In Scotland

Today was our third full day in Scotland and we have enjoyed it tremendously. We stayed for four days - longest time yet - at a country house on an island. It was just wonderful. They served tea in the afternoon, cocktails and drinks before dinner and coffee and petits fours in the drawing room after dinner. We met some lovely people and all had a great time. It was truly my vision of country life! See pic of house with pond.

One day we visited the Eilean Donan castle on our way to the Isle of Skye. This castle is situated on an island at the point where three lochs (lakes) meet and is surrounded by majestic scenery. Built in the 6th century, it stood guard over the nearby lands. Then on to Skye, situated off the west coast of Scotland, which is noted for its natural beauty, history and wildlife. All of the scenic pics were taken on our travels this day. Note the field of purple heather. It is all over the roadside and up the hills. Donan Castle is the pic with the bridge.

The next day we took a day long ride on the Jacobite Steam Train which travels through some stunning scenery. Unfortunately, it rained all day, so we were limited in what we saw.

From the other seat in the coach V3.0

We had to move downscale from a castle to a simple manor house. This is Adare Manor and our next home. Mostly it is a golf resort, but it is located in a lovely little town.

Lest you think Debbie has not been able to engage in her favorite touring I was able to capture this:

Last Days in Ireland

After we left Cong we drove along the coast to see the Cliffs of Moher and the Burrens. Unfortunately, once we got near, it started to rain, and by the time we got to the Cliffs, it was windy, foggy and rainy, so our view of these spectacular cliffs was less than grand. This was the only rain we have had, and as we left this particular area, the rain stopped.

Our last two nights in the country, we were situtated in Adare, a very pretty little town with a charming main street that had several thatched cottages.

On the second day, we drove south to Killarney and Kenmare before we drove out onto the Ring of Kerry. The Ring makes a circle at the southernmost tip of the west side of Ireland and has spectacular scenery. Instead of doing the entire ring, we just drove one section of it to another cute town - Sneem. The scenic shot is of the countryside we saw all day long - just beautiful.

Today we drove to Dublin for our last night. We walked the city and took in some of the major sites including visiting Trinity College to view the Book of Kells. Dave's special treat was to go to the Guinness brewery to see the exhibit they have set up for the 250th anniversary of Guinness. It was quite an experience, and he had the chance to learn how to pour a proper pint. Note the pics below. After pouring, he got to drink his proper pint and give a toast to Arthur Guinness who started it all.

Ireland

It was a long day, leaving Portmeirion in Wales and driving across Ireland to our next stop. We took the ferry from Wales to a spot just outside Dublin where we picked up our car. The ferry was like the CAT from Maine to Nova Scotia, very comfortable and with calm seas.

We opted for a down day next and played outside all day. First we went horseback riding through the woods, then we took a beautiful walk along the river to the little town of Cong near our hotel. The piece de resistance came mid afternoon when we went on a Hawk Walk. The hotel has a Falconry School and they fly owls and hawks. We met our guide and flew the big owl first, then we both met our hawks, Milly and Skelly, and walked for an hour along the trails and through the woods around the vast property. The picture is of Milly, my hawk and the larger female variety. She is sitting on my outstretched hand waiting for the command to fly. It was fascinating working with these beautiful, strong birds. When you release them, they fly away looking for prey - mice or rabbits, depending on the size of the bird. Then, when you put out your arm, they fly back and settle on the strong glove you are wearing. Our guide kept giving us bits of food to hold, and when the bird lands, you open your hand and let them take the treat.

At the end of the day, we took a boat ride around Lake Corrib where the hotel was situated.

The next picture is of the pretty river that runs past the hotel and into the lake.

The final pic is of our home away from home for two days - Ashford Castle.

In Wales

Today, Saturday, the 12th, is our last day in Wales. After we left the Cotswolds, we headed for the Wye Valley, an area of outstanding natural beauty and stopped at the ruins of Tintern Abbey, the first Cistercian foundation in Wales dating from 1131. We hiked - up, up - about 3-4 miles where we were rewarded with this spectacular view of the Abbey below. The photo was taken with a telephoto lens to show the configuration of the structure. Leaving the Wye Valley, we drove some 40 miles through the Brecon Beacons National Park, a glorious tract of rolling mountain country that rivals the beauty of the Cotswolds.

