Wales, Lake District, Edinburgh...Where Are We?

Since we left Dublin, it's been a much quicker pace. We ferried over to Holyhead, Wales aboard the Ulysses (an enormous floating hotel-like ship, cleverly named for Joyce's famous work) and made our way through Wales. We visited the medieval walled town of Conwy and walked the castle walls for great views and had fish and chips on the quay (fending off the hungry predatory seagulls) before driving through more of the dramatic countryside. We caught some breathtaking glimpses of Snowdonia National Park and the surrounding region, and more sheep than we could ever count! We spent the night in Mold, Wales -- a foreboding name, I know -- and some of us enjoyed the film Waking Ned Divine in the lobby while others organized suitcases to accommodate new purchases and others got some much-needed rest.

The next day we drove a couple hours into the Lake District of England where we visited Grasmere and Dove Cottage, home of William Wordsworth, England's poet laureate of the late 19th century. We sampled some Kendal Mint Cake (some of us too much...) which has been traditionally used as a pick-me-up for hikers in the region. Essentially,  it's pure sugar. Imagine the center of a peppermint patty in bar form. There was a burst of energy after that but then there was a group nap on the bus as we drove to Edinburgh. Also on that drive we had an accent competition and a quiz on all of the sights we've seen and things we've learned.

Upon our arrival to Edinburgh we had some great pizza (how very Scottish, right?) and then had a walking ghost tour of the old town that was more a bawdy comedy show than it was a spooky haunted crawl through the dungeons and crypts. The next day Divina, our Edinburgh tour guide showed us around and brought us to the castle. Some fellas spent their afternoons selecting the perfect kilt and as far as I know, no one tried any haggis...perhaps next time.

Now we're in London and we're utterly exhausted. We arrived via the night train from Glasgow (not too far from Edinburgh)just before 7am and have been going ever since. More on that later.

Dublin

We've now had two full days (with no rain! -- knock on wood) in Dublin. Our hotel is brilliantly located right off of Parnell Square at the top of O'Connell St which is really the main street. The kids have had fun shopping sightseeing and writing journals. We saw the Book of Kells this morning at Trinity College after our local tour guide gave us the history of Dublin and showed us some key locations and taught us a few choice words in Gaelic...don't blame me for that one! A common slogan scrawled on any and every item that can be sold in a trinket shop has now been translated and thus adopted by the group: Pog ma thon! Don't worry though, they also learned how to say "good day": Dia duit. And a few friendly others. 

During "free time" a few went to the National Museum and Art Gallery, some to the Viking Museum, Grafton Street for shopping, walking along the Liffey river, and yet others hung around in the lively Temple Bar area known for it's cobble stone streets, cafes, restaurants, and music. Speaking of music, we hit the jackpot of live music last night when we stopped into the Ha'penney Bridge Inn for some traditional Irish music. The trio of gregarious Irish gents entertained us with some old classics that the kids now know and sing along to. There was clapping and foot stomping all around. In short, it was a heap of fun. The bar tender wasn't thrilled that he was only selling Sprite, but he eventually got over himself.

They've learned a thing or two about budgeting their money, I think, as this final day before we switch to pounds tomorrow Euros were in short supply. Luckily there are plenty of things to see and do that cost no money at all. Crisis averted! Tomorrow morning we take a ferry to North Wales and take a little drive past Snowdonia National Park and make a stop in Conwy, an ancient walled city -- but more on that once we see it!

The group is getting along swimmingly, they've made some new friends and for many have experienced some incredible things (like the ocean) for the first time. It's really been lovely.

Signing off for now,

Slainte