20 April - GPS is Your Friend

Tredegar House built by William Morgan

After a very sleepless night conjuring up the worst-case scenario of driving the little blue Hyundi I took a sleeping pill and prayed I would see my grandchildren again.  Trying to learn a different GPS system where you put in postal codes rather than address was overly stressful to figure out.  After several calls to the Enterprise representative, who soon became my best friend or maybe I was his worst nightmare we did figure it out.  There is no way you can go one block without GPS and I made it all the way to Newport, Wales through countless roundabouts and backtracking and it only took us an hour to go 20 miles. 😊

Why did we go to Newport?  I had to go see the mansion that William Morgan built called Tredegar House.  As many of you know Morgan is my family name from my father and all the first-born males are named William.  It would be wonderful to be part of this arm of the Morgan line but it was not to be so.  I did find out that the Morgans do retain many of the same traits all throughout history.  They are good looking with thick black hair and brown eyes, like their ale, gambling, fighting and all-around BIG story tellers.  Plus they marry beautiful women for their money.  One of them even lays fame to be a pirate – He was Henry Morgan.   Don’t believe it!

It was another beautiful spring morning as we walked through the Tredegar Gardens.  They put on a Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt for the kids and children were everywhere.  The beautiful grounds of green grass and flowers are so immense that you really didn’t notice the crowd until you saw the parking lot full to overflowing. 

We then drove the 20 miles back to Cardiff so that we could see Cardiff Castle.  After several trips around the grounds we realized that there was no way we would find a parking place.  Remember all those people on those trains and busses coming into Cardiff, well now half of them were all trying to get into the castle.  The other half headed for the Cardiff Bay which of course we headed for.  This time we got the last parking spot in the car park.  I’m starting to drive like all these Welshmen.  There is no beach.  It’s a bay surrounded with stone wall and tons of restaurants and all sorts of amusements for kids.  It was body to body. 

Churh built on Cardiff Bay by Norwegian Christians

You are not going to believe this, but we finally had lunch at Subway at 4:30pm.  There was no way you could get into a restaurant and sit down.  Most people were getting their food and standing anywhere they could.  I will say the Welsh are a happy people as all you saw was people laughing and enjoying themselves.  Of course, everyone of them had a pint of beer in their hand.  We decided to get back to our B&B before they all got into their cars to drive home too.  Yikes, think of a roundabout full of bunch of drinking Welshmen.

Tomorrow we hope to make it Easter Service.  What we find is most of the old churches here are more for touring than for worshipping.  Guess we’ll just set our GPS and pray God will do the leading WITHOUT roundabouts.

Rita admiring the Bakery next to the kitchen at the Tredegar House

Looking across bay at the little white church that is now only used for weddings.

Rita walking back to our B&B 

19 April - Cab, Train, Bus, Train and St. Christopher

Rita ready for our last train to Cardiff 

Do you believe in Guardian Angels?  Well, God sent us an angel disguised as a young man named Chris.  He tried to hide his wings, but he always seemed to be right there when he was needed, which was for most of our ill fated train ride from Paddington Station London to Bristol which was supposed to be to Cardiff, Wales.  We have been told tales of the wonderful rail system in the UK.  Another one of those myths flying around to make us believe we can actually get from one town to the other at the speed of light in ease.  Not true! 

It all started lovely enough with a nice breakfast at our hotel and then a 10 min. ride to the station where the driver left us off at the WRONG end of the station.  Do you know how long a train is?  Do you know how many train platforms Paddington Station has?  Do you care?  You would if you had a large suitcase and smaller carryon and a friend with the same set of luggage who cannot go down stairs.  We were at the top of the stairs and long ramp.  We did find a rail worker that pointed us to the lift (elevator) so we could get ourselves and the luggage down to what we thought was our platform at the OTHER end of the station.  No one has told anyone that they aren’t quite sure which platform we are to go to as they don’t know themselves.  Apparently, the Great Western Railway has decided that this is the weekend to repair the rails between Bristol and Cardiff.  Not good news to several thousand people ready do leave for their Easter weekend.  Also, Friday and next Monday is a Bank Holiday so why not fix the railways now. 