The next day we stopped in the picturesque seaside town of Tenby, a little harbour town begun as a Welsh stronghold atop a hill, still retaining its Norman Walls. This seaside town, and the many others we have since driven through, all have beautifully painted pastel color houses along the seaside. The pic of the harbour is of Tenby. Further along the coastline is Barafundle Bay, Consistently voted the most beautiful beach in Britain. As it is surrounded by dunes and wooded cliffs, it can only be accesed by walking along a cliff and then down a steep walk to the beach. That's Dave sitting on top of the cliff.

Yesterday was a long day of driving. We enjoyed a stop in St. David's, the tiniest of British cities and visited the Bishop's Palace and Cathedral. The Palace is mostly in ruins, but the Cathedral you see here is fascinating. It reveals itself as you walk over a hill and see it set into the hillside. It is enormous and has many rooms and chapels full of architectural wonders.

Onward we drove, through small towns and more pretty country. Dave wanted me to show you how narrow some of these roads are. This is where I cringe and he tries to keep his rear view mirrors as he passes other cars. Next pic is of a pastoral scene. There

are so many more shots to take, but no stopping while traveling 50 on bitty roads with no turnouts and a cliff on one side! Finally, the food reference for the day. We had lunch in a small hamlet and thought this sign was a hoot. Jacket Potatoes are baked potatoes filled will all manner of fillings, some combinations completely foreign to us. We had a sandwich.

Bangers and Mash and Mushy Peas

I am being adventuresome with food and starting to eat the English and Welsh way. As much as I like sausage, I've always stayed away from bangers and mash - sausages and mashed potatoes with gravy. It just seemed too much of a good thing. But, after watching Dave eat liver and onions and fish and chips, I decided to join in, so ordered the dish at a local pub. Oh, my, I should have realized I would be hooked! So good, and with the addition of mushy peas, so English. Mushy peas are smashed peas - still bright green- that are rather fluffy. Sometimes they are minted and sometimes plain. Another surprise!

Then on to another pub in Wales, and I decided I had to start photographing some of the dishes because they couldn't be described. The first photo is of my dinner last night - beef lasagna with chips (french fries) and coleslaw! Really. The lasagna was delicious and the chips unbelievably cruchy outside and creamy soft inside. I did pass on the cole slaw.

Next pic is my first Welsh breakfast with egg, bacon, sausage, black pudding (blood and oats), tomato, and fried bread. Not to be seen was the fruit, local cheeses and Sylvia's home baked bread with her marmalade. Waddle, waddle.

Sylvia and her husband, Gerald, were our hosts at last night's B&B in Llandovery, Wales, the town where Prince Charles recently purchased and renovated a farmhouse. While the construction was going on, his staff would stay at the B&B. After the home was completed, the Prince held a garden party to which Sylvia and Gerald were invited, and upon meeting the Prince, they invited him to tea and he accepted the invitation! Just recently, Prince Charles and his staff did indeed have high tea at the B&B with Sylvia and Gerald and their family. We saw the lovely pictures that Sylvia is so proud of, and the guest book where he took a whole page and signed"Charles".

Notes from the other seat in the coach V 2.0

Who is she kidding, "having fun"! It is as challanging as instrument flying and requires as much attention. The speed limits on the motor routes is 70 mph, which generally goes about 5 miles until you hit a round-a-bout. There are no cross roads here. Everything is a round-a-bout and you are turning left and looking for the right exit as you travel around. "A" routes are our most common roadways between towns. They are the equilavent of a state road only sometimes they narrow to 10 foot lanes and the speed limit is 50 or 60. I tend to collect traffic behind me because they can be quite windey. Deb thinks the trees are close, I have mirrors opposing at 100 mph. Most of the time traffic has been very light, however, and the weather and scenery delightful. Today we drove to the beaches of southern Wales. Quite beautiful and very undiscovered by Americans. The roads here however, would not let 2 cars pass. Several times we would pull off with one wheel in the grass and the hedgerow wiping the car as the opposing car was doing the same, both at a crawl.

We have discovered country that we never knew existed. This area of Wales is as lovely as the Cotswolds, except for the building character. The people are quite proud of their region and keep it well mowed and very clean and freshly painted. The towns are clustered and the hillsides rolling with fields separated by hedgerows. I would love to have a farm here.

