The many shades of green in Ireland..........

Homeward Bound...................

This morning we said good bye to London and the girls. We are at Heathrow waiting for our plane. We have had an awesome trip, but we are all ready to get home.

Back to London

Thursday we bid farewell to Kitty and Robyn, but only after Kitty and Karissa were able to get in one more shopping trip. HELP US and SAVE US. We did make it under the weight limit on BMI by 1 kg-HA. Our flight from Dublin was delayed so we didn't get checked into our hotel until quite late. They ended us upgrading our room so we had a view of Big Ben, the Thames and the London Eye. Basically our view is the background of the blog, what a coincidence.

Friday morning we took a stroll along the Thames and then met up with the Bria, Brook, Kylie, Katie and Erika. They had done the Big Bus Tour on Thursday so felt they had seen all they needed to see of London. So after lunch the girls decided shopping was the best plan. It didn't last long as the crowds were a bit too much for us. We were all getting tired so headed back to the hotel. It was fun for Karissa to be with her friends, and Steve was a good sport hanging with seven girls. Before crashing all the gang headed out to stroll the crowds, eat, and scope the British boys. I elected to stay behind and finish packing.

Bunratty Castle, Ring of Kerry, Dingle

We have had a very busy three days. Kitty drove us to Bunratty Castle where we visited the folk village then had a medival dinner at the castle Monday evening. Tuesday morning we got up early took the train to Killarney where we took a bus tour around the Ring of Kerry. We stayed in a B&B which was a stone cottage they had turned into a room to let out. Helped us enter into the history of county Kerry. The next day we toured Dingle, then took the train back to Dublin. Today we head back to London.

Ireland is beautiful, many shades of green. We are learning why it is so green. :) Good thing we are use to rain, and that we know how to have a great time even if you're strolling in the mist, dodging mud puddles, or getting caught in a downpour. It really makes us feel like we are at home. :)

I love all the sheep and Holstein cows. Everywhere you look there are fields spotted with either sheep or cows. Karissa got to hold a baby lamb. It was so cute she didn't even freak out when she got some manure on her sweatshirt.

Dublin, Ireland

We are having great days with Robbyn and Cathy. Yesterday Cathy took Karissa to the shops, "Help us and save us." Tomorrow Cathy is taking us to Bunratty Castle, then on to Killarney the following day, where we have arranged bus tours of Dingle and the Ring of Kerry. Wednesday we will take the train back to Dublin. We're packing light so will not have internet access until Thursday.

Sunday Night we met up with Keddies and Cowans and watched the World Cup. Was fun to see them in Dublin. They are having a great trip. Was nice to be in meeting with Kitty here in Dublin Sunday AM. Nice to put faces to names. Everyone is so friendly here in Ireland, everyone invites you in for tea or a bit of dinner.

Trip to Ireland

Friday we left Llangollen after breakfast and drove to Holyhead. It was on one of their main roads, but to us it is more like a country lane through the Wales countryside. Semi's and tour bus navigate it no problem. What just blows my mind is not only are the roads narrow but cars park along side (well really in one of the lanes) so you have to navigate around them. It is wild, so to say that I breathed a long sigh of relief when we turned the car back to Hertz up in Holyhead is a huge understatement, which if you know me you'll totally understand. Thankfully Steve has been patience with me and has tried to calm my nerves. It was Karissa's first time with the driving experience in the rental car. We were well up the road and she made the discovery that Steve was driving, she had thought I was driving because of where I was sitting.

It is beautiful country in the North of Wales. It was raining so there was a beautiful rainbow arching between the hills filled with sheep. Was also wonderful to see the holstein dairy cows grazing in the pastures, a site that I miss at home. The ferry ride was not too bad, but it was foggy so the view was not great. It is raining here in Dublin also, but the locals are very happy as it has been really dry. Steve booked us at a Marriott north of Dublin in a newer area that was just a farming village 15 years ago. It is really nice to stay in a hotel built in my lifetime. It feels so comfortable here, makes you feel like home, green fields, rain, low clouds, 65 degrees, and standard Marriott services. All that combined with being this far into our travels, WE CRASHED BIG TIME, slept into until 10AM.

Karissa can't seem to get enough food, sleep and the internet since we picked her. At the inn in Llangollen the food is included and they serve a three course dinner. Karissa had no problem eating all three courses- fruit salad, chicken and rice dinner, and a large piece of strawberry cheesecake. Then after swimming she was in the room looking for a snack. She fell asleep early and slept in the car, on the ferry, in the taxi, and took a nap after 4PM tea with the rest of us. There is internet in our room here so she best get her fill before we head out again.

Cathy will come fetch us this morning. Then who know what will be on the agenda. We are hoping to meet up with Keddies Sunday Evening and watch the World Cup together.

Hope you are all surviving the heat. We are enjoying to cool rains here in Dublin.

Llangollen Eisteddfod 2010

Columbia Choirs competed today in the Senior Childrens Choir competition.

If you'd like to listen to their performance it is available on the link below

Competition- Columbia Choirs


There were 18 choirs in their division. Their final marks was 176 placing them tied for fourth. The judges' comments were, they sang selections that were too similar in style, not enough contrast, and the selections were a bit too easy for their talent level, but their performance was flawless.

Columbia Choirs was in Competition #7

Results Link

The inn we are staying at is a bed and breakfast so we dine with the other guests. They are all here for the Eisteddfod in various capacities. Some came to listen to Karissa's choir as we had met and chatted with them. Three of the guests were the judges today for the competition. When Karissa joins us maybe she will be able to meet some of the judges who are renowned musicians. I'm sure her conductor would love to chat with them.

July 6th Llangollen Wales

We took an interesting route to Llangollen but we arrived in time for the parade. The Welsh are super friendly people. They were very helpful giving us directions when the phone battery ran out, leaving us without GPS. The only problem is the voice on the GPS is much easier to understand than the Welsh.

Everyone at the inn we are staying at are very chatty. One older man came over to visit me when Steve was off. After chatting for a few minutes he told me he had two wives, of which he pointed them out. One of the ladies smiled so I knew he joking. Then he added, " you know in my religion they allow me to have three wives, so will you marry me?" After a good laugh he told me " that will be the best proposal you will get today young lass."

Bath- July 5th

After a fun filled party the night before, the Circuit 16 Choirs and Columbia Choirs held a joint concert in St. Mary's Church in Bath. It was a beautiful evening, so we walked to the concert. The Concert left us "walking home on a cloud." Karissa on "Homeward Bound" and her friend Alissa on "I'm going home on a cloud" sounded like angels singing in the church. I'm hoping the video of Homeward Bound will load so you can in part enter into this. It has already failed but maybe third time will be a charm.

Well it was not a charm. WIll have to wait until we have better internet.


:)

Well I'm going to need Bren's help to upload this, must have to zip it because it failed with the internet here at the Marriott in Dublin.

Some pictures of Karissa from the CCA in Wales Site-Avebury Circle/Tunnels Party with Circuit 16 Choir Bath-

Bath- July 5th

Our friends at Oxford recommended "taking the waters" at Bath (that's pronounced "Both"), so we did, after touring the old Roman baths. For the first thirty minutes, we had the bath to ourselves, then a family of four came, but that was it, so it was a relaxing experience. We also toured the Jane Austen Centre. Tonight we will attend another concert where Columbia Choirs will sing with a local choir in the St. Mary's church here in Bath.

Tomorrow, we head to Llangollen, Wales. It is about a 4 hour drive. I've already counted up the number of roundabouts (15) and numbers of right turns (5). Yes, over here, left turns are simple; it's the right turns that are interesting.....we must remember which lane to head into.