Of course, seating on the train was on Coach B and we were standing at the beginning of the train and the alphabet goes backwards on a train.  Yes, 2^nd to last car.  All the way back to the other end of the station.  You  only have 15 min. to get on the train that waits for no one.

St. Christopher - can't see his wings

This is where we meet St. Christopher.  I ran ahead to get my suitcase on our coach so I could run back to get Rita’s bag and as I reach her, she is walking with the sweetest young man pulling her bags.  He helps her on and places her luggage and makes sure she has the seat by the window.  He said he would come back to help her unload since we are all going to have to unload in Bristol and be put on a bus to Newport only to get off the bus and back on to the train in Newport to take a 12 min. ride to Cardiff.  Are you tired yet? 

As we were getting off the first leg of this nightmare in Bristol, Rita scratched her arm and it started to bleed like she had been shot.  Here comes St. Christopher who takes her off to First Aid.  Let’s just say I knew more first aid and had more first aid equipment than the so called First Aid officer.  So, I put on some antibiotic and found gauze to wrap her arm.  Then St. Chris continued to carry her bags to the bus….we got the last bus.  Now the 40 min. ride to Newport turned into 60 min because ….you got it…Easter Holiday traffic jam.  Probably, all the people kicked off the train.  We get to the train station just in time to miss our train.  After another 45 min. wait, we find out the next train is only 2 coaches for ALL those people kicked off the last train.  Rita was literally the last person on the train hanging on for dear life.  I found another couple of Angels that pushed there way through and rescued Rita and made sure she had a seat AND then they carried her luggage down the platform.  We hugged and kissed this young couple like they were our long-lost relatives.  God is good even in the midst of such a hair pulling experience and sent three of the most wonderful young adults to minister to us when we were ready to just sit down and cry.

I won’t continue about picking up the rental car and my anxiety attack and getting to our B&B only to find no one there and the key they left did not work.  There was a Pub about a block away and we joined the Friday crew celebrating the end of the week drinking and dancing to 1950's music. Rita celebrated with a wonderful steak and me with a beer.  Rita is now  sound asleep in the very narrow twin bed next to me as I write this and hopefully, it will be a better day tomorrow.

The Four Elms Pub -Est. 1859

Enjoying TGIF to 1950's music - very loud

After this I am just walking...no more trains, buses or cars

People, People Everywhere

It was an absolutely beautiful spring day at 70 degrees.  Can’t say so much for the traffic through London.  We decided to take the Big Bus Tour and see all the sights, but the high school and college students decided to take TODAY protest to the streets for Climate Change which closed down many of the major streets and caused massive traffic jam.  Throw in the fact that it was a warm day and everyone out on the streets for Easter Vacation and it was a little like Gibson Hill Road, North Albany Road and Hwy 20 all rolled into one during the Hwy 34 closure.  In other words, 45 minutes to go 6 blocks.  This meant that our plan to see Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey was not going to happen.  So much for our planning to come to the UK the week of Easter.  Guess it could be worse, the protesters are planning to shut down Heathrow airport on Friday which is where we flew in on Wednesday.  Guess we do have good planning. 

This is probably the most interesting city.  The people here are from all over Europe and all points beyond.  You hear every language and yet everyone seems to enjoy one another and tries to be helpful even if they don’t understand you.  Rita sat next to lady on the bus who only spoke French and Rita kept talking to her and the lady was very gracious and listened intently.

How long did the bus ride to nowhere last?  10:15am to 4:30pm.  Rita had her own little protest that was aimed at the bus driver.  She wondered why she did not get to see all things on the map and why we went around in circles and only saw tops of buildings that we didn’t even know what they were.  I thought it was pretty cool.  I got to see statues with pigeons all over them and started making up name of buildings we had seen for the 3^rd time. What I really loved was all the flowers in bloom in all the window gardens and parks.  We did get to go over the London Bridge…that was cool.  Rita really wanted to see the London Tower, but the crowds were so crazy that it would have meant standing in line for 2 hours.  We both really wanted to go into Westminster Abbey, but again, the roads were blocked off.

