Feb 8, 2019 - Galway!!

From February 8-10 me and my friends traveled to Galway, Ireland! It's crazy that we can travel from one side of the country to the other in only a couple of hours. We traveled by train and after we accidentally got off on the wrong stop, we finally made it to Galway! Traveling with nine people is pretty challenging but it was also very fun. It was myself and my friends Aubrie, Nick, Leopold, Riley, Kaylee, Alex, Ally, and Rose. The first night, we just hung out and found this really cool pub called "The Kings Head." The walls were all...

Feb 2, 2019 - Wicklow National Park/ Bray

Today my friends and I got up super early and took the train to Dublin and then to a little coastal town called Bray. It is in the Wicklow National Park, just south of Dublin. We walked on the rocky beach and then made it to the hiking trail that we planned to go on. The cliffs were not crazy high but they were really beautiful and it was SO sunny!! Crazy for Ireland! We walked for quite some time and it was just getting more pretty. The trail was pretty mild and then we turned to go up the peak instead of doing the loop. After a little...

Feb 1, 2019 - February 1 — Nature Walk and Dublin

This morning, my friends Nick, Aubrie, and I met up with some new friends — Riley an Daniel from Kentucky — and decided to go on a walk. We walked through the town and then ended up on the golf course and it was so beautiful! Even though it was cold the grass was super green. There were cool bridges and old buildings, as well as the oldest building in Maynooth! It is now a 4 star hotel and spa which is weird but it is cool that they kept the building up. After our walk, we got breakfast at a local place and some other people from school...

Jan 30, 2019 - First Days in Ireland!

I left Rochester on January 27th and arrived in Dublin, Ireland on the morning of the 28th. Arriving alone was a little scary but I quickly found people headed to Maynooth and we grabbed our luggage while waiting for the shuttle. The wait was long but I made friends with several people that have become my main friend group here — they are from all over the states. During the drive from Dublin to Maynooth we saw rolling green hills, ponies, small towns, and lots of castle-looking buildings. Moving into my room was pretty simple and the...

Nov 6, 2018 - Counterclockways around Ireland this time

In our 5 weeks in Ireland there have been many highlights including the Burren in Co Clare. 500sq-kms of vast cracked pavements of striated limestone with deep fissures, some catching soil but mostly barren, huge stand-alone boulders dumped in the glacial-era. Wild and windswept, real hardscrabble landscape but stunning. You can almost visualise the massive shifts in the earths crust written on the raw rocks. As I said, breathtaking. Down to Cahersiveen for a few days. On our last morning heard “Bring him Home” (out of Les Miserable, sung...

Oct 20, 2018 - Dublin

We were greeted with another sparkling sunny day when arrived in Dublin. It was a pretty non-descript ride from the airport, but it was clear when we arrived at our hotel that we had picked and other spectacular area - Temple Bar. Day #1 We were lucky enough to be able to check in early and we were hungry after a plane delay and only granola bars for breakfast, so we immediately headed out for food. The Temple Bar area is quite similar to Gastown in Vancouver or Pioneer Square in Seattle - in other words, very touristy. But hell, we're...

Oct 19, 2018 - Budapest/Kilmuckridge Ireland/

Prior to arriving in Budapest we’d been given several appointments at our dental surgery. We thought the first one would be for general checking, x-rays etc but no, after an x-ray establishing I’d got enough bone in my lower jaw to house an implant I was whisked away and, 45mins later, came back with a “screw” implanted, sown up with 5 stitches. Peter then had his 2 screws fitted and, after being given a whole sheet of safety instructions, antibiotics, pain killers and mouthwash we were out of there. Worked really well for me particularly...

Sep 1, 2018 - Back in Dublin

I have now met up with the group. Tony and Crystall who I met on the European Peace Walk in 2015 and Ruben and Paco from Spain who are friends of Tony’s. It is not possible to do much justice to Dublin in two days, however I am doing my best. Several historical events here permeate everything! The potato famine of 1845 through 1850 and the uprising in 1916 which lead to an independent Ireland in 1922.....apart from the 6 counties that became Northern Ireland. In fact those six counties are still causing trouble for Britain and the Irish...

Aug 31, 2018 - Galway, Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher

Galway I already realise Ireland will need another visit at some later point as I am only here a few days to meet up with Tony and Crystall, two friends from the European Peace Walk and two of Tony’s friends. Tony is from Brisbane but Crystall lives in Calgary, Canada. I caught up with her last August in Calgary. Crystall flies back to Calgary in a few days from Dublin which is why Dublin! We all spend a few days in Dublin then Tony, the boys and I fly to Edinburgh to start a Scottish Adventure then I go on to walk a few weeks of the...

Aug 30, 2018 - Dublin

I am sitting at Dublin airport having a coffee with Chili. My bus doesn’t leave for an hour or so. Just to fill anyone in about Chili.....my goddaughter Ruby gave her to me years ago as a travel companion so she still comes along. She has even done the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race! My business class from HK is courtesy of my brother in law John who died Feb 1st and gave me his Qantas points. So here’s to John who was a very adventurous traveller......and very generous with his points. To think of doing that while he was so sick. Before I...

Aug 25, 2018 - Edinburgh and The Fringe Festival

We had asked for early check-in at the Radisson Blu and got settled in and rested before going to explore the “Royal Mile” road. Edinburgh has a month-long Fringe Festival with buskers and impromptu theater offerings. We had meals at some excellent restaurants. Anne did some shopping and found a perfect casmier wrap plus Harris Tweed “coats” for our grand-doggers.

Aug 23, 2018 - At Sea - Candles & Departing Windstar

As we sailed back to Edinburgh for a day at sea, we dined at the intimate Candles Restaurant. It’s amazing how the tiny kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and elegant dinners. The same wait staff just change to more formal attire for Candles. Plus, the food is a cut above that in the larger dining room.