July 21st
So here it is the 3rd week in July and I'm finally returning home for the remainder of the summer. I just realized that I've been gone from home for 5 weeks now. I think that's the longest I've ever been gone.
While it's great to travel as I did, it's always great to get back home. I know I'll have plenty of house cleaning and catching up to take care of, but I also want to spend time with my dog, Mickey, and get all my pictures sorted out.
I've been told my vacuum bit the dust while I've been gone, so finding out if I need to purchase a new one will probably take precedence over everything else. A cheap price to pay for being gone so long.
As for observations about the trip... I've been thinking about that lately. In fact, the last few nights my brain has been interrupting my sleep by rerunning events during the trip. While I haven't slept the best, I've had some very nice memories to recall. Even when there were some problems, as there always are when you travel with new friends, those are put to the back part of memories and the fun adventures win out. Would I do things differently next time? Maybe a few things, but not most. And yes, there will definitely be a next time. I think I'm finished with the tourist part of my Ireland travels, and will now have a different focus. Four thousand miles on a rental car in 2 weeks is more than anyone would want. I really didn't mind the driving and for the most part if was great craic as we periodically found ourselves totally lost and laughing about it.
We did get to experience some great music, but I'd like more. I was a little disappointed that a few of my favorite musicians did not have gigs scheduled at times we were in the area. Or they were out of the area.
I discovered new favorite places and some special new friends and acquaintances. It's those kind of connections that make the trip very worthwhile. Not to mention that the scenery can't be beat. ( I do have to give my son credit on his trip. His pics of the Swiss alps and countryside are pretty impressive too.) But my heart lies with Ireland.
For now we'll see what the future brings in terms of travel. I've always thought of Ireland as an every other year, but now, I'm not sure if I can wait that long. And I still have not figured how to explain to people why. For those of you who know me well enough to understand, I don't have to explain. For the rest of you, I guess you'll just have to trust me.
So ends my journey for this year.
Showing posts with label traveling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traveling. Show all posts
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
July 3
July 3rd
Here we are in Glasgow, Scotland arriving around noon today. It was cloudy and threatening but didn't dampen out spirits. Okay, so what is it about many of our reservations being at locations on steep hills? The maps all looked so flat to me. LOL
But this place, is at the bottom of a hill and around the corner is everything we need to be touring around Glasgow. After a little lunch at Subway ( it was our first taste of real American food since we left home) we split up. Sarah took off to venture around town, and Georgann and I were headed toward the Mitchell Library to hook up some internet time. After a few missteps in directions we figured out where we needed to be and quickly ended up at the library. It wasn't until later that I realized what an feat of architecture this building held inside. I didn't have a camera that could capture enough of it to show you how amazing it was. The spiral staircase alone, waas 3-4 stories high and the domed ceiling at the top was beyond words. We'll be going back again and I hope to take some more pictures and will post them. I asked the lady at the entry if this was a converted building, as I just couldn't imagine that it was purpose built as a library. But to my surprise it was build as a library. I don't know if there is any info online for it but you might want to check. I'd love to try and do a 360 degree video of just the upper walls in the main hall to show it off.
And then we found the internet access area. Georgann and I now have library cards that will get us in to any Glasgow library! There were about 50 computers available for free for one hour if they were busy, and an extra hour if they were not busy. The window where I sat looked out through floor to ceiling, wall to wall windows. As I worked I watche the sky get darker and darker. The next time I looked up it was pouring, not just raining, but reallly pouring. Neither Georgann nor I had brought umbrellas – actually I didn't even bring an umbrella but a plastic poncho, but it was at the B&B – and we were not prepared for the rain. We tried to wait it out, but by 4PM it was still sprinkling pretty heavy. We headed out and when we were almost back to the B&B it started pouring again. Sarah had also gotten caught in the downpour and we all retreated to our rooms to dry off and warm up for a while.
We headed to the West End for dinner and found this interesting Italian restaurant that serves almost all meal selections like tapas, small portions. As we were served the waiter we had, Jack, asked where we were all from. When he heard that I was from California he explained that his father was in Woodland, a city outside of Sacramento and one of the largest tomato growers in the area. When you talk about a small world, it's amazing how small it can be. I liveed in Sacramento for 30 plus years and we briefly chatted about familiar places to both of us. Who would have thought I would have met a Muslim Glaswegian with family in Sacramento? I asked how he ever ended up in Glasgow and he said “family politics” and a long story! LOL We did take pictures and an some point I'll get those posted too.
The ameretto ice cream with a shot of expresso was exceptional.
By the time we headed back to the B&B after dinner the sun was shining. Hoping for a clear day tomorrow for a Hop-on-Hop off tour of Glasgow.