We had our English Breakfast at the hotel with all the other tourists at 9:00 am and by the time we got off the bus we were ready for dinner and REALLY needed a bathroom.  Found a cute little pub up the street from hotel and had Fish and Chips and a beer for me because I was definitely walking NOT driving.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!!!    She will need His help if she ever decides to drive through London.

Easter Bunny Girl taking a collection.   Eggs??

Plants growing on side of building

"Pretty Little Thing" pink cab.. Note the pink unicorns painted on cab.  Loved it!

My favorite Statue.  I call it "Big Paul and His Admirers"

One of the many little parks in full bloom around the city.

Albany to Kensington Palace in only 30 hours

Our Hotel - Lancaster Gate

After 30 hours of flying, attempting to sleep, flying, walking, walking, walking we are finally in our beds at 8pm London time or 12 noon PST April 17.  Your April 17 will only last 24 hours, but our April 17 will last 32 hours.  We were both up at 6:00 am in Albany because of the excitement of beginning our adventure and now 30 hours later the only excitement we can muster is sleeping and trying to figure out how to flush the bloody toilet.

You don’t go hungry on a Delta International flight. We not sooner got on the plane and we were served a snack and drink closely followed with a full meal with 2 more to follow.  Great movie choices with all the latest Oscar winners and Mary Poppins.  The walking marathon started in the Amsterdam airport going from hallway to main hallways with no end. Heathrow is a close second of hallways that are like mazes.  But all that pales with the shuttle drive to our hotel.  You would think that a cultured and modern town like London could at lease have two lanes for 2-way traffic.  Let’s just say having those little black cabs coming at you head-on only to swerve at the last second causes even the most cool and brave to scream “watch out”.  

Once settled into the our room I decided I would find Paddington Station to get our train tickets for Friday.  Remember my warning that people in this part of the world say “it’s just a short walk”, after 2 hours of being lost on winding streets I finally returned to our room with my TWO TICKETS.  I told Rita that our short walk to the train station on Friday would be in a cab.  The flowers were in bloom in windows and doorways along the streets.

Rita walking in Hyde Park

We are only two blocks from Hyde Park where the Kensington Palace is located.  Rita was ready for a “short walk” so off we went for a 45 min walk to the Palace.  The Sunken Garden and Palace interior was well worth the walk…not sure Rita would agree about the “walk” part.  After our palace tour we continue walking to Queensway Road to try and find something to eat (again).  One thing about London, it is truly International.  Any food you can want, except English and American 😊 There’s Chinese, Polish, Chinese, Russian, Chinese, Moroccan, Chinese, Indian, Chinese.  So we decided on Chinese.   Rita was so tired that she actually fell asleep at the table while talking.  I think she sleep walked all the way back to the Hotel – another 5 blocks.

Well, it’s time to turn off the Telly, dream about the Red Bus London Tour tomorrow and be assured that we definitely got all our steps in today.

Paddington Station

Suzan trying on ball gown.  Barely  got it over her hips

Red Hall Gallery in Kensington Palace

Rita meeting up with one of her almost dead relatives

Sunken Garden in foreground.  Kensington in background.  The tulips were fabulous

Our Chinese Chef selecting a chicken from the window 

Finding Jamie

For years I have heard Rita talk about Outlander and Jamie Frasier.   So at long last Rita’s dream to find her dead relatives, and perhaps Jamie at the same time, we are off for London, Wales and Scotland on April 16^th.   Just preparing for this trip has been an adventure.  With much arm twisting she talked me into driving AGAIN on the left side of road from Cardiff Wales to the highlands of Scotland.  How did that happen?  Go back to read our "Helpful Hints - Especially #1”.  It’s a lot like childbirth – a pain while you are in the midst of it, but afterwards you forget the pain and do it again.

