Northern Northern Ireland

I am sad to announce that this is our last post from Aunt Eileen and Uncle Trevor's house. Aunt Eileen was nice enough to drive us all over the northern coast today. We saw places we meant to see and a few that we didn't, all which were equally as interesting. I don't think that I have ever travelled so well! With who else, and where else for that matter, would you get hot tea, hours after leaving the house, from a thermos, sitting on the side of a road somewhere between Belfast and Ballymoney? Only with Aunt Eileen in Northern Ireland, and it was wonderful!

Some of the highlights of today are shown in the pictures. We visited Northern Ireland's most touristed site, The Giant's Causeway. Geologists tell the fable that this peculiar rock formation formed by volcanic eruptions and the cooling lava. In actual fact, its origins can be traced back to the handy work of the 52 ft giant, Finn McCool. Just a few miles down the road, we also stopped to brave the 65 ft long-100 ft high Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The scenery didn't let us down. Waves crashed against the cliffs below. The hills sparkled with 40 shades of green and the sea was crystal-clear. Also, despite a possible fear of heights, I have down-graded the fear factor of walking across a rope bridge high in the air from 'extreme' to 'less-extreme'; it has been bumped by 'walking across a rope bride high in the air during high winds.' We survived, though, and enjoyed every minute of our last day in Northern Ireland. I must also mention that, with Pappy and David, we visited Nanny in the hospital. Day by day, Nanny is progressing. Please keep her in your prayers.

It is almost midnight here in Belfast and we are catching the 8am train in the morning to Galway (it's unfortunately a little more involved than it sounds). So, I am just going to post some pictures and hit the hay, or "boogie the chiwawa" as Jon's grandparents used to say when they were missionaries in Nigeria years back. (Or so I learned last night) Northern Ireland has been great to us, even though we were rained on quite a bit today. In Ireland though, the rain seems to compliment the scenery, as opposed to distract from it. ps. Thanks for all the comments! We love reading them!

A Post from the Better Half

Hello from Northern Ireland!

Now, it may seem a bit weird that I am saying hello now, as we have already posted numerous times since landing yesterday... was it only yesterday? Anyways, it's because this is the first time I (Kristen) have been allowed to write something! And, for the record, I did not give Jonathan permission, nor was I even aware that he had posted about the tragic mishap involving the crocodile Hunter. Seriously, Jonathan, we are in Ireland, not Australia! One trip at a time!

So, to answer the question, mom, Gramma is just great! We dragged her all over the city of Belfast today. I have even included a picture (much to her dismay) just to prove that she is indeed, after 75 years of anticipation, in Ireland! We went on a City Tour of Belfast today, through both the Catholic and Protestant areas. It was interesting to see the peace divides, which are literally walls between people's backyards, as far as 70 feet high in some areas. The people on the one side of the divide don't even know what their neighbours look like! Thankfully though, the city is peaceful as of late and many people are working towards turning the once bomb ridden areas into heritage places. The area where the Titanic was built for example. The people of Belfast maintain that the Titanic should still hold the title of "unsinkable." When it left Belfast, it was unsinkable, and in their opinion, it isn't the Belfast engineer's fault that a Scottish captain ran it into a Nova Scotian iceberg! lol Just a little tidbit of information: As of a year or so ago, Belfast had no public restrooms. Apparently most were underground, and therefore perfect places to hide bombs! Imagine there being no public restrooms in Niagara Falls? What would the tourists do?

Anyways, we also took a tour of city hall, went to Queen's University and the Botanic Gardens. We met the most honest homeless man along the way too, who's sign read "Money to buy Booze." Hey, atleast Irish homeless people don't try to fool anyone! Aunt Eileen was nice enough to drop us in the city centre and then come back again a few hours later and pick us up. We are really greatful for her and Uncle Trevor. After dinner we went with Jonathan's Grandpa and Aunt Eileen to the hospital to visit Jonathan's Grandma. It was great to see them again, and we had a lovely visit. Tomorrow its off to Northern Northern Ireland to the Giants Causeway!

Now, lets take a vote:
Would you, our loyal readers, like to see pictures of the places we are (only the best shots, of course), or would you rather just see pictures of people?

And, just for another record, we are only posting so often because we are staying at Aunt Eileens and Uncle Trevor's, who happen to be very generous with their internet. Out of their care, I can make no such promises! Here is the ONLY picture I was given permission by King Jonathan to post. Isn't Gramma cute?!

Ireland 2006: It Has Officially Begun

We have de-planed our first transatlantic flight in 2006 for the second and last time. Do you know what that means? We're in Ireland! Belfast to be exact. After two hours on the airplane they made us get off. Luckily, we weren't 13,000 feet in the air at that point; we were still safely on the ground, at the airport, well behind schedule. A radio needed to be repaired. Apart from that inconvenience, our flight was fine. The inflight movies, so I have been told, were Jack Black's Nacho Libre and the animated Over the Hedge. I slept...and possibly snored. Upon landing, we shuffled up to Customs and informed the fellow that we were leaving, with certainty, on 4 January 2007. Now we are not so certain. Since then we have learned that Ireland has no (NO) mosquitos, making the prospect of staying indefinitely ever more enticing.

Aunt Eileen picked us up from the airport. We spotted each other quickly as she had already wrestled her way to the front of the waiting-crowd. I love visiting with my family here. They have already made us feel at home in Ireland.

I best rest now to be prepared for Irish sightseeing tomorrow. We hope for a bit o' Blarney. Then again, we are here: maybe we already have it.

Curious What to Bring to Europe for Four Months?

Here is everything I will be travelling with: carry-on size backpack, a sling-strap day pack, a journal, book, notepad, pen, notes from our guide books, a waterproof jacket with hood, a quick-dry towel, one pair of long-johns, three pairs of underwear (tighty-whitey's: thanks a lot, mom) three pairs of socks, two short-sleeve shirts, one long-sleeve shirt, two pairs of pants, two undershirts, one sweater, one tie, flip-flops, a money belt (with passport, airline tickets, railpass, driver's license, health card, insurance), a second money belt (with photocopies of the above documents), sandwich bags, vitamins, a pillow case, a sleeping bag, a toiletries kit, a clothesline, gentle laundry detergent, a wristwatch, an electronics stuff-bag, a water bottle, a camera, and one pair of walking shoes

The Cities, the Countries, the FUN!

"This is your four month trip to Europe?! Are you out of your minds?" Yes. Yes we are.

Ireland: Belfast, Galway, Aran Isles, Burren, Connemara, Kinvarra, Dingle, Kilkenny, Dublin
Belgium: Brussels, Brugge
Netherlands: Amsterdam, Harrlem
Germany: Bacharach, Rothenburg, Munich, Fussen
Czech Republic: Prague
Austria: Vienna, Salzburg, Halstatt
Switzerland: Zurich, Lucerne, Gimmelwald, Lausanne
France: Nice, Villegranche, Paris, Mt. Saint Michel, Monaco (tsk tsk, we know Monaco isn't France)
Italy: Cinque Terre, Venice, Florence, San Gimigano, Volterra, Sienna, Cortona, Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, Civita, Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Pompei, Capri
Greece: Corfu, Ithika, Kephalonia, Zakynothos, Olympia, Gythion, Sparta, Nafplion, Athens, Santorini, Mylos
England: London

A Current Route and an Outdated Map

Our excitement is bubbling over. How could it not: we fly out in four days! For a quick, easy and accurate answer to "Where exactly are you going?", this map will serve our questioneers much better than a verbal recitation of city names. We respectfully acknowledge that this map was taken without permission from www.adrianchapman.com.

Click on the map! It enlarges the map.