Author: boomingbanter

Cardiff was easy to reach today and did not disappoint. Can’t help asking when we visit these places why we didn’t do so before.

With a huge and very beautiful castle as the central feature the city is easy to get around and has just about everything a city would love.

There is a great sports stadium which was the big draw for Aaron. He loves rugby and the stadium is one of the biggest and best of its kind.

There is also a top class art and natural history museum that we both enjoyed. We saw portraits of Queens like Henry VIII first wife Catherine of Aragon who lived in Wales with her first husband Prince Arthur.

Modern artist are well covered even some Welsh celebrities are there too including the universally famous Tom Jones.

There is also the bay and port and a beautiful little suburb called Penarth with beaches for family fun where not so long ago you might have met a hairy mammoth!

Tomorrow we head towards London Heathrow Airport to fly to Belfast the most familiar spot for us in all of the UK. We aren’t sure though when we’ll make it to the Emerald Isle as British airways staff are planning a strike!

If we can’t fly we’ll have to find an inn or a palace or a tower because this mama ain’t driving no more!

Blessing # 420 – Capital Castles!

We entered and left Wales a few times today. Traveling from Chester to Newport the border with England is never too far off.

The scenic route through Brecon Beacons National Park hit many places with funny names that we’d heard before but never seen.

The day was warm but dull at first and while the rolling countryside was inviting. It was gentle rather than powerful.

Our plan had been to drop our things at the hotel and hit Cardiff but there was a huge tailback in that direction so we changed plans and went to Bath instead.

This is a Jane Austen worshipper’s heaven! Lydia and Wickham or Elisabeth and Darcy might turn up at any moment. I won’t ever sleep the same again.

The Roman baths, the pump room, the assembly rooms and the Royal Circle. What a very special city.

Would love to come back.

Even noticed a Bennett Street and wondered was it Jane’s inspiration for the Bennett Family or did someone name the street after them when they became so famous. Any of you know?

Having done enough for one day we slipped into Waitrose and bought a picnic and are tucking in now in our room.

So enjoying also having the treat of an AC  especially since all those thoughts of officers and handsome landowners could make one a little hot under the collar!

Blessing # 419 – Classically Cool

Aaron sipped a little of the Liffey last night as the sunset on our long and great vacation.

Now it is travel home day! Well maybe not all the way if UNITED is to believed!

Seems Chicago is going to be hit by a major inundation but what to do but plod on prepared with the galoshes they recommend. Ironic that we dodged the rain so we’ll for the rest of our trip only to get it on our return!

The day got off to a good start though. We had decided to take the coach to the airport as it was just beside where we were staying. We’d all our change sorted out to pay and were standing waiting at the stop when taxi driver of a certain age pulled up and told us to hop in and he’d take us for the coach fare. So we did and he did as he promised too. I wonder did he feel sorry for me? He made a point of telling me he was playing sixties music as though it was just for me!

At the USA security we also got some special treatment. We were pulled aside for a full scale check as new staff were being trained. We had all the works including the total pat down and the explosive check but the result was we got through security and immigration at lightening speed!

Now we are first at the gate for our flight so have had our Brekkie at leisure. Aaron opted for a fajita while I had my last taste of a real KitKat for a while!

Alas the last treat of the day as the flight is full so no upgrades for us!

Blessing # 427 – Life’s Little Lifts

What a great experience visiting Liverpool. It has such energy and the waterfront is so vibrant and well restored.

Of course we went to the city to take the Magical Mystery Tour that covers all the Beatles history. We were so glad we didn’t try to find these places ourselves or we would have been totally lost.

Hearing the stories of how the Fab Four met and seeing the real places that were the inspiration for songs like Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields was very touching.

Ringo and George came from working class backgrounds whereas John and Paul were more middle class. They all loved skiffle music and it was ultimately thanks to this that they connected.

There is such a lot to see in this great city and we would love to have stayed longer to explore.

Once we’d heard a few songs in the Cavern Club we had to run. It was time to head to the seaside of North Wales and have some good fish and chips.

Blessing # 418 – City by the Seaside

Heading south from Loch Lomond to Chester took us into the suburbs of Glasgow and past Gretna Green. We motored on through the Lake District and to the only spot where Aaron had any interest in stopping his favorite team Manchester City’s Football Stadium.

Aaron regularly watches premiere league back in the USA and knows all the players and form. I have no clue but was very impressed by the Ethiad Stadium

We are staying in Chester because it is an ideal spot from which to visit Liverpool and North Wales.

It’s also a place of great affection for me. It’s where I had my first every experience of life outside of Northern Ireland. That was forty seven years ago and to this day that school trip is still one of the most memorable I’ve ever had.

My bestie Lesley and I and two other girls shared a cabin on the boat to Liverpool and didn’t sleep all night. I have no recollection where we stayed the next night so must have been exhausted.

What stuck in the memory was the beautiful Tudor buildings and the city wall, the river and of course the zoo.