There have been a few laughs during the planning stage like Rita thinking she will need rubber boots for the rain.  Like we are going to go slogging through the bogs.  She has never worn rainboots in the 30+ years living in Oregon and we do get RAIN and flooding as evidenced last week.  Then there is making sure you have enough underwear, long sleeve shirts, socks, sweaters, umbrella, chocolate and important necessities.  My plan for taking the smaller suitcase has now switched to the larger so that I can be sure to have room for the Scottish whiskey and plaid woolens I plan on bringing back.  

Please be assured that I will watch over little Miss Rita and if I see her running up a hill to wrap her arms around a large stone I will tackle her and remind her even if she gets to Jamie she is will remain almost 83 years old and beautiful Claire will still be there ever holding on to her man.

Final Comments with Helpful Hints

Now that we’ve landed back in the US we have time to reflect on our time in Ireland.  We thought we would give you helpful hints in case we have inspired you to travel to that beautiful land or maybe we’ve scared you to death and you may never leave the US.  DO TRAVEL.  People are amazing all over the world.  When God said he loved the World I believe he wants us to go out into it and love it in His Name.

Opps, I’m now writing this at home.  Hallelujah!!  The wi-fi got disconnected when I had to move to our gate.  It is so nice to be on W I D E streets again.  I only yelled twice when I thought Rod was on the wrong side of the road coming home J

Suzan and Rita’s Hints:

1.    Bus, train, car or walk.  Rita thinks driving was fun.  She was NOT driving.  I think walking is the safest way to go or maybe the bus. Public transportation and Tour busses sound better and better.
 

2.    GPS vs. Map.  It makes no difference since there are no street signs.  We talked to others who drove and they said the exact same thing.  Most were lost to the point that they thought they would have to call in the search helicopters.
 

3.    YES, get insurance if you are driving.  You will need it!!  Perhaps practicing driving on the left side of the street will help you before you leave if don't confuse yourself here.

4.    Remember that One Euro is worth $1.35 (at this writing) so if something is 5 euro it’s really costing you $6.75.  Eating out is not cheap.  Petrol is sold by the liter.  Once we figured out the cost conversion it comes out to approx. $8.00 a gallon, so quit complaining about our high gas prices

5.    When someone tells you it’s “a wee way down the road”, add another 1 hour to your drive time.

6.    Do stay and Bed and Breakfasts.  You will meet the sweetest people and have the best food and conversation that will keep you going all day or you may meet the Bickers who were a scream as they bickered in the kitchen and were all smiles when they talked with us.

7.    God still sends guardian angels.  Just ask anyone who drives through the back roads.

8.    Do drink the milk and eat the butter and ice cream.  It will be the best you’ve ever had.

9.  Do learn to love tea.  It will be served at every meal.  If you are coffee lover then you are going to the wrong country.......instant Nescafe - YUK!

10.  Don’t eat at McDonalds or Burger King, but always have an Irish Breakfast.

11.  Always choose a “joint” to eat in.  "Pub Grub" is the best and the surroundings & people are great.

12.  Take a good friend with you to enjoy each day and pray you will still be friends when you get home.  Also, it would be good if that friend could read a map.  Plus a little green friend can be fun and will always make people smile when they see him in the oddest places.



13.  Take lots and lots of pictures so you can enjoy your time in Ireland over and over.

Irish Cows.  I think Irish Cows have it over California Cows.  They seem to have endless supply of green lush grass, they don't have to worry about earthquakes and have lots of sheep friends, They give the sweetest milk for drinking, butter, ice cream and don't have to worry about their weight.  And when you drive past an Irish dairy there is NO smell,  I'm convinced that the farmers give them a bath each day and wipe their bottoms with  Charmin.

Just a few little pictures to end this blog.  Then it's your turn to go somewhere you've always wanted to go and bring back memories.