We're staying in an area called Charring Cross. I think there was a movie with that title or something about Charring Cross. I'll have to check next time I'm on the internet.
And my final note for the day. I had finally gotten used to using the euro, and then in Northern Ireland it was the pound, and one last day with the euro and now back to the pound for 3 days. I'm really struggling with this pound and pence thing. I'm finding out that it's much easier to just hand the person a paper bill with a number and get change. When I have a bunch of change, I just hold it out and the person I'm paying takes what they need. So many of the coins look the same. I do know and remember some, but I've given up on the others. There is a 1 pence, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, 50 pence, and then it goes to one pound (coin) and 2 pound coin. And so many are so close to the same sized, shape and color. Two more days and I can exchange it all back for dollars!
Haven't downloaded any Glasgow pics yet, so I'll have some next time. Either from Dublin or home. I can hardly believe I'll be back in the US in 4 days and home in 5.
Looks like our friendly taxi driver Tom will be picking us up on Monday to take us back to Dublin town. He's been calling semi-regularly to make sure we are okay. Very nice guy.
Here we are in Glasgow, Scotland arriving around noon today. It was cloudy and threatening but didn't dampen out spirits. Okay, so what is it about many of our reservations being at locations on steep hills? The maps all looked so flat to me. LOL
But this place, is at the bottom of a hill and around the corner is everything we need to be touring around Glasgow. After a little lunch at Subway ( it was our first taste of real American food since we left home) we split up. Sarah took off to venture around town, and Georgann and I were headed toward the Mitchell Library to hook up some internet time. After a few missteps in directions we figured out where we needed to be and quickly ended up at the library. It wasn't until later that I realized what an feat of architecture this building held inside. I didn't have a camera that could capture enough of it to show you how amazing it was. The spiral staircase alone, waas 3-4 stories high and the domed ceiling at the top was beyond words. We'll be going back again and I hope to take some more pictures and will post them. I asked the lady at the entry if this was a converted building, as I just couldn't imagine that it was purpose built as a library. But to my surprise it was build as a library. I don't know if there is any info online for it but you might want to check. I'd love to try and do a 360 degree video of just the upper walls in the main hall to show it off.
And then we found the internet access area. Georgann and I now have library cards that will get us in to any Glasgow library! There were about 50 computers available for free for one hour if they were busy, and an extra hour if they were not busy. The window where I sat looked out through floor to ceiling, wall to wall windows. As I worked I watche the sky get darker and darker. The next time I looked up it was pouring, not just raining, but reallly pouring. Neither Georgann nor I had brought umbrellas – actually I didn't even bring an umbrella but a plastic poncho, but it was at the B&B – and we were not prepared for the rain. We tried to wait it out, but by 4PM it was still sprinkling pretty heavy. We headed out and when we were almost back to the B&B it started pouring again. Sarah had also gotten caught in the downpour and we all retreated to our rooms to dry off and warm up for a while.
We headed to the West End for dinner and found this interesting Italian restaurant that serves almost all meal selections like tapas, small portions. As we were served the waiter we had, Jack, asked where we were all from. When he heard that I was from California he explained that his father was in Woodland, a city outside of Sacramento and one of the largest tomato growers in the area. When you talk about a small world, it's amazing how small it can be. I liveed in Sacramento for 30 plus years and we briefly chatted about familiar places to both of us. Who would have thought I would have met a Muslim Glaswegian with family in Sacramento? I asked how he ever ended up in Glasgow and he said “family politics” and a long story! LOL We did take pictures and an some point I'll get those posted too.
The ameretto ice cream with a shot of expresso was exceptional.
By the time we headed back to the B&B after dinner the sun was shining. Hoping for a clear day tomorrow for a Hop-on-Hop off tour of Glasgow.
We're staying in an area called Charring Cross. I think there was a movie with that title or something about Charring Cross. I'll have to check next time I'm on the internet.
And my final note for the day. I had finally gotten used to using the euro, and then in Northern Ireland it was the pound, and one last day with the euro and now back to the pound for 3 days. I'm really struggling with this pound and pence thing. I'm finding out that it's much easier to just hand the person a paper bill with a number and get change. When I have a bunch of change, I just hold it out and the person I'm paying takes what they need. So many of the coins look the same. I do know and remember some, but I've given up on the others. There is a 1 pence, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, 50 pence, and then it goes to one pound (coin) and 2 pound coin. And so many are so close to the same sized, shape and color. Two more days and I can exchange it all back for dollars!
Haven't downloaded any Glasgow pics yet, so I'll have some next time. Either from Dublin or home. I can hardly believe I'll be back in the US in 4 days and home in 5.
Looks like our friendly taxi driver Tom will be picking us up on Monday to take us back to Dublin town. He's been calling semi-regularly to make sure we are okay. Very nice guy.
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