Irish/British Adventure
June 28, 2006 - July 9, 2006
11 days overseas
DUBLIN, IRELAND, & surrounding Countryside
Day 1 – Today was departure day it took 2 flights. The first stop was to Amsterdam, which was about 4 hours. The second was to Ireland, which was about 7-½ hrs.
Day 2 – Today was our last plane to Dublin, about 1hr 14 min. I slept the whole time because the time zone changes and it was daylight the whole time. After this flight we got on a Coach bus and we met our Delegation Manager. The Coach took us to the Hilton Hotel where we would stay for the night.
Day 3 – We took the Coach to the GAA museum (Gaelic Athletic Association) http://www.gaa.ie/ (go to the History/Culture link) to learn about traditional Irish sports, including Gaelic football and hurling. I took many pictures and there was a huge stadium, which was breathtaking. We got on the Coach again and drove past the Millennium Spire http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2002/12/19/story265360352.asp, which I tried to take a picture of but it was too tall (though my mom found a picture from another source) Its 42 tons, 20 meters tall, cost 4.6mil Euros & erected in late Dec 2002. There were inspiring sculptures dotted around the town, which we stopped for a while to shop. After our look around town we headed in the Coach to the Youth Hostel where we would stay for the night.
Day 4 – This morning we went to breakfast at 8:55 a.m. Then we took a hike through the Valley of the Two Lakes in the Wicklow Mountains http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/ireland/wicklow2.htm Glendalough, Glen da Loch, the valley of the two lakes, is one of the important religious and historic places in the Wicklow Mountains. In the 6.th century Saint Kevin appeared in the valley and founded a hermitage. As Kevin was an excellent scholar, more and more people pilgrimed to the valley and a monastery was founded. In the 12th century Gleandalough was a town with seven churches and about 3000 inhabitants. Numerous Viking attacks and a devastating fire in 1398 brought the learned life to an end.
There was a forest trail with beautiful little waterfalls. But we didn’t get very many pictures for the leaders kept pushing us on. After the walk we got sack lunches on the Coach while we drove to an old jail. Inside there were wax figures posing and there were real prison cells that had carvings in the walls from the prisoners. We rode in some Army Ducks, World War II amphibious vehicles that we toured in.
Northern Wales
Day 5 – This morning we drove to our ferry ride that would take us to Wales. The ferry had an Arcade room, a Casino, and a pizza place, which is where we had lunch. After we ate we were allowed to wander anywhere but the casino and I went to the gift shop and bought some things. We had to exchange our money to pence. When we got off the ferry we met our new tour guide and we drove to a Beaumaris Castle the most technically perfect castle in Britain a great unfinished masterpiece of the great Edwardian castles in Wales, which begun in 1295, it was also the last. http://www.castlewales.com/beaumar.html (has loads of many pictures), which was very exciting except for that right before we left a bird left me a “present” on my shoulder!
Day 6 – This morning we visited a school and got to talk to some of the students. Then we took a tram up to explore an age-old copper mine. We ventured trough 3 levels of underground tunnels…it was amazing! The outside of the mines was just beautiful as the inside! From there we walked up a hill dotted with billy goats onto a gravel path that led to a toboggan ride built in to the hill! It was so fun!! See me in action =oD
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
Day 7 – Today we were on the Coach pretty much all day because we had to drive through England to get to Scotland. We stopped in Liverpool, England for a bathroom and shopping break. Then we went to a museum in Liverpool that had models of ships from WWII. After that we drove to Scotland. We went to the most haunted place in Scotland, Edinburgh. And we stayed in the most haunted hotel in that area as well…it was exciting!! And because it was the 4th of July the cooks were kind enough to cook us American food such as Mac-and-cheese!
Day 8 – Today we went to Edinburgh Castle, a former royal palace and fortress, we went into the dungeons, and saw cannons. And from the top of the castle I got a great view! Then we walked down the “Royal Mile” to a Bio-Dome called “Our Dynamic Earth”. We walked through exhibits that showed facts about the earth. It was very interesting. Then we went into this dome inside and it was like a giant movie screen…it was cool!
