England - Lakes District (7/9/12)

Yesterday was my favorite day of the whole trip. The rain held off, and the scenery was beyond belief. I'll post some pictures below, but it won't do it any justice. The Lakes District is even better than I expected.


 

We started off in the town of at Rydal Hall. It was an estate in the 1600s, and now it's used as a Christian retreat center. The gardens there are spectacular. It's so peaceful there. The grounds are immaculate, and there are little creeks and waterfalls running throughout the land. I didn't sleep well the night before (I miss my bed!), so I needed a tranquil start to the day.

 

After that, we took an hour long hike through the hills and inside a park. It was nice to stretch my legs after being on the bus. The panoramic views were breathtaking, and the hills were a good workout. All along the walk, there were rock walls, waterfalls, lakes, hills, and tons of beautiful wild flowers.

 

After lunch, we went to Dove Cottage - home of the poet William Wordsworth. Our guide was very knowledgable. I literally had goosebumps standing in the same rooms that so many talented writers have spent time in. Wordsworth planted beautiful gardens, but his home was quite small/simple (which makes sense given his philosophies on life). After the tour, I climbed up to a secluded bench in his backyard garden. There was no one else around there, so spent some time alone reading poetry and taking in the moment. To me, it was perfect.

 

Next, we took a cruise around Lake Windermere, which is the largest lake in our area. That was a lot of fun, and the rain stayed away until the moment we were finishing up our cruise.

 

Finally, a few of us decided to take a night hike up to an ancient stone circle. The actual circle is nothing compared to Stonehenge, but the views are incredible (sensing a theme?). The other thing that made it so neat is that you can walk right up to the stones and touch them or climb on them. They keep you pretty far away from Stonehenge, so it was great to get so close to this one.

 

All together, it was a day I'll never forget. I just wish some of my loved ones could have experienced it with me (especially you Mom). I think you would have appreciated it as much as I did. I know I haven't been able to call or email anyone much, but I'm having the time of my life. Each day, I see something that reminds me of the people I love back home. (Side note: I've seen several boxers that look identical to Harley. Who would have thought I'd get all the way over here and even miss that crazy dog!?)

 

Untitled

Today, we went to Haworth in Yorkshire. This is the home of the Bronte sisters. We went to their home/museum and took a walk around the moors. It was really nice day. I found it really interesting to see where they lived and worked. You could almost picture them there imagining and writing such beautiful novels. In light of this experience, I'll list some quotes I really like from their various works.

"I dreamt in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind." Wuthering Heights

"I approve nothing to be Utopian. Look life in its iron face - stare Reality out of its brassy countenance." Shirley




Outside of the Bronte house:

In Haworth town:

On our hike:

Up in the moors:

 

Quick Picture Post

I haven't been able to blog in a while. The email has been tempermental and too slow for uploading pictures. I'm having so much fun! Everyday is an adventure. We FINALLY had a pretty day today. Even the Irish couldn't believe all of the rain we're having (and that's saying something). I was in Wales yesterday, and I'm in England now. Here are some pictures from the past few days. I don't have many good ones because of the weather. I mostly had to keep my camera in my purse so it wouldn't get wet. But, I got a few decent ones.

Blarney Castle:

After climbing to the top.

 

This is how you have to kiss the Blarney Stone. That's the ground you see though the metal bars. Not quite what I imagined beforehand... I'm glad I'm not scared of heights.

Cheshire, England

Tomorrow, we head to the Lakes District, which is supposed to be spectacularly beautiful. I really hope the weather stays nice. It's been frustrating to have so many ugly days. But, today we had sun, and that was just what the doctor ordered.

County Kerry

Today, my tour members and I took an early morning jaunting cart ride (this is basically a horse-drawn cart). It was an amazing way to see some of the sights around Killearny - especially their park. It was so tranquil and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous. What a perfect way to start the morning!

Me with some of my tour mates:

An adorable cottage (now a tea house):

Pretty view of the mist-covered hills:

A creek in the park:

I'm laughing because our horse, Billy, kept nuzzling up closer:

 

I also got to see an Irish shepherd do a demonstration with his herding dogs. It was beyond impressive how well they are trained. Each dog has a different set of signals for right, left, up, down, etc. He can control them by voice command or different whistles. That was really cool to see.

 

We also drove around the Ring of Kerry, which is beyond spectacular. Talk about a view! Unfortunately, what you see in person never quite seems to show up on film...

 

We did many other things, but I don't have the time to list them all now. We just got back to the hotel, and I am hungry! It was a really great day though. I am having the time of my life. Dad, you HAVE to get here. I keep thinking how much you would love everything I'm seeing and doing.

 

Start of my 2nd Tour

I have now started my second tour. I already feel much more comfortable around this group than I did the last one. My last tour was amazing as far as the sights/experiences went, but I never quite clicked with the group. That was mainly because there were several large families and groups that came together, so it was a little cliquish. I guess that was fine because it forced me to go off on my own more. But, this one seems MUCH better! It's great to have people around my age to hang out with. The guide, Matt, is amazing. He's young and really personable, so I think he'll be good at recommending things I'll enjoy. And, he is hysterical! My cheeks hurt from laughing all day long.

It was a rainy day, so I don't have many good pictures from today. Tomorrow, we should be going around the Ring of Kerry, so nice weather and good visibility is a must. I have heard it is beautiful, so I am really hoping all goes well. Keep your fingers crossed for our weather tomorrow, please!

