Archive | June 2012

Another new day in my travels

From My travels

Today is the first day of the rest of my life

I have 100% of the rest of my life to live.

This is a picture of Stonehenge- the place I most wanted to see on my trip to G. Britain. It was very exciting to see this. It was very busy and quite wet. We had a little luck here. A guide took us out of the line we were in, waiting to go to the ruins to another line thinking we would get in quicker. We found a person purchasing tickets for a tour. So the guide gave us free entry because he inconvenienced us. I didn’t mind being inconvenienced to the tune of 20 GB pounds (that’s $40AUD).

The Keep

Blarney Castle- the stone is where

the square arch is at the very top

Me at the top of the castle

Blarney house

The day before, I saw the other place I most wanted to visit– Blarney Castle. I was going to kiss the Blarney Stone. I climbed many, many rickety stone stairs right to the top of the castle. I got right to the stone and saw what had to be done and I freaked out. So no blarney stone for me. But I think I had already been gifted with the gab.

As you can see, I thought this was a really great place.

We flew over to Amsterdam yesterday morning.- up at 3am. We were met at the airport and were driven to our meeting place- the only 2 passengers in a very enormous bus. It was pouring rain and was like that for most of the afternoon. We went out for lunch .Almost went into a coffee shop but the menu didn’t show anything we wanted so we went to Burger King and had a chilli chicken wrap and water. Today on our canal tour we found out that a coffee shop is the place where people buy soft drugs and Koffee Huis is where people drink coffee

We visited a working windmill and saw limestone being ground into chalk.

We also saw cheese being made and tasted some yummy cheeses and scrumptious mustards.

We went to the Klumpen Huis and saw wooden clogs being made.

The Mille


“The Kat” working windmill

At the cheese making place

The man making the Clogs

We saw all these things at Zaanse Schan

The most favourite place I have been at so far has been when we had dinner at Cardiff Castle.in Wales. We had dinner and a show. The food was superb. The singing of the waiter, waitresses and compere were out of this world. The lady who played the harp and the keyboard was the champion harp player of Wales. She had won at all the Welsh eisteddfords. We looked over 3 rooms of the castle. Two had been decorated in the 18th century- a gentleman’s room where men retired to smoke and the ladies room. And the other one was in it’s original state from 1492 that was the private residence of the Marquis of Bute

Cardiff Castle

This was taken as we

arrived at the Castle

Ornate decoration in the gentlemen’s room

Men used to smoke in here

Ornate decoration in the ladies r

Original bookcases in the Marqius’ living area

2 ladies in Welsh traditional Dress. These were 2 ladies who entertained us and served our food

At dinner in the castle

These were our entertainers and servers.They had voices like angels

This has been the most exhilarating experience of my life. I have learned so much. I have fulfilled a number of dreams. It is just proves we are never to old too learn new things. It is great to learn new things. Thank you for letting me share my excitement with you. The world is a wonderful place.May the peace of God be with you all . C

Appreciating exciting experiences

Jun20

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

I have 100% of the rest of my life.

One personal success I have experienced outweighs every failure that happened beforehand.

Didn’t Thomas Edison have many failures before he finally succeeded in inventing

the light bulb?

Here we are today at Killarney in Ireland,What a beautiful part of the country. We have enjoyed our time in Irelan. Galway was a great place. At Galway we did some walking. We went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. There are two huge Cathedrals in Galway and both of them are protestant. The other is Christchurch Cathedral which was right across the road from our hotel. We got to look at that as well.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Christchurch Cathedral

We did some shopping for ourselves, the first real shopping since we’ve been here – a couple of scarves and a hat for me and a souvenier shirt of Ireland for Nigel. They have such beautiful unique stuff here. I could spend madly but I guess that wouldn’t be very sensible.

The best part of our visit was our tour of the Guiness Factory. It is situated at Kingsgate on 50acs in Galway, the original site, since 1759. It was so interesting. I got to try a pint of guiness. It’s very nice tasting- very creamy. We did the tasting in a glass building we think is the highest bar in the world with 360 degrees view of Galway… followed by dinner which of course was beef and guiness stew- very yum indeed, We are bringing back the recipe of course.


scene from Scarrif Inn

Today we travelled the ring of Kerry. Prior to that we visited Adare to see some gorgeous thatched cottages, They are quite beautiful and quaint. We lunched at Scarrif Inn that overlooked a glorious scenery. The whole Kerry Ring journey was totally glorious. Then we went for a jaunty ride on a a jaunting cart which was really great experience.

Thatched roof cottages at Adare

The jaunting cart

In the jaunting cart we visited Killarney National Park and saw Ross Castle and some lovely scenery.

Ross Castle

swans on the river


On the river at the national park

Last night we attended a traditional Irish celebration held at Bunratty Folk Park:

Irish music

Irish songs

Irish dancing

Irish stew

honey mead

Bailey’s Irish cream

A truly wonderful night.

