I is for Ireland

I is for Ireland

My Adventure word for today is Ireland.  My family came from Ireland and all of my life I have wanted to go there.  My great grandmother used to tell me stories of gypsies, leprechauns and fairies and I loved them.  I grew up dreaming of walking on the Emerald shores of Ireland.  In my childhood dreams I dreamed I would meet and marry a red-headed Irish man and live in Ireland forever and ever....well that did not happen.  Frank is germanic.  I mean come on....his last name is Korb(which means basket).  In 2004 I took my first trip to Ireland and it was over.  I knew that for the rest of my life I would be forever in love with this country and its people.  In 2009 I was in Ireland on March 17th and got to take part in the Dt. Paddy's Day parade....right in the heart of Dublin.  Believe me it does not get better that this.  If you ever get a chance to see Ireland....be sure and go to Killarney, Kiss the blarney Stone, Dingle Bay, the Cliffs of Moher, Dublin, the Circle of Kerry...who am I kidding....see it all.  It is worth every moment.  When I was in ireland in 2009 I was fortunate enough to share this journey with my friends, Mary and Marian.  This trip was on our bucket list.  I still have to return again.....to spend a summer and to visit Scotland.  I  have to go back on my own (not part of a tour) because I don't want to always be a backseat driver from America.  I want to drive on the left of the roads.  Everytime I have been I have had a driver named Seamus.  I love that name. I always wanted to change my name from plain ole Karen to Siobbhan.  Alas, Karen kind of grew on me and Siobbhan remained a dream.  Happy Tuesday and I hope you come back and see what my J word is going to be.



Sons of Somerled and Scottish Heritage

Anyone who knows me knows that besides the Mother Road my dream is to one day visit Scotland. I have made Ireland twice and have to say I am drawn to the UK. I love everything about it, from the driving on the wrong side to the laid back life. I am sharing one of my favorite songs with you tonight. I heard it for the first time on my first trip to Ireland. I was in Dublin in a music store and they were gearing up for Steve McDonald's arrival. I wish I could have stayed...but alas our bus was leaving shortly for Killarney. The song Sons of Somerled stuck in my brain. When I got back to the states I began researching Somerled, the song, the singer, Scotland. I discovered that "Somerled was a 12th century Scottish lord and war leader who helped defend the land from Viking invaders. His grandson founded the largest and most powerful of the Scottish clans, Clan Donald. When New Age musician Steve McDonald of New Zealand became aware of his Scottish ancestry he began to intensively research his heritage as a member of Clan Donald; he also decided to write a concept album dedicated to the history of the Clan. Sons of Somerled is the very satisfying result." I began researching my own heritage several years ago and after attending a kirkin' of the tartans in Montgomery....was hopelessly hooked on the Scottish mystique I was unraveling. My family was Scottish but left Scotland shortly after the Battle of Glencoe and went to Ireland where they stayed until the 1800's when they boarded a ship and sailed to America to escape the potato famine and survive. The draw of the history is spellbinding to me. One day I am going to stand on the cliffs in the heather and know I have arrived.

The Day From Hell.....

Ok, so most of you know I left last Friday going to Ireland....here is the beginning of the rest of the story. Day 1 we left Atlanta airport at 11:18 Eastern time....which meant...I got up at 4:00 Central time to get to the airport and through security within the time frame they have alloted for you. Our first ray of opportunity occured around 7:15...when they were able to put us on an earlier flight to Chicago's O'Hare....at 10. There were six of us....and we all got to be bumped up....so we took it. Off to Chicago we went.....arriving there....about an hour and half before we should have.....but with the same layover....4+ hours. We discovered about 2...that the plane we were supposed to be on.....was running late....2 hours. Whew I was so glad we were on the earlier flight. Finally our boarding time was called and the next leg of our journey began. There would be a 5 hour time change on the next part....so leaving Chicago at 4:50....was now actually 9:50. We flew through the night and arrived at Heathrow at 5:15 in the morning.....leg 3 would be at 9:10....so we ate some breakfast and changed some money to Euros and Pounds. They eat beans with their eggs. We ate breakfast at Giraffes....it was a posh little health food restaurant....but beans with eggs....was gross. Finally our flight was called to Dublin...and we marched over to the gate for AerLingus...as we entered the AerLingus compound....Marian....remembered she did not have her camera....and took off back to where we had been sitting....we began to sweat bullets hoping she would make it back before the plane took off. One of the last of three to enter the plane was Marian...smiling with her camera.....and leg 4 began.....we then headed to Shannon....and landed around 12:30 only to find out that our luggage did not make it with us. With so many changes it is a miracle any of us got luggage. Tori, Mary, Marion and I are without luggage. Dakota and Rachel have theirs....lucky stiffs. We have now been traveling...over 24 hours....and we are all zonkered. Satyen Kells, our tour guide met us....and off we headed to Killarney....our destination for the next couple of days...we had to pick up the other Alabama group.....at a hotel where they were waiting....and then take a long bus ride to Glenna House. We arrived, checked in, ate supper - pork, french fries, and beans.....what is with the beans?....and I took a shower and headed for bed. Luggage arrived at the hotel around 9:30. We were so glad to see it. Tomorrow is another day.....and actually...day 3....Sunday....we will be doing the Ring of Kerry tomorrow and taking a Jarvey Ride. I can't wait....head on pillow....and I am out. Come back for tomorrow's episode of Ireland.