Street singers in Galway - they had a crowd gathered round.

Two Irish Gentleman that were more Rita's speed

A sweet little country church overlooking the Atlantic

Some of the little gems you see along the side streets while you are lost.

A rose in bloom at Kilkenny Castle

One of the dozens of doors I took pictures of all painted in different colors along the old streets of Dublin

WANT TO SEE MORE - VISIT RITA.  She has a book full and stories for each one.  Thanks for following our blog.  We enjoyed sharing each day with you.


 

 

Rita's Last Day in Ireland

We started out our last day with a cup of tea and biscotti in hand.  Our first thoughts were to get off at every stop, but realizing that it would take us at least 24 hours to get in each stop we opted for our top 4 choices and that took all day.  

First stop was Rita’s #1 choice at Trinity College.  She has talked about wanting to see the Book Of Kells since we started planning this trip.  The tour was supposed to take 30 minutes, but 2 hours later she finally exited the Long Room (library) that contains the Book of Kells.  Again, don’t believe anything you are told about time.  The Book of Kells is the first four gospels transcribed by Monks in Latin onto calf skin parchment.  All the drawings are in natural lead colors of red, yellow, green, black and white with those being mixed into other colors with the writings in black.  Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take any pictures so we had to buy cards to remember it by.  Rita said it gave her chills to just look at the writings knowing that they were the Word of God.  You only get to see one open page of the books as they open one page each day.  The rest of what you see are paintings of the pages.  The library is not open to the public unless you pay for the tour, but the students are allowed to use the library at any time and can view the Book of Kells as they want.

Rita just as you enter Trinity College.  You could hardly move because of the students moving from class to class.

This is the Long Room (library).  Notice the shelves that go up 80 ft. or more full of old books arranged by height.

We hopped back on the bus and decided our next stop was the National Gallery of Ireland.  It was just the opposite in architecture, but very impressive.  We walked through each exhibit and you are taken by the different styles and subject of artists.  Again, another two hours of walking through exhibit to exhibit.  I had a bit of a hard time of controlling Finnegan as he kept going off viewing paintings and sculptures that were not appropriate for his age.

Finnegan admiring fine art.

This one is of a grandfather and his granddaughter.  I had to laugh because it reminds me my granddaughters putting the "touch" on grandpa.  She's probably saying "Grandpa, it's only $20 and that's a deal for that shirt"

 

Both of us were excited about getting to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral of Dublin.  Again, we took a tour and you cannot believe the ornate designs and windows in these cathedrals.  The existing church was rebuilt in the early 13^th century.  St. Patrick is said to have baptized converts to Christianity at a well that once existed in the park alongside the church.  Our tour guide was more interested in telling us about Jonathan Swift who was the dean at the school from 1713-45.  She told us about his life and showed where he was buried and I finally had to ask where the monument to St. Patrick is.  She pointed to a stain glass picture of him so high I could barely see it.

The stain glass in the center is of St. Patrick, but it was way at the top next to the ceiling.

Some of the beautiful architecture

Finnegan trying to get directions out of the cathedral.  

We were starting to wind down but wanted to go to a well-known Irish restaurant and Pub to hear and see Irish dancers.  We were told that it would be in the afternoon and found out it would not be till about 9:00 pm tonight.  There was no way.  In fact, as I’m writing this it is 8:45 pm and Rita is sound asleep on the bed. 

We don’t even want to think about going home tomorrow.  Rita has had such a wonderful time.  We both agreed that if she had waited any longer for this trip it probably would not have happened.  As crazy as some of our experiences have been it was well worth the trip to see this beautiful country. 

FYI - Yes there are slugs in Ireland too.  I told you it's a lot like Oregon here.

Don’t stop reading this.  Tomorrow we will give helpful hints on  how to travel to and around Ireland.

Keep on walking
 

               The End of a long day.......and I took a ton of pictures of all the colorful doors in Dublin.