On the bus again, I just can't wait to get on the bus again

Mom came to visit and we decided to take a trip, on the train, or so it seemed. However, by the end of our 10-day 2 country trip, we had been on a total of two trains and about 15 buses. Lots and lots of buses in lots and lots of beautiful country. We went to Scotland first and visited Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strenrar, St. Andrews and two other small fishing villages, different parts of the Highlands and the Isle of Skye. I now love Scotland. Already the fantasy of living in Edinburgh has started to bubble away in my psyche. I love the bagpipes, the lore, the food, the people, the accent and most of all, the landscape and the wildlife. We also went to Ireland, which was wonderful, but not permeating like a hot drink on a cold day. Scotland was permeating. I must go back.


On the Isle of Skye somewhere north of Portree is a hike that will give you this view should you climb high enough. Breathtaking. And our weather was perfect!

These ruins can be found in a fishing village/university town called St. Andrew. It amazes me even now, just looking at the photos. The detail and intricacy of the former abbey is art. High art.






And this is the Ellen Donen castle at sunset. My favorite of all the castles in Scotland was this one. It looked like something out of a fairy tale and for me, fan of the happy ending that I am, that is something truly special. The inside was nice too, and the guides were good and the history is incredible. But it was this view that has been giving me good dreams.





I didn't know Scotland had Seals. Cute!


This is Glen Gary. It is located somewhere in the Highlands on the way to the Isle of Skye. I saw an uncountable number of spectacular views in Scotland, but this one was very possibly, my favorite.


This cow is so beautiful don't you think? The Scots call this beauty a hairy cow, pronounced hairy coo. I deem hairy coo a bad name for this creature. It looks much more like a woolly cow, which is what I was saying, out loud, on the bus, each time we passed one. "Ohhhh Mom, look, it's a woolly cow. They are so pretty!" I don't know what my fellow passengers thought with each exclamation. I think most bus riders were quite taken with these cows. I remain enchanted by them. I want one. Desperately.


Aye lass, tis the Ring of Kerry. Mom and I did a hard day road trip from Belfast to Killarne. We were on 3 different buses and in 1 taxi for a road trip totalling 10.5 hours. (Ireland has a ways to go in terms of easy, affordable and fast train travel, but their bus service is stellar). It was actually a very good day, watching the country whizz by and the landscape change from one end to the other all in coach style comfort.






Of course, by the time we got to Killarne, we were ready for a pint.
Guinness of course. I swear, it does taste different, and I think much better, in Ireland. I heard that Dublin is the town in which a girl would want to drink her Guinness. I don't know why Mom and I didn't give it a go when we were actually there. Next time.






















Belfast is an intense city with an energy about it that is both proud and edgy. Clearly a party town, it allegedly has few available hotel rooms on any given weekend for all the stag dos and hen nights that are taking place there. I can believe it. We were there for 2 nights and the pubs seemed to be hoppin by 7:00 p.m. A city bus tour provided all sorts of powerful history about what locals call "the troubles". There are many city walls painted to reflect political views of several paramilitary groups and later, peaceful political protests.



Perhaps my favorite part of the Northern Ireland coast is the Giants Causeway. 38,000 rocks geometrically shaped jut out into the Irish Sea and it is a sight to behold. It's open to the public. I actually walked out to the point where I took this photo, and then just sat on one of the rocks for a while and pondered.

All and all it was another incredible trip. Thanks Mom!!!