We also went to a Tudor House the name of which escapes me but I remember stopping in a village and my other bestie Sandra buying a bag of cherries. It was the very first time I’d ever tasted them! Tonight I’ll have a beer instead.

Blessing # 417 – Happy Returns

Skye is a place of great beauty and we enjoyed our stay so much. We were lucky the sun was shining throughout but as our B&B owner said the rain makes the grass green!

As we journeyed south we dodged some showers down the Great Glen past Ben Nevis and into Glencoe.  We made good time stopping only to get Aaron some medicine for his midge bites.

They had grown even bigger overnight and his arms and legs are covered so he is now on oral antihistamines and a steroid cream.

What stood out was the vast expanse of mountains and of forest along the way. There are fir trees of every possible shape and form and they are submerged in a sea of huge lush ferns.

Maybe it was that trip to Loch Ness but it would be so easy to imagine huge dinosaurs plodding round the corner. There is something very primeval about the area.

We’re back from the top of the mountain now settled in for an evening by the shores of Loch Lomond in the cute village of Dryman where it must have poured before we arrived and that funnily enough seems to have as many pubs as people!

Blessing # 416 – Ferns and Firs

There are some people who don’t have to say a word to make you feel good. One such is the Dalai Lama.

He always seems to have twinkle in his eye that suggests he is genuinely a very happy soul.

A few months ago he came under attack for some remark he made about a potential female successor. He said that was a possibility which is the point we should retain. He then went on to say jokingly that the incumbent would need to be good looking or something to that effect.

If you look into this whole story it seems the remark was made in an interview with Vogue magazine dating to the 1990s but resurfaced in a BBC interview this year.

Here is a link to the official response from his holiness with his apology.

https://www.dalailama.com/news/2019/clarification-and-context-of-remarks-made-by-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-in-a-recent-bbc-interview

How do you all feel about this?

It makes me feel sad that this good man who from childhood has given his life to kindness and peace and who wants the best for everyone was set up.

He has always been consistent in his message that Compassion is Key.

Just a few days ago he talked once again about this subject underlining the importance of women in leadership because of their innate ability to show compassion. Let’s make sure we take him seriously pink cap and all!

Blessing #443 – Wisdom of our Elders

Last night it was so beautiful we had a long walk on the beach before having our dinner outside.

We were mercilessly attacked by midges though! Poor Aaron has as always reacted and is covered in lumps and bumps.

In spite of his injuries we did some things today that 007 might be proud off.

We ate scrambled eggs and salmon for breakfast before venturing off on single lane roads to cross from Gairloch to the Isle of Skye. Once again the weather was kind to us and we have had a glorious day with remarkable views.

We are staying in the little coastal village where TALISKER Whisky is made so of course we did the tour.

So interesting and so amazing. We learned that the bottles made in 1979 sell for £3000 each.

Someone recently bought a full barrel of this quality spending £500000 in one visit. Seems though it was an investment for a special customer.

We are wondering was it perhaps James Bond himself on Her Majesty Secret Service!

Blessing -#415 – Sun, Sea and Spirit

 

We upped the ante on the Scottish Brekkie and started the day with the finest smoked fish we’d ever tasted. Aaron resisted the porridge but it too was exceptional.

Anyone planning a trip to the Highlands of Scotland should absolutely stop at the Culliss House. Call the owner Joan direct for best rates it is OUTSTANDING!

Our robust meal gave us all the courage warriors need to take on monsters so off to Loch Ness we went.

 

The museum is top class with great lessons in geology, geography, paleontology and marine biology.

We are believers and are convinced a family of plesiosaurs  are living in this real Jurassic Park!

After saluting Nessy we went north once more and west to Gairloch. The scenery is breathtaking.

Our little Guest house for the night is right by the harbor so there will be more brain food for dinner.

Scotland is stunning!

Blessing # 414 – Myth & Mountains

We both woke up very early after a great nights sleep and got on the road from York to Edinburgh before nine.

Just as Thursday saw record heat there is a good chance today will set a record for rain. It was WET and poured all the way from York to the border.

We passed Hadrians Wall but did not walk on it as we’d have been soaked.

As we reached the border though the rain stopped as we came to the holy island of Lindisfarne. We didn’t tour it just put our feet on it as we had to get to Scotland.

We were delayed at a railway crossing and are sure we saw the Queens train or something very special because it had a livery on it!

As we entered Scotland the rain stopped and we even had a peek of sunshine.

Edinburgh proved to be a big hit and it truly is a work out to walk the Royal Mile and climb the steps to the castle.

We saw where Kings were born and others crowned and we even saw the Scottish Crown Jewels along with about ten thousand other visitors.

We crossed the Firth of Forth and made it to our B&B in Perth. By then we were starving and had no energy to go out again to find a restaurant so we went to the local Co-Op and bought Haggis Pies along with an alarming amount of snacks.

No doubt we’ll walk it off tomorrow when we reach the highlands!

Blessing # 412 – Picnics