On to Limerick

Yesterday in Galway started off a little rocky. I scheduled a tour, but they never showed up to pick me up, leaving me waiting for an hour. Once that was clearly not going to happen, I went into the city center. But, I got caught in the pouring rain. I had an umbrella, but it did little to protect against the side winds. However, I did accomplish one goal which was visiting the Claddagh village and purchasing an authentic Claddagh ring. I just love the symbolism of them.

In hindsight I think that the tour falling through was a blessing in disguise. Traveling to four countries in under two weeks was starting to take a toll on me. I was EXHAUSTED yesterday. (side note: sorry to anyone who talked to me yesterday, as I was particularly cranky. Especially you Mom and Dad. Love you!!) But, I had a pretty easy day yesterday. I even took a nap, and I got some much-needed sleep last night. So, I'm feeling refreshed this morning, and ready to start the final chapter of my trip. I'm now on to Limerick today to meet up with my second tour group. I am so excited to meet everyone and to see more of Ireland.

Galway, Ireland - Days 1-2

I'm absolutely in love with Ireland. I've never before met a whole group of people who talk as much or as freely as I do. Everyone from the cab driver to the people in charge of my bed and breakfast have been SO kind and accommodating. My B&B is so cute and cozy. As I type this, I'm sitting on the couch with freshly brewed tea to my right side and a gently burning fire in fireplace to my left. This is beyond relaxing. I arrived in Galway yesterday evening, so Wednesday was pretty much just a travel day for me. I did take a quick walk to the coast once I arrived to stretch my legs. It is gorgeous.

Today, I took a tour to the Cliffs of Moher. The company picked me up on my doorstep (literally), so it was really convenient. Along the way, we also stopped to see many things including Dunguaire Castle, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Leamanagh Castle, and the Burren. The Irish countryside looks exactly like what I imagined it would. It's like a green patchwork quilt with stone walls and thick trees/bushes separating the various plots of land. It's lovely. The day started off rainy, but cleared up nicely by the afternoon. The Cliffs of Moher were beyond worth seeing. They were breathtaking! Below are some pictures from today.

Dungaire Castle:

Irish Countryside:

 

Cliffs of Moher:

Can you tell it was just a little windy today?

Who knew I was an Irish pony whisperer? In fact, I have a picture of an English horse posing perfectly for me, as well. Apparently, I'm huge with European equines...

 

Ireland, here I come!

 

Closing the First Chapter

Tomorrow will mark the end of my first tour. This has been a wonderful learning experience so far, and I can't wait to see what the next few weeks have in store for me. Today, I visited the Anne Frank House. All I can say is wow. It is incredibly powerful. They did such a good job preserving the annex she and her family hid in (right down to the magazine clippings of celebrities Anne pasted around her attic room). Seeing the way she and her family hid for so long is shocking. It was also incredible to learn more about Anne. She was truly wise beyond her years. They had videos and quotes (along with artifacts) throughout the museum and the total effect is heart-wrenching. I'm so glad I went. Then, I spent time wandering the various markets before our group farewell dinner.

Now, I'm about to go repack my bags and hope they make weight tomorrow. My luggage needs to go on a diet. It doesn't help that the airline I use tomorrow has lower weight maximums for checked baggage - NO wiggle room for me. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Assuming my bags and I make it on the plane, tomorrow I will be flying from Amsterdam to Dublin. Upon arrival in Dublin, I'll hop on the first bus heading to Galway, Ireland. I have heard nothing but amazing things about Galway (and Ireland as a whole), so I really can't wait. I'll be totally on my own for this leg of my trip, but I'm feeling excited and ready. I've booked a small bed and breakfast that sounds nice. I'm a two minute walk from the coast and a ten minute walk from the city center. While there, I'm going to try to tour the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher (weather permitting). So, around this time tomorrow, I should be basking in the sight of the Irish coastline. Someone really needs to pinch me.

 

Day 3 in Paris, Day 1-2 in Amsterdam

On my last day in Paris, I spent the day in Montemart, the artist's district. Then, I had a leisurely lunch and stroll around Paris. After that, I had to pack up since I would have a late night. At night, I went out to a really nice restaurant and had a great French meal. After that, I went on a cruise down the Seine. The city is truly beautiful at night, and the river gives a unique perspective of it.

Sunday morning, we took the train to Amsterdam. Upon arrival, we first took a canal cruise. Then, we got on a bus and did some sightseeing around the city. Along the way, we stopped at a family farm that specializes in making Gouda cheese and the traditional Dutch clogs. They did a demonstration in the making of both, and then people were more than happy to pay lots of money to buy their goods. I'm pretty sure it's a tourist trap, but it was highly interesting to watch. The man making the clogs grabbed my hand and told me we were going to take a "party picture." This made me nervous since I am now in Amsterdam, and I'm pretty sure I have an idea of how they party (which I'm not planning to join in). But, I was relieved that he just wanted for me to hold a pair of his shoes. The people here seem really nice. Strange, maybe, but nice...

Today, after breakfast, I went to visit a diamond company (no, I didn't buy any). I took a tour of their facility, and they taught me all about the way diamonds are cut. While there are not really diamonds found here, Amsterdam is known for cutting diamonds. In fact, the giant diamond in the scepter of the British crown jewels was sent here to be cut/shaped. Also, the "brilliant" cut for diamonds (very popular) was invented here. Next, I went out to discover more of Amsterdam. I went to the Van Gogh museum, which was really good. Then, I went for a walk around the canals. They really are beautiful to walk around. I also went to a flower market. Amsterdam is known for it's flowers (tulips mainly). Tomorrow, I will visit the Anne Frank house.