Heading Home

Well, after over 60 days in Europe and UK, we are turning westward and heading home to Calgary. It has been a fantastic journey and we are so thankful for the experience, so grateful for the hospitality and so much wiser for taking up the challenge.

For the last few days, we have been exploring London - one of the most interesting, historic, chaotic, confusing and wonderful cities in the world. Hard to put into words except to say that it would take weeks to see and appreciate this city - and the effort would be well worth it.

Simply getting around is the most challenging part. Lill and I have been logging dozens of kilometers every day since arriving in Brussels in September. But, the streets of London are especially exhausting. You need a hardy breakfast to get the gears turning ;-)



Then off to the sights















Kensington Palace











Equally nice to finish the day beside a nice warm coal fire with an









The beer tastes soooooooo good after a day exploring, a good stout supper (steak and beer pie with mashed potatoes and veg - Lill had fish pie with salmon and cod...oh yeah, and beer) Slept like a baby!

Tomorrow leave Heathrow at "oh dark thirty" heading for Copenhagen and onwards to Frankfurt. Then a 10+ hour flight to Calgary. What a wonderful way to end the trip.

Will update when we are on the ground in Calgary and will put together a Picassa album for those who are interested.

Thank you for following!
- Derek

Swansea, Wales

Before heading back to London, we stopped in to Swansea, Wales for a couple days and really glad we did. This is the land of Dylan Thomas, one of my favourite authors, the weather has been outstanding and the chance to walk thebeaches of this seaside town before winter sets in is incentive enough.















Well, we are getting near the end of our journey. It has been an incredible few months. Beginning with the huge effort getting our house ready for sale, whittling down a lifetime of possessions - packing, moving and unpacking lock-stock-n-barrel - saying goodbye to close friends and family - driving a 26' UHaul most of the way across Canada. That is challenge enough for most right-thinking souls. But somehow, we were able to do tap into the excitement of travel in a way that many would fine intimidating. Travel for a further few months by rail, bus, car and ship - visiting great places and enjoying the company of some fine people and totally without a defined plan. I am so grateful to have had this experience - so sad it is nearly over. But, it is time to head back to reality before this lifestyle becomes de facto.

- Derek

Train journey through Wales

The Irish Ferries ship "Ulysses" is unbelievable. This is what they should have for the Minch crossing to Stornoway. Check this pics out!








Casino, cinema, duty-free - WOW. The ship becomes the destination!

Had a great train trip from Holyhead, Wales down to Swansea. It could best be described as a milk-run as the train stopped 34 times in total! Can you believe that! I don't think we ever hit cruising speed - whatever that is on these older trains - with this many stops, and speed reduction as we entered into what seemed like every town in Wales. Still, it was absolutely fascinating to see the country this way.

The countryside itself is a healthy green (remember, it is past the middle of November!!). Lots of sheep, cattle and horses. The houses looked like they are built to last eternity + 10 years. Very well kept and prosperous.

The towns seemed to have a common characteristic - very weathered and worn town centers. Small houses made of limestone and permanently stained with coal smoke, narrow streets with "creative" parking. As you move out from the downtown areas, the houses look more modern and better kept. You seldom see graffiti or really run down areas as you do in most big cities in Britain. Welsh towns are places with character.

Lots of well managed industries in the central part of the country. Airbus manufacturing plant, train overhaul facilities, forestry operations, many many mines and power plants. Much more industrialized than I imagined but still set within an agricultural economy. Very interesting

The fun thing with Wales is trying to pronounce the town names. Try this puppy on for size.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

You should hear the train announce the next stop (yes, there were a lot!). You look at the map and try to guess how the pronunciation goes then this beautiful voice says the town name and is sounds like a lovely little song rather than a name. Really beautiful.

We had to change trains in Cardiff and unfortunately, we got there at 1730 hours as all the workers were getting off work and heading home on the trains. What chaos! Lill and I ended up standing, in very close quarters, for the last two hours of the ride. But the people were very friendly and made many suggestions of places to see and things to do in Swansea. All in all, Wales is a beautiful place.


- Derek

Location:Hollyhead to Swansea

Interesting and Funny Signs

In Amsterdam - no surprise.....



Same city....



Galway, Ireland



Brussels, Belgium


In a commercial area in Koln, Germany. Hat made of lycra or silk, helium filled balloon attached to the hat. Strolling around on a scooter promoting a radio station.



Brussels, Belgium - not sure, but I think the statue was too tall so the artist applied creativity ;-)



Lill finds a leprechaun!



Keychain in a fly fishing shop in Ireland.



Try to find ANYTHING from the sea on this menu. From Glasgow, Scotland



After half a dozen Guinness, this sign looks right! No, really.....try it!!



Photo #1 of 3



Photo #2 of 3 This is the Police Station in Dublin



And finally Photo #3 of 3. Gotta love the Irish defiance!



Photo #1 of 2 in Dublin!!



Photo #2 of 2 - These guys are from Equator!!! Check out all the First Nations garb. I guess they figure "..nothing to lose..."

Location:Various locations around Europe

Galway, Ireland

Lill and I took the train from Dublin to Galway on the far west coast of Ireland. We had an "oh-dark-30" start to the day.





The train stopped in about 9 communities across the Island.
At the Athlone station, an old character hopped on and, though there were a lot of empty seats, he chose the Canuks and he kept us entertained for the rest of the ride.


He was quite a character.


So too was this guy!! He played the fiddle while Obama played and the new President of Ireland accompanied. Once I get the youtube channel going, I will forward a link of the performer in action! Quite a character

Galway is a really beautiful old city.



The "Spanish Gate" in Galway


Very active outdoor market.


Surprisingly, Lill found the potters right away. ESP???



Lunch along the Atlantic coast. Picked up fresh, local produce from the market. Doesn't get much fresher. Neither does the wind!

Galway is a medieval town and that is apparent in the local architecture, and statues. Some examples:









Great town!

- Derek

Location:Galway, Ireland

Dublin

What a fantastic city! If you ever get a chance to visit Ireland, plan to spend a couple of days in this amazing place. We arrived from Hollyhead Wales on the Irish Ferries - Ulysses. It was an easing crossing across the Irish Sea as the sun was setting. We entered into Dublin harbour by moonlight. Cool or what?










Leaving the harbour at Hollyhead, Wales.



It was an easing crossing across the Irish Sea as the sun was setting. We entered into Dublin harbour by moonlight. Cool or what?


It is a blend of the very old, the very distinctive and the very modern. Lill and I stayed in the Dublin City Inn in one of the more ".....interesting..." parts of the city. A real mix of nations these days reflecting the country's role in the European Union.


James Joyce and I share some space ;- )



This is the Spire on Connolly Street at Talbot. 120 meters high stainless Steel with bright LEDs at the top. It is in the place where the IRA blew up Lord Nelson's Pillar in 1966.

Lill and I went to the famous Guinness Brewery. Excellent tour and some of the most interesting photographs and paintings of the city as it was through the past 200 years. The brewery itself is HUGE! 64 acres in St James's - Dublin. Has its own hospital for employees - its own fire department. Very impressive.


At the end of the tour, you go to the top of the building to the Gravity Bar for a free pint. What a view of Dublin!


Brewers Dining Hall was another great experience. I had venison stew with red wind and Guinness sauce. Lill had traditional potato soup with Guinness bread. Outstanding!



The Gravity Bar has a 360 degree view of Dublin just like this!

- Derek

Location:Dublin, Ireland