Day 9 – Today we went to the William Wallace Memorial http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wallace_monument.htm
We climbed 246 stairs up and 246 back down. It was an exhilarating view from the top! Then we went to Loch Lamond http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/index.asp where the “Loch Ness Monster” lives http://www.nessie.co.uk/. We got to go canoeing too! Then we painted ceramic animals while eating finger sandwiches and pop for lunch.
Day 10 – Today we went to Gretna Green http://weddings.gretnagreen.com/w_history.html where under-aged kids can get married (gross!). Then we went to a nice little store and we took a bathroom break. Then we drove off to England for the rest of the day… relaxation!
LONDON, ENGLAND, & Surrounding Countryside
Day 11 – Today we are in London http://www.london-city-uk.com/.
We went to medieval Warwick Castle http://www.warwick-castle.co.uk/warwick2004/tc_timeline.htm#top overlooking the River Avon, it was amazing! We went to go see the dungeons first, it was actually really small. Next was the torture devices and weaponry. We climbed spiraling towers too! Then saw the world’s largest trebuchet in action (actual catapult launch) http://www.warwicksiege.co.uk/! Then we visited Oxford University, the oldest university in England, where they shot scenes from Harry Potter!!
Day 12 – Today we went to St. Paul’s Cathedral, there were amazing carvings in the walls! Then we went to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/buckingham-palace.htm, then the Tower of London http://www.camelotintl.com/tower_site/index.html to learn about its history and see the dazzling royal crown jewels. Then we went to a Medieval Dining experience place where it was like you were in the old ages…the water was in a wine bottle and you used wooden cutlery. We went to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre too then we rode on the world’s largest Ferris wheel, The London Eye http://www.goldentours.co.uk/tour.php?46
for amazing city views. Then we ate at the Rainforest Café before we saw a theatrical performance in London’s famous West End district, the play was called “Whistle Down the Wind”. We stayed our last night in London and got up early. Then finally we headed home! We were all too excited to sleep…but we would be in our own beds tonight, in our own homes with our family and friends.
June 28, 2006 - July 9, 2006
11 days overseas
DUBLIN, IRELAND, & surrounding Countryside
Day 1 – Today was departure day it took 2 flights. The first stop was to Amsterdam, which was about 4 hours. The second was to Ireland, which was about 7-½ hrs.
Day 2 – Today was our last plane to Dublin, about 1hr 14 min. I slept the whole time because the time zone changes and it was daylight the whole time. After this flight we got on a Coach bus and we met our Delegation Manager. The Coach took us to the Hilton Hotel where we would stay for the night.
Day 3 – We took the Coach to the GAA museum (Gaelic Athletic Association) http://www.gaa.ie/ (go to the History/Culture link) to learn about traditional Irish sports, including Gaelic football and hurling. I took many pictures and there was a huge stadium, which was breathtaking. We got on the Coach again and drove past the Millennium Spire http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2002/12/19/story265360352.asp, which I tried to take a picture of but it was too tall (though my mom found a picture from another source) Its 42 tons, 20 meters tall, cost 4.6mil Euros & erected in late Dec 2002. There were inspiring sculptures dotted around the town, which we stopped for a while to shop. After our look around town we headed in the Coach to the Youth Hostel where we would stay for the night.
Day 4 – This morning we went to breakfast at 8:55 a.m. Then we took a hike through the Valley of the Two Lakes in the Wicklow Mountains http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/ireland/wicklow2.htm Glendalough, Glen da Loch, the valley of the two lakes, is one of the important religious and historic places in the Wicklow Mountains. In the 6.th century Saint Kevin appeared in the valley and founded a hermitage. As Kevin was an excellent scholar, more and more people pilgrimed to the valley and a monastery was founded. In the 12th century Gleandalough was a town with seven churches and about 3000 inhabitants. Numerous Viking attacks and a devastating fire in 1398 brought the learned life to an end.