The best of this part of our holiday so far has been here in Ireland, It is just such a beautiful place, We’ve met such beautiful people. Today we met some people from another tour, who shared our lunch table, also Australians from South Australia. We’ve come thousands of miles across the world to meet up with other fellow Australians. What a wonderful world we live in. We wish you peace- the same peace we are experiencing is this beautiful part of the world.,,, pass it on. C

Another Magical Day

Jun17

From My Travels

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

I have 100% of the rest of my life to live.

Today is a lovely sunny day – still not warm, but much more conducive to lifted spirits

We arrived in Dublin after a 31/2 hour journey in a really huge ferry boat.

Our first stop after leaving Wrexham in Wales was at Llangollen.

Everywhere we go it is 20p …2p. One place it was50p.


a narrow boat travelling on a canal

Here we saw colourful narrow boats that travel on the canals in many areas of the UK.. We encountered rain here again.

We visited a pretty little village with the strange name of Betswy- Co-ed

We visited shops and a very pretty park…. and this was where the sun made an appearance. Nigel bought a raincoat. So we knew this would be the time when the rain would disappear.

On the next part of our journey we encountered bike riders, high mountains. deep valleys, hikers, slate mining, and a large lake.This was the Snowdonia region of Wales. Mt. Snowdon is the highest peak.

And on to that town with the very long name with the weirdest meaning. It was very pretty also.


The town with longest name and the weird meaning

We crossed the Menai Strait to the Isle of Anglesey where Prince William flies a rescue helicopter. He and Kate have a home here. And down to the Port of Holyhead to catch our ferry to Ireland.

Tonight we are staying at Jurys Inn which is opposite Christchurch Cathedral -Anglican denomination. We have been out to look at the Cathedral (it is massive ) and post some postcards.

Our hotel room is very nice and inviting. We will be staying here for two nights, At 9pm. the sun is still shining brightly.

What was good today?

Visiting the place with the very long name and weird meaning.

What I was grateful for.

That our journey so far has been a safe and interesting one.

God in my life

Sunshine, nice travelling companions, getting to visit the Cathedral, the man who told us where we could post our postcards.

So we have once again had a delightful day. It is great to be able to share with you Wish you were here to share it personally.

Christchurch Cathedral

God bless. c

Brand New Day

Jun15

At the entrance to Hadrians Wall

A view of the remaining wall

At Edinburgh Castle

From My Travels

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

I have 100% of the rest of my life to live

Today,June 14, we arrived in Edinburgh Scotland- Adam’s birthday. Happy birthday Adam.It was a beautiful sunny day- great for lifting ones spirits.


The bus we travel in.

On that day the first place we visited was Hadrians Wall, which was built by Hadrian in about the first century. There’s not much of the wall left. It used to be 73miles long, We saw it at a place called Heddon – on- wall.

At the Scottish border

Jedburgh Abbey ruins

We also visited Abbey ruins at Jedburgh and Melrose. Both very beautiful.There was a really lovely garden at Melrose as well. I liked these ruins better than Edinburgh Castle

Melrose Abbey ruins

Harmony Cottage

We arose this morning to drizzling rain. But it didn’t daunt us. We went to explore Edinburgh. At Edinburgh Castle there was so much history. Edinburgh is a very old city. Travelling around the city is slow going. It’s good we are on holidays and not in a hurry.

Last night we went to traditional Scottish entertainment: bagpipes, sword and highland dancing, singalong, piping in the haggis, haggis tasting -great night out.Tonight we are having dinner on the royal yacht Britannia.

Everyday brings a new experience, some where new to explore, new people to meet.

I guess that’s what experiencing new cultures is all about. Great to be part of it.

Keep good. Keep positive, Pass it on… C

A whole new experience

Jun13

Sunday, 10 June 2012
A whole new Experience

T On the steps of St.Paul’s Cathedral

Outside the Eiffel Tower restaurant

With Yeoman Of the guard, Phil, at London Tower

From My Travels Today is the first day of the rest of my life I have 1005 of the rest of my life to live. Well, what an exciting time we have had so far. Arrive in London Saturday lunch,Saturday night. travelled by tube underground to see the musical “The Lion King”- fabulous show. Tour of London Sunday- tower of London- crown jewels, changing of the guard at Buck Palace , Her Majesty’s Life guards, St, Paul’s Cathedral,a boat ride on the river Thames, a ride on the London Eye. Fish and chips for lunch,Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Tower Bridge. Sore legs that day. Tour of Paris Monday, Lunch at the Eiffel Tower, a ride in the Euro Star under the English Channel- 21/2 hour trip each way,Notre Dame’, the Louvre’ to visit Mona and Venus- absolutely huge place. Today,Tuesday, on tour to Hampton Court, Oxford, Stratford – on- Avon, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Loads of rain other than in Paris where it was sunny, We are being positive and looking forward to sunshine … tomorrow.The place is just so green. This not my usual blog, A long way from my garden. Took some lovely photos of roses at Hampton Court. Roses grow really well here. This has been a fabulous experience so far, I have learned so much. The world is a wonderful exciting place. People are very exciting and nice. History is such an exciting place to be part of. I’m so lucky to have this wonderful opportunity to enjoy other cultures. Thank you world for being there for us. Thank you world for sharing your wonders with me.C