Scottish and Irish flags: the most gracious, friendly, helpful people in some of the most beautiful country. The Irish love the Americans. The Pope and JFK were on every mantle in Irish households,Glasgow to Belfast: train, bus, ferry all day journey, arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland on the Sten LineConditions: Perfectly calm waters, no wind, sprinkle of rain entering Belfast portShip had wide range of facilities including choice of dining and bars, and leisure facilities like cinema, spa, game room, Belfast Titanic quarter: Building represents the ship, Titanic. Element represents ships legacy: hull, iceberg and even benches reflecting Morse code!Titanic memorial Belfast downtown. Common to every catastrophic event, in addition to adverse weather conditions and high speed: no binoculars in crows nest, unheeded emergency warnings, design of bulkheads, lack of lifeboats and no drills all contributed to loss of life. Lastly, the Californian was closest to ship but operator went to bed.Belfast downtown landmarks (Queens Uni, Botanical gardens, Queen Victoria, City Hall): a little rough around the edges, not kept up, not a tourist town, more working class but lovely.To Dublin, Ireland: Last nite, purchased new double breasted short jacket from favorite Spanish store, Zara.Dublin: My private tour guide, adorable, intelligent, funny Colm from Dublin took me south thru Cabir to the tourist town of Blarney. Irish economy: 1980s, major export 50,000 Irish. Today, import 50,000 Irish year. Largest industry contributing to strong Irish GNP is pharmaceutical, medical supplies and tech. Last 35 years, international headquarters located Scotland: Apple in Cork, Facebook in Dublin. Why? Low taxes, only English speaking in EU and hey….Ireland is a nice place to live!Cahir: Town of the Republic of Ireland, simply stunning complete with swans. Caveat- can you believe America is home to more Irish Americans than Ireland is home to Irish.Tour of Jameson whiskey distillery: Under Irish law, Irish whiskey must age in barrels for minimum of 3 years. Barrels from Portugal, Spain, Madeira, California contribute to range of taste profiles: Butterscotch barley, toasted wood, toasted oak sherry, vanilla/sherry nutiness,Kilkenny quaint fishing village with live music coming from pubs after 830. Nautical theme prevail on doorways, windows, stained glass.Cobh Largest natural port, second to Sydney, Australia. In addition to Titanics last port, during the potato famine, 3 million Irish emigrated from harbor. Also famous for memorials commemorating last port of call for the Titanic and the Lusitania traveling between USA and Liverpool, England, in 1912 torpedoed and sunk by Germans, spurring WW l. Kilkenny castle: The wall sized murals lined the castle interior walls were intended for warmth, but also told a story symbolizing power strength, nobility of the family. Murals were brightly colored gold & silver silk, making images life like. Fact or fiction? Irishman from Hollywood, Ireland immigrated to California during the famine. He ended up naming a racetrack Hollywood from his birthplace and it became the name of the town. Both in Hollywood California and Ireland, they have a replica of iconic Hollywood sign in the hills and has filmed a number of films there.Hollywood California note palm tree and Hollywood, Ireland note green hills! Both pictures taken 2023.Irish own their own land,. Trees grow fast due to good soil. Cows are grass fed not corn. Kerrygold known Irish brand for butter.Beautiful Ireland at the end of my 18 day trip! Stunning landscape, gateway to Wicklow Mountains National Park. Only one hour drive from Dublin City center.Kitaa, Greenland from 38,000′.Approaching Bay Area, San Mateo bridge in foreground.Ocean Beach, San Francisco reunited with Valley Girl after 18 day trip to Scotland & Ireland
My only Bed and Breakfast offered quiet humble room with breakfast sweetened with hospitality.Town of Inverness gateway to the Highlands, day tours below. River Ness lovely centerpiece for a walk alongside.The Isle of Skye: became tourist attraction after Queen Elizabeth purchased nearby Balmoral castle.The Isle of Skye: peak season, one needs a dinner reservation and campers, backpackers camp anywhere and everywhere.The Isle of Skye: well worth the visit the area abounds with hidden waterfalls, bounding rivers and rocky terrain.Isle of Skye: Exemplifies The glorious magnificent Highlands of ScotlandBalnuaran of Clara a sacred landscape, a prehistoric site that interred important member of community, 4000 years ago.Witness the last civil war between the Jacobites aka the Highlanders vs British government who fought on Scottish soil in 1746 at Culloden, fought about clans and religion on this sacred field. Highlanders were evicted, replaced with sheep.?They repressed Highland culture: banned the kilt, banished bagpipe, and carrying weapons.A modern interactive exhibit of the close range battle and mass graves of Culloden. Ferocious hand to hand fighting, the Jacobites faint with hunger and lack of sleep, 700 dead in seconds by British cavalry of cannon fire, mortar bombs, musket with bayonet, swords. Excavation of metal objects unfolded details of battle.After the 1846 Culloden battle, the Highlander people were banished and replaced with non native white sheep that currently dominates the landscapes. Smaller and heartier black sheep are native to the Highlands and are found in only small herds today.Glen Afric is a nature preserve where Scottish pine has been replanted on the banks of a winding river.. Highlands privately owned by 500 billionaire men of non native Scottish heritage who use land for hunting lodges.Pippa Middleton married the blue blood Matthew family who owns the private hunting lodge in Glen Afric posted no trespassing signs goes against Scotlands motto, FREE TO ROAM.
Loch Ness & Fort Augustine
James from Rabbies tours drove around Loch Ness, spotted a 10 point stag, stopped at waterfall and beach where a gentleman named Steve lives 33 years looking for the Loch Ness monster!
Loch Ness While Loch Ness is best known for the Loch Ness monster, Loch Ness connects the North Sea to the Atlantic thru lockes. The town of Inverness opens to the North sea, going down the Loch Ness to Fort Augustus through locks to the Atlantic ocean, which bypasses the more northern waters.
Fort Augustus connects the North Sea to the Atlantic using a series of locks to accommodate working barges, Scottish naval ships and sailboats.Boat ride on Loch Ness.Video of bag pipe player on the Highland tour
Glasgow, Scotland
Early on, the heart of Glasgow was ship building as reflected in architecture: bow, keel, sails of sailing ships.
Glasgow Perspective from hop on bus, only 2 days in Glasgow, Central Train Station and University
First rain after 9 days in Scotland. On last Rabbies tour in Scotland to Glencoe and Loch Lomand and Trossachs National Park.Frying up Scallops from the sea to frying pan in resort town of Oban.
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