London

On Wednesday we took the train from Winchester to London. We arrived at Waterloo Station around noon and didn't have to be at the airport until 4, so we did a little more sight-seeing, this time from the other side of the Thames.

Waterloo Station and the staute right outside. The statue is in honor of the British people who helped so many European children travel to safety during the early days of WWII.

These 3 pictures are the scene outside Waterloo Station. The taxi queue, a special taxi that we liked because of its Brazil theme, and the horseback bobbies with all the bikes.

From Waterloo we walked past the London Eye (the giant ferris wheel which is pictured in our first posting of this trip) and in front of the Movieseum. There we saw several Dali statues and had another beautiful view of Parliament across the Thames.

We then walked to a really pretty pub and had Fish and Chips - appropriate for our "last meal".

Then we again negotiated the tube successfully and made it to Stansted in plenty of time for our flight. It was a great trip!

Savage and Inich visit

We returned to Kerry on Wednesday night. On Thursday I made a quick visit to Killarney for tea and conversation with Karen Nichols Haas. She is the sister of Janet Nichols Stuart, who was here last summer, and the niece of Frances (Nicki) Butler, for whom I'm named. We hadn't seen each other in about 50 years, but had always sort of known about each other and what was going on in our lives, so it was really fun to meet her and the 3 friends with whom she was traveling.


On Friday, Sue Savage Inich and husband Bob arrived in the "people carrier" they rented at Shannon. We had a leisurely afternoon walking around Tralee, then Dana and I went to Shannon to pick up Tom and Margot Savage, who arrived about 8:30. It was after 10 when we got back, but Tom and Dana still went over to our "local" and had a pint just to get Tom initiated. Saturday was cloudy but dry, so we set off for Dingle and made our usual stops - Conor Pass, Murphy's Pub, and sites along the Slea Head Drive.This posting will be pictures from Sue and Tom - I will post Dana's on the next posting.

This is the nun's graveyard in the churchyard across from Dick Mack's pub (Where's the church? Across from Dick Mack's pub. Where's Dick Mack's? Across from the church. - a Dingle joke).

Tom and Margot at what we call "Ryan's Daughter" Beach - because there's a rock memorial about that film which was made on the Dingle peninsula.

Sunday S,B,T, and M went with me to church. They took these pictures later in the week, but I'll put them here so you can enjoy the good shots of St. John's Church of Ireland, Tralee.

It was a pretty windy, rainy day, but we didn't let that stop us - we went out to Fenit and then to Ardfert Cathedral. This picture is taken up by the statue of St. Brendan; it was really windy up there!

Then we did a very good rainy day activity - adjourned to the pub to watch the All-Ireland Hurling Final on TV. Margot was hoping for rowdy fans, but that doesn't happen in Kerry for hurling - just for Gaelic Football!



Monday Dana and I both worked so they went to Killarney and had some fun and lots of rain. Tom got a couple of  purloined inside shots of the Muckross House - which we are glad to have!

Sue and Bob at Torc Falls.

Tuesday we all went back to Killarney. They toured Ross Castle - another questionably legal photo, but appreicated! We ate and shopped and finished this rainy day with tea at the Deenagh Lodge. Ann Marie, the manager, took this picture for us so we are all in it for a change!

Wednesday they were again on their own and went to Blarney and then Cork City - they toured the jail there, which we have not done. The weather was partly sunny - much improved, but just wait..... on Thursday we awoke to bright sunshine and cloudless blue skies. What a joy! We went to Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, and Valentia Island and had a wonderful time. It was the sunniest day that Dana and I have had for that trip in a long time and it was really beautiful! We had our usual salmon feast that night.

All 6 of us on top of Ballycarberry Castle. Tom was setting up up on timer when a couple came along and offered to take it. This was probably good, as we were a little worried about his making the climb up before the timer went off - and without killing himself! Click on this to make it bigger and you'll see that we really are all there! Note the blue skies - this was real!

                              At the ring fort, and enjoying our picnic there.

The feast at home - 2 shots so you can see all of us, and see more of our house. Also note the beautiful Muckross pottery pieces.





Friday we went to Kenmare, without Dana, who had to work. Once again, bright and sunny! We enjoyed lunch in a nice pub and had an interesting interaction with a local who was a little the worse for wear and very partisan about Kerry v. Cork! Sue and Margot shopped while Tom, Bob and I went to the stone circle, then enjoyed the sunshine in the town park - along with these 2 gentlemen! We drove back over Moll's Gap and Ladies View - they had seen the latter earlier in the week, but enjoyed seeing it again in sunshine! We stopped at Muckross House because though they had toured the house it had been too rainy to enjoy the gardens- and the grounds were very beautiful on that bright day.

                                              At Ladies View - 2nd time, more sun!
As we drove down the mountain on the Ring of Kerry, this scene evolved in front of us - and gives you an idea of the width of the road.

                                             Muckross House and lawns in the sunshine.






                  

Friday night they treated us to an
excellent dinner at the Tankard in Fenit.






Saturday we drove north to the Ratoo Tower in Ballyduff and then to Ballybunion. We took the cliff walk and got the traditional picture at Virgin Rock. The we parted ways - the 4 of them to Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, and then Shannon and flights home on Sunday. It was a good visit. This picture is the one on this post by Dana.

And to close, a couple of shots of the photographers which I think are cute. Tom and Dana are very compatible in discussions involving cameras, angles, colors, etc.

England - Isle of Portland

On Sunday morning we took a train from Waterloo to Weymouth, on the south coast. We then took a taxi to the Isle of Portland (famous for Portland stone used in many buildings including Buckingham Palace). Our taxi driver was a real character - in the 15 minute ride we learned about his life - past, present, and future. This included his 6 Shih-Tzu dogs (thus the name of the taxi) and his disgust with the government in general and with his town in particular which has outlawed his letting his dogs ride with him. He handed us back stacks of reading material - about his RV, clippings of his good works, pictures of the dogs, etc.

We arrived at our B&B and settled in, then walked just a few steps to the pub

where Brenda and Michael were to play that afternoon.

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 We found a small diner for lunch, then went back to the pub and met Brenda and Michael. Brenda is our friend from Iowa City days and Michael is her husband,who grew up in England. They live in the Austin TX area and we have visited them.We also met Chris and Mary, their local friends who set up the gig; Paul and Nancy, a father and daughter from London; and several of the locals. There was a good crowd and the music was excellent and enjoyed by all. This was a great rainy Sunday afternoon activity!




After the gig, we all went to Chris and Mary's house for a wonderful Indian buffet - Chris had prepared it and he did a great job. We talked well into the night, then went back to the BandB

. The next day we did some sightseeing with Paul and Nancy

Above:  Michael, MFE, Brenda, Nancy, Paul.  Brenda doing Nancy's French braid. And, the same group having bit of refreshment - and in the background a local man who remembered Brenda from the first time she played there.then went sight-seeing around the island with Brenda and Michael (I'll put scenery pictures in the next post). In the late afternoon we  went back to Chris and Mary's house to see the beautiful deck and vegetable garden they've built up the hill in their back garden.

On the deck with the beautiful view of the bay. In the 2 top ones - MFE, Chris, Michael Brenda; below - MFE and Chris.

That night we met at a local restaurant for a good seafood meal, then stayed up late again talking (and maybe a little drinking). Above: Chris (who joined us late as he was in rehearsals for a local play), MFE, Mary, Michael, Brenda.


Tuesday morning Michael and Brenda drove us to Winchester, where we bid them farewell - they continued on to Surrey, we found our B&B and started "doing" Winchester - another separate post.