Sex, Drugs and Diamonds

We awake ready to meet our new friends for the next 3 weeks. We come across a few other Australians and as we board the bus we are introduced to some New Zealanders (Ummm.... what hemisphere are we in).

The drive to the Channel Port takes some time so I feel that its in my best interest to catch up on some Zzzzz (I cant help it the bus rocks me to sleep). Mum you were awake right I am sure you got to check out the lush English countryside that was on display. We arrive at the Port (The White Cliffs of Dover) unfortunately it was not the best weather so the cliffs were not looking there best. We board the ferry and make our way to Calais (France) upon arrival we will meet our Tour Director, our driver and of course our bus/coach.

With time changes etc... its now about 3pm and we still need to get to Amsterdam. We arrive late to the hotel giving us just enough time to have a shower get changed to go out for a traditional dutch dinner. Post dinner is where it started to get interesting. The group was keen to see what Amsterdam night life had to offer I just think a few people may have got more then they bargained for. So with some shocked faces and a new perspective on the prostitute profession, we headed back to the hotel, ready to see Amsterdam in a different light (sun light).

Amsterdam by sun light (and a bit of rain). What better way to get us in the right mood then to take us shopping, first stop DIAMONDS. They sparkled so bright and definitely drew a crowd, but lucky for Mum and I we were not sucked in and managed to keep our money in our pockets. So after trying on a number of rings and necklaces it was time to brave the rain and go on our canal cruise. Good news for us is that by the time we got on board the boat the rain had stopped allowing us to take in the sights.

Of course no trip to the Netherlands is complete without visiting the dikes and windmills along with cheese shop and clog making demonstration. If the shoe fits right!!!

Time to get some rest tomorrow we have a long drive to Berlin.

Stonehenge and the Theatre

Yawn!!! Rise and shine its time to have a spot a breakfast and get on our tour bus to visit the historic Stonehenge that everyone keeps talking about.  I mean what is the fuss all about. Guess I will find out soon enough.

2 1/2 hours later we finally make it, and before we have even entered the area to get a close look Mum and I are both amazed and start asking each other several questions like... How did they get the rocks there? Why would you carry the rocks there?  Why a circle not a square?  See I ask all the big questions don't I.   We took a audio guided tour around Stonehenge taking several photos as we went some of the questions we were asking ourselves were answered others still remain questions but here are some Quick Fun Facts.

• Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire.
• It contains approximately 80 giant stones standing upright in a circle with five capping stones, called "trilithons," that create arches.
• It has been estimated that the three phases of the construction required more than thirty million hours of labour.
• According to folklore, Stonehenge was created by Merlin.
• The stones increased in size towards the centre of the monument.
• Two pillar stones, called the “Station Stones” are placed in the shape of a rectangle.
• Stonehenge is one of the major places people gather at the time of the summer solstice for healing.

After taking in all that Stonehenge had to offer it was back on the bus for a midmorning nap and a drive back into town.

As we arrive back into town we decide we will do a spot of shopping/browsing and check out what the stops in London have to offer.   Can't wonder the streets for to long as we have tickets to see the Lion King.

A quick shower and a rummage to find something in my luggage that would look OK to go to the Theatre in. A tube ride to Covent Garden and then a short walk to collect Tickets.  Excellent perfect timing to sit down and have a relaxed dinner before the show.  Mum!!! How you holding up hope you can stay awake during the show :) LOL   

No time to check out the night life after the show as we need to get back to the hotel and pack our luggage ready for the tour to officially start in the morning.

Amsterdam here we come.

No rest for the WICKED?

Well after struggling with 22 kg of luggage I manage to make it to the hotel in London and dump all my stuff. Not time to waste, I only have half a day to look around town, investigate a  few things before mum arrives tomorrow, as we have to make the most of the two days we have in London before the official tour starts.

Of course as I walk out the door of the hotel I am confronted with nothing but the typical English summer weather yep!!! you guessed it cold rain and wind. Oh!!! my favourite kind of weather (NOT!!).  OK so I can't let the rain and wind get me down. 

