I left on Saturday, Sept. 29th, 2012. Because I was dependent on using my American Airlines frequent flyer miles, I ended up with a crazy travel schedule, but I think it just made me appreciate the trip even more. I flew from SLC to Chicago and had a night layover. I was able to find a close motel for a short night of sleep. Sunday AM I flew to London, and again, had a night layover. There were no reasonable hotels available - $200 for a short 4-5 hour night - so I just slept in the airport. I was joined with a group of 20 year olds from Italy. Not a restful night, but an opportunity to act like I was 20 years old again.
Stephen had encouraged me to carry on as opposed to checking any luggage. This was in preparation for flying on Ryan Air to Scotland where the checked baggage charges were astronomical. That required some thoughtful packing in preparation, but it also meant I was not concerned about what was happening to my suitcase when I had the layovers. I made the trip with a small suitcase and a backpack.
Monday morning on British Air to Dublin, Ireland
Stephen had grown up in Scotland and often spent time in Ireland for holiday with his family, so he knew the area as well as the travel and lodging option and made those arrangements for us for the entire trip.. He had made arrangements at the Charles Stewart Bed and Breakfast in downtown Dublin, so we caught a bus there and checked in. It was a great choice with an amazing Irish breakfast provided every morning as well as a storage room where I left my suitcase when we walked about and toured, as well as later when we were in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and when I took a 3 day tour to Shannon at the end of my stay.
We had a couple of days to walk around and tour Dublin, as well as evenings to have a Pub meal and listen to some Irish music.
Wednesday, October 3rd to Belfast by bus. I left my suitcase at the B and B so only have my medium sized back pack which is an easy carry, no matter what we do. I brought my digital camera as well as my old Olympus 35 mm film camera with it's wide angle lens. Hopefully, the wide angle lens will do a better job of capturing the countryside, coastline, and clifts of Ireland. Belfast is an amazing piece of history. Many of the historical landmarks of the conflict of Northern Ireland are still present. Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express.
There are high concrete walls still in existence that separate out where the Catholic and Protestants live. These are vestiges of history but still function for small groups of citizens. The Titanic was built in Belfast, so they have another interesting piece of history at the location where it was constructed.
We traveled the next day to Derry by bus and then another bus ride to the airport where we picked up a rental car to use for two days. Drove to Inishowan near the North coast of Ireland and stayed at a great B and B that sat on a hill and overlooked Locke Foyle. We spent some delightful time with Stephen's family, took a ferry across Locke Foyle, went to Antrim where the Moyle Counsel is and also visited the rope Bridge (Carrick-A-Rede) and the Giants's Causeway - unusually formed rocks from the Ice age.
We came back across Locke Foyle, spent time with Stephen's family, returned the car to Derry, took a bus to Belfast, and caught Ryan Air to Prestwick Airport, near Glasgow in Scotland. Stephen's brother, Vincent, picked us up and we stay at his home for two days and used his car for one day. Vincent and Eileen were comfortable, gracious hosts and interesting to talk to.
In Glasgow, I was able to meet Stephen's parents. We spent two days touring Glasgow and going to the Scottish museum of Art. A great experience.
The picture of me above is at Locke Lomand, near to Lock Ness, where the fabled Monster is supposed to reside.
Train the Edinburgh where I stayed and toured alone for two days, then back to Glasgow, flight to Dublin, and Stephen returned home.
The picture above was in a window of a Photo shop in Edinburgh. Interesting to see this picture of the Arch in Moab, Utah as an advertisement in Scotland.
I stayed back at the B and B in Dublin after Stephen returned home and took a three day bus tour that took me to Shannon and the West Coast of Ireland and the North Atlantic Ocean. I was fortunate to connect up with two young ladies from Lithuania who were on the same tour. We became traveling companions during the three days shared meals, tours, and music together. The west coast was beautiful and included the Cliffs of Moher.
I am sure I have left off many pictures and much information that would make this blog more understandable, but this was just an opportunity for me to share a wonderful experience.
I plan to have many more.
