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Back From 10 Days International Travel - Thought I Wouldn't Make It!
We left on the 9th and got back last nite.
Don't know if I'd do it again! Me, wife & son to Ireland for a week in Galway during the Arts Festival. At least it wasn't trekking the countryside as wife & son usually do, but still ....lots of walking. Our apartment was about 8-14 long blocks from the main doings. Too short for justifying a car rental (I'd be scared tho- they drive on the wrong side of the road and the streets are really narrow and there are 'roundabouts' that go clockwise -wrong directon!) and parking is difficult anywhere near the center of town where the happenings were. We sometimes took cabs, but usually waked. I was always 1/2 block behind- dragging up the rear. They jokingly waited, patiently, til I caught up. At nite, I'd sometimes leave them to go pub crawling and at about midnite would walk back to the apt, by myself - too tired and hurting to do the nightlife. They were understanding and kind. The closest grocer was 4 blks away, and the festival encompasses a large square-block area in the center of the city. But it was fun, &... I managed - but the bummer was travel! Racing thru airports to make connections (no electric carts in site, even tho I asked ahead of time - wheelchairs were available, but we could miss a connection if we waited for one - never one readily at hand.) Hauling baggage (no trolleys allowed in international security checkpoints- gotta schlep the bags- but my son helped and he doubled his load for me, when necessary.) Over 1/2 mile of walking (almost running) thru JFK in NY.... cause our flight was over an hour late arriving (actually starting out) from Ireland and our connection to home was ready to leave while we were still trying to get thru Security, and Customs.. Our checked bags, with our clothing & all the gifts for the grandkids, didn't make it on the flight.... and we're still waiting for our luggage. I'm still on Galway time (5 hrs difference) and haven't slept much, except for 'cat naps' on the 8 hr flight across the Atlantic. My sleep & med sched is all haywire. I'm tired and my feet and legs are leaden & sore. I'm 65 this Sept, and have never been to Ireland, & maybe never will get the chance again in my lifetime.... so I went. My wife and son had been there before for a few days, while backpacking thru the whole country for 3 wks about 3 yrs ago and decided to drag me over there, this time. While there, I had a wonderful time. We shot almost 500 photos on my digital camera. But the travel experience has soured it a bit. Well, more than just a bit. I don't know if I'd want to do it again. Our Homeland Security has made travel so difficult. No gel innersoles allowed on planes.... I need those, to be able to wear shoes (I smuggled them thru) "why are you traveling with all these meds?" Very longairport distances in the getting from one gate to another to make connections- its always across the entire airport- waaay on the other side. No direct flights from my home town, to where we wanted to go. I think that I'll stick to travel by car, next vacation and maybe drive to Mexico, or Canada, .....even Alaska! I'd like to try to travel by train sometime, but that is even somewhat of a hassle with Homeland Security being in the state iof inefficiency and understaffed, causing tie-ups and delays that are unnecessary. But believe me....International air travel is a real bummer! |
Wow... sounds like an interesting vacation! I can really relate to the walking/foot pain tho!
Say, Bob, put up some of the pictures in your profile album. That is a nice way to share them, if you tell everyone they are there, that is! I am leaving tomorrow myself for my summer hiatus... so you won't see me here much either until after Labor Day sometime. Take care! |
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Flying commercial now, even before all of this, is not what it used to be like in the early 60's. It used to be fun back then with no hassle and not the hoards of people flying either. I'll take flying in our own plane any day. We flew to Alaska ourselves and our children in our plane. We also have traveled via vehicle there three more times. My husband used to work there also. It is a wonderful trip if you go by vehicle all the way thru Canada. There is so much to see all the way. We got to see and drive on some of the old Alcan Highway which my Dad helped build way back when. The last time we drove there, the old highway was about gone. Now it is like freeway most all of the way up there. Many places to stay, eat, get gas, etc. We used our pickup camper and another time our small Class C so we hardly ever ate out. Our choice. We found that groceries were not that expensive either. And gas, at the time, was not that expensive. But the freeway like part of it kind of spoils it at least for us. But it's a sign of the times. Of course once there we drove the other roads. We saw an abundance of wildlife going up and while there and coming back. It is getting to be so commercial up there in lots of places. And the towns have grown and grown. Like a lot of places in the lower 48. The commercialism does spoil it around Denali Park though. At least that's the way we think. The one year we also drove the Dalton Highway past the Artic Circle to Coldfoot where we stayed at the make shift campground. We woke up the next morning on the 4th of July. Then we drove a bit further to Wiseman. We were over halfway to Prudhoe Bay. We did not go further as it's a long haul. It was an amazing trip up there. Crossing the Yukon River is a rush in itself. The rivers up there are wild and HUGE. Not like in the lower 48. We have driven all of the 6 roads while up there. And it also was great flying in our plane and then rented a rent-wreck in Palmer and drove 1,602 miles that first time that we all went. It sounds like you had a good trip and that you are glad you went. But I can imagine it was very tiring and trying. But now you have your memories and your pictures. |
I have taken Mrs D's suggestion & put up a few pix of Ireland
in my profile album - "Galway". Click my 'nide44', go to profile & click the album We took a day to take a guided bus tour of the mountains and the fijord (sp?) of the beautiful countryside.... in the area known as Connemara. Click on each one for the caption. |
Oh, I am so glad you put them up so quickly... They are really interesting and look like fun. So I could look at them today ;)
I love the old buildings! I'd be out there with my art pencils/pads doing drawings of them in no time. |
Welcome back Bob,
Glad you were able to make a trip like that, its the prep duties and security that takes the fun out of travel these days. My brother who just retired and I are planning a trip to Belize in January and the prep list is rather long. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Lanny |
Welcome back Bob. I'm going to go and have a look at your photos. I guess we just do what we can when traveling with PN, but you made it. :)
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Really nice photos:) Some of my ancestors came from there as well.
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Glad that you had a wonderfull time Bob, nice pictures of Ireland too.
Our steering wheels are on the right hand side of our cars, the same as England, Ireland, I would be the same as you trying to drive on the opposite side of the road, roundabouts that go anti clockwise would be scary to me, but I suppose it's really only what you get used to, I do intend to come over to the US one day, but no way known will I be driving whilst over there, to scary for this lad ;) |
Bob, I don't know if you remember me from braintalk from a few years ago or not, my user name was just a bit different. Anyway it's interesting that you had a hard time with the walking where I do much better if I can keep moving verses just standing. I'm going to Finland for a wedding next summer and I'm already wondering how I'm ever going to do it. - Marty
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