Monday, July 11, 2011

June 24th-July 1st....The last leg to Circumnavigate!

   To follow the theme of this journey, the last 7 days were spent crossing the Atlantic Ocean on The Queen Mary 2....a veritable floating city!












Its length is almost as tall as the Empire State Building is high. It had 32 elevators, 15 restaurants or bars, 5 pools, a Canyon Ranch Spa, a full casino, two theaters, a fabulous Library...AND its own Planetarium! But NOTHING could compare to getting HOME.....To this....

AND, Especially  THIS.....


Thank you all for sticking with us through this Odd-yssey. We hope we've spread good cheer around the world. It was an amazing adventure for us.

Monday, July 4, 2011

June 22-24th ...Jolly Old

   Having witnessed England's incredible influence around the world, it seems ironic that the day I'm penning this entry of kudos to our "Mother" country, also happens to be 4th of July!
   Our friends Dave & Bett wheeled us on a one-day whirlwind extravaganza of London. It was so much fun!





Ice Cream or The Globe Theater......what a choice!!!


View from Tower 42








June 7th-22nd The Great Ancestry Search

   We couldn't complete a trip like this without including a stop in "The Old Sod." In  a reality check, back to earth, we boarded a Virgin Train from London's Euston Station west to Holyhead, Wales where we caught an Irish Ferry to Dublin.


Welsh Town in Gaelic (on the way to Holyhead)
      In immediate support of the percept of Irish good nature, we met a fun-loving couple on the Ferry. Pat & Mike shared their bottle of wine and chips and stories of their life in Ireland and where to go and what to see...all this at 9:00am in the morning!


   Though the ancestry search was stymied by a fire which destroyed records during the revolution, the story-telling heritage lives on and will fill in those missing gaps with tales of William the Conqueror and the Norman Conquest! (George's Mother must have been right, they MUST be related to The Plantagenets!!!)
   There is everything lyrical about the land. The tales of Faerie knolls and leprachans become plausible here.  The Celtic history is palpable too, giving an indominable body to the spirit that weaves these amazing tales.
Here is some of what we loved about the place.....


Blarney Castle    


George's Sister Ann  joined us in "The Search"


Celtic Cross at The Rock of Cashel, an 11th Century Church
Altar Detail at "The Rock of Cashel"

The MacDonald's ruined Castle "Dun Lare"  on the Northern coast near Belfast
   There was an interesting contrast between Dublin and Belfast....Dublin more free-wheeling. The over-lay of the British influence brings a formality and decorum.


The State House in Belfast with Queen Victoria presiding


The Crown Pub in Belfast

Temple Bar in Dublin
The "Hay-Penny" Bridge over the River Liffey in Dublin

Street Scenes from Grafton Street in Dublin....





The Famous statue of fish-monger Molly Malone in Dublin
   Of course, Dublin is not without its decorum......


Trinity College where the Book of Kells libraried



Christ Church
   From Folk lore in the Brazen Pub to Joe Sweeny's fish and chips in Greystones at the tip of Dublin Bay, I'm glad there's some Irish in the heritage we leave.

Monday, June 6, 2011

June 6th(D-Day Remembered)- Honfleur, France

   Much like the day in January when we first boarded the ship, today was cool and rainy  in Le Havre. All packed and ready to disembark early tomorrow morning in Southampton, UK, we decided to "waste" the midday hours in the tiny neighboring town of Honfleur, where the tides had kept us from docking. It ended up being one of the most enjoyable excursions of our trip. Our shipmate friends, Lily & George had the same idea and we met on the shuttle bus to town.








Art appreciation 101










The Cidrerie

   A walk in the mist, a quick bite to eat at a "Cidrerie" where hot spiced cider warmed our day and we shared the "Gastronomie du ville".... little fat crepe/pancakes...one savory...with shredded goose and pickles on tender butter lettuces with lemon oil, and one sweet, with bittersweet chocolate and creme fraishe....c'est magnifique!!



What a unexpectedly wonderful way to end an amazing journey.