There was a forest trail with beautiful little waterfalls. But we didn’t get very many pictures for the leaders kept pushing us on. After the walk we got sack lunches on the Coach while we drove to an old jail. Inside there were wax figures posing and there were real prison cells that had carvings in the walls from the prisoners. We rode in some Army Ducks, World War II amphibious vehicles that we toured in.
Northern Wales
Day 5 – This morning we drove to our ferry ride that would take us to Wales. The ferry had an Arcade room, a Casino, and a pizza place, which is where we had lunch. After we ate we were allowed to wander anywhere but the casino and I went to the gift shop and bought some things. We had to exchange our money to pence. When we got off the ferry we met our new tour guide and we drove to a Beaumaris Castle the most technically perfect castle in Britain a great unfinished masterpiece of the great Edwardian castles in Wales, which begun in 1295, it was also the last. http://www.castlewales.com/beaumar.html (has loads of many pictures), which was very exciting except for that right before we left a bird left me a “present” on my shoulder!
Day 6 – This morning we visited a school and got to talk to some of the students. Then we took a tram up to explore an age-old copper mine. We ventured trough 3 levels of underground tunnels…it was amazing! The outside of the mines was just beautiful as the inside! From there we walked up a hill dotted with billy goats onto a gravel path that led to a toboggan ride built in to the hill! It was so fun!! See me in action =oD
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
Day 7 – Today we were on the Coach pretty much all day because we had to drive through England to get to Scotland. We stopped in Liverpool, England for a bathroom and shopping break. Then we went to a museum in Liverpool that had models of ships from WWII. After that we drove to Scotland. We went to the most haunted place in Scotland, Edinburgh. And we stayed in the most haunted hotel in that area as well…it was exciting!! And because it was the 4th of July the cooks were kind enough to cook us American food such as Mac-and-cheese!
Day 8 – Today we went to Edinburgh Castle, a former royal palace and fortress, we went into the dungeons, and saw cannons. And from the top of the castle I got a great view! Then we walked down the “Royal Mile” to a Bio-Dome called “Our Dynamic Earth”. We walked through exhibits that showed facts about the earth. It was very interesting. Then we went into this dome inside and it was like a giant movie screen…it was cool!
Day 9 – Today we went to the William Wallace Memorial http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wallace_monument.htm
We climbed 246 stairs up and 246 back down. It was an exhilarating view from the top! Then we went to Loch Lamond http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/index.asp where the “Loch Ness Monster” lives http://www.nessie.co.uk/. We got to go canoeing too! Then we painted ceramic animals while eating finger sandwiches and pop for lunch.
Day 10 – Today we went to Gretna Green http://weddings.gretnagreen.com/w_history.html where under-aged kids can get married (gross!). Then we went to a nice little store and we took a bathroom break. Then we drove off to England for the rest of the day… relaxation!
LONDON, ENGLAND, & Surrounding Countryside
Day 11 – Today we are in London http://www.london-city-uk.com/.
We went to medieval Warwick Castle http://www.warwick-castle.co.uk/warwick2004/tc_timeline.htm#top overlooking the River Avon, it was amazing! We went to go see the dungeons first, it was actually really small. Next was the torture devices and weaponry. We climbed spiraling towers too! Then saw the world’s largest trebuchet in action (actual catapult launch) http://www.warwicksiege.co.uk/! Then we visited Oxford University, the oldest university in England, where they shot scenes from Harry Potter!!
Day 12 – Today we went to St. Paul’s Cathedral, there were amazing carvings in the walls! Then we went to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/buckingham-palace.htm, then the Tower of London http://www.camelotintl.com/tower_site/index.html to learn about its history and see the dazzling royal crown jewels. Then we went to a Medieval Dining experience place where it was like you were in the old ages…the water was in a wine bottle and you used wooden cutlery. We went to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre too then we rode on the world’s largest Ferris wheel, The London Eye http://www.goldentours.co.uk/tour.php?46
for amazing city views. Then we ate at the Rainforest Café before we saw a theatrical performance in London’s famous West End district, the play was called “Whistle Down the Wind”. We stayed our last night in London and got up early. Then finally we headed home! We were all too excited to sleep…but we would be in our own beds tonight, in our own homes with our family and friends.
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