Hi Everyone
I have had a bit of a problem with sending you the last two posts. I spent ages typing up loads of info and then obviously pressed the wrong button for all I had done disappeared. One post I put on the kids blog and had to spend ages working out how to delete it be cause of the content. Now I am writing all up in windows first and then cut and paste.
We never stop learning do we! So hear goes!
It is a week now since I have successfully posted you my movements.
Tues May 4th: Left for Belfast which took around three hours. Roads are a combination of great highways and small(I mean small) hedge or dry wall borders. These bus drivers certainly know their business. Brakes are frequently used. Arrived around 2.00p.m. and booked into a fabulous hotel called the Europa. Learnt later that the hotel was bombed three times during the troubles of the 60’s and 70’s.
Had my first experience of using my money passport. Really funny putting so many dollars on the card in Australia which then became euros but because I was in Northern Ireland the money cam out as pounds sterling. All money- am not bothering to convert because it would give me heartburn!! Belfast is a more modern city than Dublin but it has English money backing all the modernization. Despite all of that there is still a sadness to the city. Everywhere you go there are reminders of the troubles-paintings of people killed, monuments and sayings. Wednesday May5th
Travelled west along the beautiful atrim coast to Ballygally. Sounds good doesn’t it . Stopped along the way to view more historical sites. Ireland is full of them. Actually the accommodation was a ruined castle that had a hotel built onto it. It even had a ghost but it didn’t visit me-drat!Photo shows the headland I could see outside the window. If you look hard you can see a profile of a man.
Thursday May 6th Coasted to Derry- those living in Northern Ireland call it Londonderry. This city shares the same sadness as Belfast. Opted to go on a walking tour around the walled part of the city. This has turned out to be one of the best parts of my holiday so far. The guide was born and raised in Ireland of an irish father and a chinese mother. He has his mother’s appearance with a thick irish brogue. He works with youth but does tours as a sideline because of his beliefs in the city and future of Ireland. He was raised in the 60’s/70’s and witnessed some terrible things. He was so positive about the future and was a wonderful avocate for PEACE. It was the best hour and a half I have spent for ages. On the side I learnt a lot of history as well. I have learnt so much about the troubles since being here and it definitely isn’t just religious. So much goes back 500 yrs not just 50.
Friday May 7th(my neice’s birthday-HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARYN if you are reading this)
Moved onto Galway today. Everyone was singing yes you know it “Galway Bay”. Again a lovely hotel.
Opted to go to a medieval banquet in Dunguaire Castle on the edge of Kinvara Bay-gorgeous. The food was as a few centuries ago-not bad. We then were treated to some light hearted poetry and song-great. I might add all these evening activities are still in broad daylight as the sun doesn’t set until around 10.00p.m. Really strange for those of us (8) who live in the southern hemisphere.oardi
Saturday May 8th
We went on an excursion into the Connemarra. Talk About back of the beyond.West Ireland is very sparse-stones,rocks and bog lands. Speaking of bog lands boy does peat smell. They cut out brick shape bits of bog called peat for those that don’t know. They leave it in the sun to dry and then use it like coal. It really is a strong smell. Anyway after driving for a couple of hours to the very rugged coastline of wesy Ireland we come across this majestic building set on the side of one of the lakes. Of course it is a catholic dwelling!!! It is called Kylemore Abbey and is a boarding school for girls. IT STILL IS RUNNING!! Who would send their young daughter out to the middle of nowhere.
It is a really beautiful building very palace like and so well preserved as it is 300 years old. Mind you with nuns looking after it for the past two hundred years it would be in good order. I know that first hand !!!! It is also a very windy place as you can see. A passerby saw me looking at the lake and offered in a heavy brogue to take a picure. “Sure your old mother will want to see you in this beautiful place”!!
Sunday May 9th
Travelled through the county Clare to Killarney. Beautiful area just as it was when I was here 5 years ago with my friend Anne from Melbourne. Didn’t feel too good today full of sinus. Well by the time we got here I felt awful and was loosing my voice. I think the cold and tempts have had a bit of an effect despite me being careful and covering myself each day. Not a good night’s sleep either.
Monday May 10th
On waking this morning I felt terrible so rang the tour director to say I was pulling out of today’s activities. Shame but as I will be back this way on my self drive I can cover what I missed. I sought medical attention later today and yes I have a really good virus. Spent the day in bed with medication. As I write I feel much better so will be up early to join the group as go to Blarney.
Chat again soon
Cheers
Anne
I have had a bit of a problem with sending you the last two posts. I spent ages typing up loads of info and then obviously pressed the wrong button for all I had done disappeared. One post I put on the kids blog and had to spend ages working out how to delete it be cause of the content. Now I am writing all up in windows first and then cut and paste.