I'll let Deb post the pictures and describe the food. So far we couldn't have hoped for a better trip.

Last Day in the Cotswolds

Dave tested his driving ablilites today as we circumnaviated the Cotswolds. There is not much distance between these cute little towns, but, when using "Catherine" to guide us, we sample all of the different kinds of roads that are available. "Catherine" is Dave's GPS, and she knows everything. No map could do better, because she knows the shortest, most miniscule routes to get everywhere. We travel four lane and two lane highways, as well as narrow roads with a line down the middle. The ones that are the most fun(?!) are about 14' wide and when we pass someone, I cringe so I don't touch the trees on my left. It's freaky to drive on the wrong side of the road when you're the passenger. Not so for Dave - he's having a great time driving. But, these are the prettiest roads with gorgeous scenery on both sides.

Anyway, today we visited Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Upper and Lower Slaughter, Bibury, and Painswick. Whew! That's a lot of pretty little towns! And they are indeed pretty. I'm a tad ashamed at what some of Maine must look like to visitors. These folks keep their homes well groomed and very clean, and their gardens are all so pretty. We tend to like the towns that have less traffic and smaller villages. The pics today are of a pretty church in Lower Slaughter and a series of row houses on Arlington Lane in Bibury.

Notes from the other seat in the coach:

After a half day of acclimation and 12 hours of sleep, our first full day was delightful. We easily exceeded our 10,000 steps, which I have been monitoring with a pedometer. The weather has been lovely, cool with intermittant clouds and sun. London is lovely at this time and on our first half day we walked for 4 1/2 hours on a walking tour of Mayfair. Oh how the upper crust lives. The concept of the wealth of the 18 th. century nobility blows my mind. Buckingham castle was fabulous but to see Bleheim and how a Duke lived, Wow!! I find that I have much to aspire to.

And then there are the gardens. Although we are at the end of the season they are still beautiful, both formal and informal. Maybe if I had 300 years of succession with the building of the hardscapes and plantings I could come close. However, Bleheim required a staff full time of 75. Where is good labor when you need it.

Now we are walking through time in lovely, preserved, and spotless clean old English country villages, frequently only a couple of miles apart separated by beautiful rolling fields. I have had several pints and enjoyed how the current generation has improved on the classic Brittish cooking. I have enjoyed liver and onions, lamb shanks, braised beef and fish and chips in beer batter. Lovely!

Living the Cotswold Life

We settled into our new life in the Cotswolds and you may have to blast us out of here. Going back in time is very special. We're staying in Chipping Campden, a lovely town in the north of the Cotswolds. The picture of the string of houses is from C.C.'s main street, called High Street.

Today we visited some beautiful gardens; Hidcote Manor, with many different stylized gardens, and Kiftsgate Court, a lived in home that opens its gardens occasionally. The family was in residence when we visited, and we felt a little like we were intruding, but this is the way they can afford to keep up these beautiful old properties. The gardens were lovely, even at this time of year, and you could see how spectacular they are at their peak. Note the photo of the "English gentleman" sitting beside the garden fountain. Recognize him?

The last photo is of some sheep at Hidcote Manor. While we enjoyed our picnic lunch next to their pasture, I told them about Kristi, and they are saying hello to her!

We Went to London to Visit the Queen...

Unfortunately, the Queen was on holiday in Scotland. But, lucky for us, when she is away in August and September, the Buckinghan Palace State Rooms are open to the public for viewing. We spent a wonderful hour and a half touring the palace and were amazed at how beautifully kept it was. There was a gorgeous carpet on the floor, without a cover for the masses to walk on. A guide informed us that it was new this year and they wanted the guests to be able to walk on it. Unbelievable!

We spent two days enjoying London, then departed for the Cotswolds. On the way, we stopped for a visit at Blenheim Palace, home of the Duke of Marlborough. Winston Churchill was born here and, in his youth spent many happy days at Blenheim. He was a cousin of the 9th Duke and in 1908 persuaded him to invite Clementine Hozier to stay at the palace. It was there he proposed to, and married, Clementine.

The photos above are of the London Eye, the huge ferris wheel that looks across the Thames at Big Ben. Big Ben is depicted in another photo with some of London's famous double decker buses. The last photo is of Bleinheim Palace.