First I walk across Hyde Park then down to Buckingham Palace and before you know it I have cut across a few streets and I am at Piccadilly Circus. Time for a rest and time to get out of the rain. I decide to walk to the movies and watch the latest X-Men, of course no movie is complete with out getting some dinner.  Good news is by the time I had dinner and got out of the movie it had stopped raining and I had a dry and comfortable journey home.

Time to sleep as mum is due to arrive at 6am ish.

With a knock at the door and a struggle with luggage who is at my door but mum. Yay!!! she arrived safe and sound.  So we have a quick catch up as I am getting ready and having a spot of breakfast. Then is out the front door of the hotel to jump on one of the Classic Double Decker Bus Tours.  We ride the bus and check out a few sites but we make our first official stop the Changing of the Guards.  We manage to get a spot to view the Guards marching past and before you know it we take our first tourist photo together. 

Looking good aren't we.

Well before you know it the show is over and we walk to Piccadilly Circus and stop for a spot of lunch.  After lunch we walk out on to the street only to find that the sun is shining and we need remove a few layers before we go any further.  Back on the bus as we start to make our way to the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.  We have a nice walk along the river and decide the do the river cruise long the river back towards our next destination "Big Ben".

Off the ferry and heading towards Big Ben and Westminster Abbey we decide the the weather and all the walking we are doing calls for a small ice cream. Not far from out ice cream stop we spot the classic phone booth and cant resist. Yep!!! A photo needed to be taken. 

After checking out Westminster Abbey we start walking back over the bridge and the strangest thing happened. We ran into Mojica (Mums hairdresser and a friend of mine from school).  So I guess its true it is a small world.

Well the day is getting on and mum as been awake for quite some time but before we head back to the hotel we need to make a quick stop at Harrods.  Umm.... alot of this is out of our price range. Nice to look though, Right Mum!!!

A walk over Hyde Park back to the hotel ready to sleep and have another early wake up as we have planned to go to Stonehenge in the morning.

Awesome Adventure #5 - European Treasures

After a quick tour of Ireland I am ready to meet my mum and see what Europe has to offer both of us.  Should be interesting.
 

What a load of Blarney

Our final stop today might be Dublin but before we get there we have one major stop to make and that is to the Blarney Castle.

 

We cross the Cork & Kerry Mountains in before arriving at the Blarney Castle to Kiss the Blarney Stone. For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence. Its powers are unquestioned but its story still creates debate.

Its been said that once upon a time, visitors had to be held by the ankles and lowered head first over the battlements. Today, its a little safer,  the Stone itself is still set in the wall below the battlements, but to kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. The prize is a real one as once kissed the stone bestows the gift of eloquence.

Not sure how strong these powers are but hey will give it ago anyway. You just never know.

After being told our bus was in need of repair we had a little longer in the grounds to explore the Poison Garden, the Caves and the Blarney House.

Back on a new bus and needing to make up time to ensure that people get back in time for plans, trains and buses etc... It was onward and forward. 

Final stop was the Guinness Factory so much history around this family and the stout but what I found the most interesting is the Arthur Guinness signed a 9000 year lease on 31 December 1759 at £45 per annum for the unused brewer. Now that's a deal if I ever heard of one.

Finished the tour with a Guinness ok a Coke and then it was time to bid farewell to my Paddy Wagon friends.

Dingle & Annascaul

Today its only a short drive before we arrive in Dingle. Dingle is a charming Gaelic speaking fishing village.  We had plenty of time to explore this little town but before I explore to much my first stop is Murphy's Ice Cream. Murphy's Ice Cream is hand made and uses milk from the rare, indigenous breed of the Irish Kerry cow.  The flavours are interesting from Brown Bread to Guinness to good old cant beat it Vanilla.  How ever they make it it was delicious.  OK enough Ice Cream is time to explore what Dingle has to offer.  Dingle has everything from an amazing water front with dolphins to a Hardware store that is also a pub - sounds like a builders dream if you ask me.

Had a spot of lunch from the local farmers market before meeting back up with the bus to head off on a wonderfully pleasant tour around Slea Head. Loads of breath take views and photos taken, plenty of time to breathe in that Atlantic salty air!