We never stop learning do we! So hear goes!
It is a week now since I have successfully posted you my movements.
Tues May 4th: Left for Belfast which took around three hours. Roads are a combination of great highways and small(I mean small) hedge or dry wall borders. These bus drivers certainly know their business. Brakes are frequently used. Arrived around 2.00p.m. and booked into a fabulous hotel called the Europa. Learnt later that the hotel was bombed three times during the troubles of the 60’s and 70’s.
Had my first experience of using my money passport. Really funny putting so many dollars on the card in Australia which then became euros but because I was in Northern Ireland the money cam out as pounds sterling. All money- am not bothering to convert because it would give me heartburn!! Belfast is a more modern city than Dublin but it has English money backing all the modernization. Despite all of that there is still a sadness to the city. Everywhere you go there are reminders of the troubles-paintings of people killed, monuments and sayings. Wednesday May5th
Travelled west along the beautiful atrim coast to Ballygally. Sounds good doesn’t it . Stopped along the way to view more historical sites. Ireland is full of them. Actually the accommodation was a ruined castle that had a hotel built onto it. It even had a ghost but it didn’t visit me-drat!Photo shows the headland I could see outside the window. If you look hard you can see a profile of a man.
Thursday May 6th Coasted to Derry- those living in Northern Ireland call it Londonderry. This city shares the same sadness as Belfast. Opted to go on a walking tour around the walled part of the city. This has turned out to be one of the best parts of my holiday so far. The guide was born and raised in Ireland of an irish father and a chinese mother. He has his mother’s appearance with a thick irish brogue. He works with youth but does tours as a sideline because of his beliefs in the city and future of Ireland. He was raised in the 60’s/70’s and witnessed some terrible things. He was so positive about the future and was a wonderful avocate for PEACE. It was the best hour and a half I have spent for ages. On the side I learnt a lot of history as well. I have learnt so much about the troubles since being here and it definitely isn’t just religious. So much goes back 500 yrs not just 50.
Friday May 7th(my neice’s birthday-HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARYN if you are reading this)
Moved onto Galway today. Everyone was singing yes you know it “Galway Bay”. Again a lovely hotel.
Opted to go to a medieval banquet in Dunguaire Castle on the edge of Kinvara Bay-gorgeous. The food was as a few centuries ago-not bad. We then were treated to some light hearted poetry and song-great. I might add all these evening activities are still in broad daylight as the sun doesn’t set until around 10.00p.m. Really strange for those of us (8) who live in the southern hemisphere.oardi
Saturday May 8th
We went on an excursion into the Connemarra. Talk About back of the beyond.West Ireland is very sparse-stones,rocks and bog lands. Speaking of bog lands boy does peat smell. They cut out brick shape bits of bog called peat for those that don’t know. They leave it in the sun to dry and then use it like coal. It really is a strong smell. Anyway after driving for a couple of hours to the very rugged coastline of wesy Ireland we come across this majestic building set on the side of one of the lakes. Of course it is a catholic dwelling!!! It is called Kylemore Abbey and is a boarding school for girls. IT STILL IS RUNNING!! Who would send their young daughter out to the middle of nowhere.
It is a really beautiful building very palace like and so well preserved as it is 300 years old. Mind you with nuns looking after it for the past two hundred years it would be in good order. I know that first hand !!!! It is also a very windy place as you can see. A passerby saw me looking at the lake and offered in a heavy brogue to take a picure. “Sure your old mother will want to see you in this beautiful place”!!
Sunday May 9th
Travelled through the county Clare to Killarney. Beautiful area just as it was when I was here 5 years ago with my friend Anne from Melbourne. Didn’t feel too good today full of sinus. Well by the time we got here I felt awful and was loosing my voice. I think the cold and tempts have had a bit of an effect despite me being careful and covering myself each day. Not a good night’s sleep either.
Monday May 10th
On waking this morning I felt terrible so rang the tour director to say I was pulling out of today’s activities. Shame but as I will be back this way on my self drive I can cover what I missed. I sought medical attention later today and yes I have a really good virus. Spent the day in bed with medication. As I write I feel much better so will be up early to join the group as go to Blarney.
Chat again soon
Cheers
Anne
Sorry to hear you are feeling a bit under the weather. But I feel sure you will be back at it soon. You mentioned a couple of photo's in the blog which I can't access, so I will look forward to seeing them when you get back.
ReplyDeleteSounds marvelous, I remember the lanes and headges in England which I expect are similar they are beautiful and distinct to the area. Enjoy. Jenna