Day 7 & 8: Cotswolds & Gloucester Our adventures through the Cotswolds began with rain and occasional pockets of fog permeating the forest floor. The drive was continuously harrowing as one lane roads at time looked like walking paths. Walls of grey stacked stones paralleled the narrow roads as we careened down them at 50 … Continue reading UK Roadtrip Week 2
After Ireland we spent three weeks back in the UK with a rental car. Having a car was a first for us on this trip; it gave us freedom to explore hard to reach places but also stressed us out way more than any bus, train, or plane we've been on. But all's well that … Continue reading UK Roadtrip Week 1
There are occasional times when moving cities that we must check out early or cannot check in until late. These times are a blunt reminder of the vulnerability that we take on at times during this year abroad. It can be rainy, sunny, developed, or desolate. Cafes may be closed and parks may be dangerous. … Continue reading Guinness and a Prairie Dog: Dublin, Ireland
Hannah and I took advantage of some down time in Galway for planning, relaxing, and getting to know our Airbnb hosts. Their names were Antonin and Sandra. They were a young French couple working in Ireland who had never met prior to their time in the country. Several evenings were spent discussing past or future … Continue reading La Cuisine Française: Galway, Ireland
A small two lane main street adorned with colored cottages and grey stoned square buildings greeted us when we arrived in Dingle. The downtown area had approximately a dozen restaurants and perhaps half as many shops. Some were devoted to run of the mill souveniers, others sold locally sourced Irish wool sweaters and garb. Kayaks, … Continue reading Wool you bleat me up the hill? Cycling in Dingle, Ireland
The initial impression of Killarney was that of a small quiet town that had adapted to tourism over time. Its residents still held the friendly Irish charm, often taking interest in our holiday and asking questions about where we were from, always with a smile. A US equivalent could be that of a place such … Continue reading Country Music and Killarney, Ireland
The trip from Belfast to Cork was quite simple. We boarded a bus that stopped in Dublin and changed to a new one in Dublin before heading further south. During the layover, we struck up conversation with two fellow travelers, Holly and Millicent. They were teachers from Massachusetts taking advantage of their summer time off. … Continue reading Blarney Stone and Butter Churns: Cork, Ireland
It's A Ritch Life 