Ireland Here I Come!

I am leaving for Ireland, Wales, and England in the morning. I am so excited. We will be gone from March 13 - 21st. A group of six is going with EF tours. This will be my second time to take this particular trip. It is one of my favorite tours. We will be in Dublin on St. Paddy's Day....talk about the ultimate rush of Irishness! We will be visiting Kilarney, do the Circle of Kerry, kiss the Blarney Stone, shop, see Buckingham Palace, see Westminster Abbey, see the Tower, the Bridge....Abbey Road (my personal choice), I will sing, more than likely, with the buskers in Covent Gardens....this is also where Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady) sold flowers....we will see Piccadilly Circus....I was sad when I realized...it was just a place...there was no tight rope walker or such. I did see some circus freaks...people with weird colored hair....dressed funny....and went to a head shop....that really sold 'schrooms. I thought I would die. I got to go to Madame Trousoues (my spelling stinks). The food is interesting....from the fish and chips to the spotted dick....I tried it all. I was not crazy about the Indian food - it turns out that the national food of England is Indian food.....and I loved going to the vault of the original Hard Rock Cafe. I actually played Jimmy Hendrix guitar in the vault...along with Eric Claptons first one. It was an awesome rush to sit on Hendrixes couch, hold his guitar and actually get to play it. We will be visiting Stratford on the Avon and Shakespeares homeplace. I love this thought.....I am a Shakespeare major. From there we will see Oxford....and Snowdonia Glacier Park. The only bad part about this trip...is the 24 hours we will spend trying to get there. Oh it is not actually 24 hours....we leave Atlanta....fly to Chicago...that takes....1.3 hours. Then we leave there....4 hours later...and fly to London.....that takes 8 hours....but not really...there is a 6 hour time change....and 5 hours after we arrive in London....we fly to Dublin...and then to Shannon. Coming back...we leave from London....and fly to Dulles in Washington....then to Atlanta....the whole shabang is 12 hours. I won't be blogging next week...unless I get to an internet cafe or something.....but I will be thinking of you all....be prepared to be bombarded with Ireland tales. Have a great Spring Break Week. God Save the Queen Mum!....Tut Tut...and all that jazz!

Where Are You Going?

I love road trips. I have not been on a long one in a while, gas has been a bit high but I love them just the same. Did you know that the first paved road was seven and a half miles long and six feet wide and built in Egypt....It was made from slabs of sandstone....so I'll bet it would have made the same sound the road in Waverly, AL makes when you drive on it....you know....duh duh, duh duh, duh duh, duh duh.....da duh duh duh duh duh duh duh.....I love to hear that sound....it puts a rhythm in my head that makes me feel good. Ok, so I love road trips....heck....I love trips period. I love packing.....and leaving.....but I also love coming home. All of my most favorite trips involve my daughter Kathryn. When she was about ten the family made a road trip to California....via Las Vegas.....what an experience. We went to Hoover Dam, walked up and down the strip at night and took in all the bright lights....Kat and I sang Viva Las Vegas.....and had a blast. When she was 15 the two of us took off right after the school year ended and headed up to Prince Edward Island.....just to see Lucy Maude Montgomery's house. Kat is a huge Anne of Green Gables fan.....and we had a great time....we stayed in Salem, MA.....and to be honest...it was probably the most uncomfortable stay we had....it was earie....like there were people not at rest. I don't think I slept all night....in the Seven Gables Inn across the street from the Salem Witch Trial Museum. I was glad when we pulled out of town. The next big one....occurred when Kat was 17. The two of us joined my cousin Amanda and her family and rode 9700 miles of road in 19 days. We had the best time ever. I can't begin to tell you how great this trip to the Pacific Northwest was. Kat graduated that next summer and her trips began to include others. I was sad for a while.....but then I discovered I could still travel....so the next thing I knew I was checking out Hawaii....and then England, Ireland, and Wales....and loving it.....in 2007 I took some students, my dear friend Mary, my good buddy Marian....and made some new good buddies....and I took Kat to Italy....what a trip....Venice and Florence rocked.....being with Kat and Mary rocked my world. I don't believe any other trip will compare. I love home....but I love seeing the world too....there is so much of it and so little time....I want life to be filled with adventures.....and explorations.....and when I draw my last breath....know that I have enjoyed it all. Happy Trails. K