th century.

Following the castle visit, we walked through the town (which is full of restaurants and shops) to our hotel for the night.  After a short rest, we had dinner in the hotel restaurant. We really enjoyed the quiet restaurant and excellent food. 

Back in our rooms, we basically collapsed, ready for a good night's sleep.

Hotel:  River Court Hotel
Weather - sunny but cooler - high 16c

PHOTOS

 Day 02 (September 16) Dublin

Today, we woke refreshed and headed down for breakfast around 7:30pm.  Breakfast was buffet style and was quite impressive.  Bob and I both had scrambled eggs, sausage, grilled tomato (my favourite) and black pudding.  I also had a delightful yogurt and jam dish.

We were on the bus by 9am and off to our first stop - St. Patrick's Cathedral - the national Cathedral of the Church of Ireland.  It had the characteristics of some of the Anglican churches we have seen in Canada, but much much more elaborate.  The stained glass windows were amazing. Jonathon Swift once served as Dean of the cathedral. Again, the stained glass was spectacular and ornate construction was breathtaking. You can learn more about St. Patrick's here: https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/

Our next stop was Klmaiham Gaol, a prison first built in the 1600s.  Initially it held 1000 prisoners, mostly for crimes of poverty - begging and stealing food, but later became a prison for political prisoners of the Irish Rebellion.  We learned about the history of the 1916 Easter Rising, and the mistreatment by the British.  This was a fascinating visit.  There is so much I did not know about Irish history, particularly in its relationship with England and its subsequent independence.  There is more information here: https://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/

Next, we visited the Epic Museum, a museum about the Irish diaspora and emmigration of the Irish. This was an utterly fascinating, amazing display of the reasons why the Irish left their homeland throughout the years.  I was truly moved by this museum, and the challenges faced by Ireland through the years.   More info here:  https://epicchq.com/

In the evening, we enjoyed an Irish Cabaret, with complimentary wine, scotch, and Irish coffee.  The performers were excellent and a lot of fun. They put a whole new meaning to "dancing on the tables".

We arrived back to our hotel around 11pm and settled in for what we know will be a good sleep.  Tired, but a great day all around.

Hotel - Samuel
Weather - sunny - 19c

PHOTOS

 Day 1 (September 15) -Saskatoon to Dublin

The day started out pretty normal. We finished packing and got the house ready to turn over to our neighbours, Shirley and Earl, while we are away.  Bob left his usual detailed instructions for babying his plants.

Another neighbour, George, drove us to the airport around 4pm in preparation for our flight at 6pm.  Gotta love good neighbours.

The flight was fairly uneventful.  I did request a wheelchair at the Calgary airport because the time between flights was short and I wasn't sure how long the walk was going to be.  Wow... special treatment!!  The request was documented for the whole flight, so we got pre-boarding, and a special flight attendant for the flight from Calgary to Dublin. I have to admit I was a little embarrassed by it all.  As it turned out, I didn't need assistance in Calgary.  We landed early, and the walk was really quite reasonable. (Note to self.... always be VERY clear when you are separate from your partner (washroom) to establish the meeting point).  The Calgary to Dublin was on a "Dreamliner" with Westjet, a very new plane and quite comfortable.. all the gadgets a geek could want.  We had "dinner" around 10pm and then it was lights out.   Breakfast was served around 3:30am and consisted of a cream cheese and cucumber bun, followed by oreo cookies.

At the Dublin Airport, immigration was quick, and our baggage was almost the first off.  Although we landed in Terminal 1, our tour guide was to meet us at Terminal 2.  After a lonnnng walk to Terminal 2, we learned that we were actually being met in Terminal 1, so a long walk back.

We arrived at our hotel around 1:30pm, checked in and then set out on an "Orientation" tour of Dublin. We visited (read drove by) O'Connell Street lined with old Georgian row houses, past the Grafton Street and Merrion Square. We noticed that a number of the houses had windows boarded over.  Apparently, in the old days, people were taxed by the number of windows in their homes, and boarding the windows over was a way to reduce taxes.

Our first stop was Trinity College (University of Dublin) and a visit to the Book of Kells Exhibit.  The Book of Kells, believed to be written by Columbian monks original from Iona.  It is one of the oldest books in the world, written somewhere between in 475 and 800 AD.  It contains mainly the four books of the gospels.  On display was Mark 4.  The calligraphy is precise and the illustrations amazing.

We also visited the Long Room at Trinity College which contains thousands of very old books which are still in use.  Some of the books have tape to hold them together.  You can actually smell the old books in the library.  Fascinating!

One of the things we noted as soon as we arrived in Dublin is the number of references to McGinnis.  The familiar logo was present almost everywhere you looked.  We learned that no only was the McGinnis family brewers of great beers, they were great benefactors.  They took good care of their employees, and many of the Georgian houses we saw were built to house employees as well as to provide housing for the "less fortunate".  It makes sense, then, that our next visit was to McGinnis Brewery.  There was an excellent three floor self-guided tour that described some of the secrets behind the beer (barley cooked at 232 degrees Celsius, etc.), including a tasting room. The tour ended with a complimentary pint in the Gravity Bar on the 7th floor.  There was a great view of the city, but it was soo crowded, we made our way down to a quieter bar on the 5th floor to enjoy our pint.

Following this, we made our way back to the hotel around 6:30pm and collapsed for the night.  By this point, we were so exhausted, we were too tired for dinner, and just headed to our room. We are staying at the Samuel Hotel, and newer hotel in Dublin.  We have a very comfortable king bed and a comfortable room.   

Hotel:  Samuel Hotel

Weather - cloudy - 17c

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 After three years of not travelling, we are heading out "on the road" again!

We are heading to the British Isles.  We will be taking a  private three week bus tour through Ireland and Scotland, through Globus.  The tour director is Marian Thompson.  Many of the participants have traveled with her before, and it sounds like it is going to be a great time.

After the tour, we are taking a train down to London, and will spend a week in London on our own.

It feels good to be spreading our wings again.  We hope you will follow along on our journey.

Here's a link to the bus tour itinerary