Back on the road for a short drive to Annascaul where we will be spending the night at our very own Irish pub, the Randy Leprechaun. Tonight was Karaoke, lucky for everyone I did not sing but my goodness there were several that did.  Ouch!!! my ears! :)

Last sleep tonight before heading back to Dublin.

A BIRTHDAY in Killarney

Today is my birthday and there is a list of things to do and sites to see, Can't Wait!

So today we have the wild Atlantic Ocean by our side as we cruise down the West Coast.  As we head towards the Cliffs of Moher we listen to the guide tell stories of how our ancestors overcame the horrors of the great Potato Famine of 1845-49, sending over a million of Irish people to the 4 corners of the globe.

Then finally we arrive – THE CLIFFS OF MOHER! As I gaze in awe at the majesty, I can see why so many people come to visit.  These cliffs rise to 214m at there highest point and range for 8km  over the Atlantic Ocean. From the cliffs on clear day you can see the Aran Islands (Lucky it was a clear day for me). 

Fast Fact: Did you know that World Surf Champ Kelly Slater came to surf here in 2009 for the award-winning cult surf movie ‘Wave-Riders’. 

We make our way into Killarney where we are staying for the night good thing too as there is so much on offer – traditional music, great restaurants, loads of dancing, an idyllic National Parkland. Talking about the National Park we took a relaxing Horse and Carriage ride around the National Park, just a great way to end the day.

The day might be over but the night is only just beginning.  So for my birthday I had my favourite meal, PIZZA OK so its not Irish but eh!!! its my birthday.  Then off to a local pub for some Irish music to get us in the dancing mood before the live band came out and that's when it all went crazy. Wish I could tell you more but what happens on tour, stays on tour. :) hee hee.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me.

A Day of Driving South - Galway

We set off early to try and get to Galway as early as possible.  Not many stops scheduled for today.

Drive through enchanting Sligo visiting Glencar Waterfall W.B Yeats made this enchanting waterfall favous in his poem, "The Sotlen Child". It is by nomeans a large waterfall, but enchanting nonetheless and is beside Glencar Lake.

A quick stop for lunch at Strandhill a Irish surfing town. Its not the type of beach that I would frequent but hey its a beach and who would of thought in Ireland. :) hee hee

Tonight we spend the night in Galway, Irelands party capital - I'll be the judge of that.  We found a cosy pub down in the latin quarter, sat down and sipped on a pint of Guinness while listening to the beat of electrifying Irish music.

I hope I can sleep tonight as tomorrow is my Birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my twin brother Adam.

Another full day as we head to Belfast.

8.30 am back on the bus as we start to make our way to Belfast. But before getting to there we have a few scenic stops along the way.

First we make a quick photo stop at Dunluce Castle - ancestral home of the McDonnell clan. Well this was until its kitchen collapsed into the sea during a great feast in 1639 - killing many staff, who's ghosts are said to still linger in the ruins even to this day. ooOOooo!!!!

Not much of a drive and we then arrive to trace the footprints of the Celtic Giants, walk the Giants Causeway! A world heritage site and the proud location of an estimated 60,000 hexagonal columns of Basalt rock formed by Cataclysmically violent volcanic eruptions a long long time ago! Of course this volcanic eruption is not good enough for the Irish and we were told a myth about how a giant warrior hero - Fionn McCool - built it to fight of the pesky Scots.  Which ever story you want to take with you its a really cool site, how every you look at it. 

With still so much to see we stop for a quick pub lunch before arriving at the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. Carrick-a-rede means 'rock in the road'. It is thought salmon fishermen have been erecting bridges to the island for over 350 years. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. The bridge spans twenty meters and is thirty meters above the rocks below.

After crossing the bridge and living to tell the tale we then pressed onto our final destination Belfast. Here we did the infamous Black Taxi Tour. So much history, pain and politics it was hard not to be interested in what was being said. Finding it hard to tell you about the tour and what was covered as so much was said and seen.  If you ever visit Belfast this is a must do tour.