Edinburgh (South Queensferry) Scotland, Sept.5th

Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Scotland

South Queensferry is the gateway to Edinburgh, the political, commercial and cultural heart of Scotland. Nestled between the Highlands and the Border Hills, Edinburgh is a gracious city noted for its superb skyline, its impressive collection of architecture and its beautiful parks. The streets of the elegant New Town are lined with graceful Georgian buildings, many designed by the great architect Robert Adam. Edinburgh has also exerted a tremendous cultural force on Europe and the English-speaking world. The International Festival has been one of the premier European cultural events for over half a century. Among those who have called the city home are the writers, Robert Burns, James Boswell, and Sir Walter Scott and the philosophers, Adam Smith and David Hume. To stroll the streets of Edinburgh is to experience one of the world's great cities.

Note: South Queensferry is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender.

A Rest at Last, A Sea Day, Sept 3rd/2014

Finally we get to sleep in.

A Sea Day at last!!

This is a sea day and we certainly did need it. Last evening we took in a show. It was a wonderful magician. Then we went for a specialty coffee with brandy before bed. This morning we slept in a little and went to the dining room for a leisurely breakfast.

We ate with some very nice people and had a wonderful time laughing and visiting.

I went to the ten dollar sale and bought a watch. I forgot to bring one with me.

Tonight is the Captain’s Circle party and it is formal night so we have to get on our best bid and tucker.

So far this has been an amazing cruise. The number of places we have been is incredible. In every case without exception we have felt as if we needed another couple of days to see it properly. We have made new friends and have had an amazing time and we are only a week into a 5 week cruise.

So much fun!!

Dublin

September second,

When our wake up call came we looked out of our stateroom window and there in all of its glory was a wonderful working lighthouse.

We ate breakfast in our room with the lighthouse in full view.

We are in Dublin today and the tour is with a company called Patty Wagon Tours.

Our driver is named Gary, he looks Irish to be sure. Red hair and a green shirt finish the appearance.

Our tour was a little disappointing in that we mostly did drive bys with few stops. The first castle was at the village of Howth and Malahide Castle. It was really nice and Gary said we did not have time to take a tour but we did get pictures.

Next we stopped for a coffee break in Howth. Here as soon as the bus stopped we spied a lighthouse off to the left. So away Ken and I went. We made it all of the way and got some pictures next to lighthouse number 308. YEAH!!

Gary took us into the city of Dublin and he parked in the area of Grafton Street. We were given three and one half hours to explore on our own. We would have preferred 2 hours and a chance to get a guided tour of either Saint Pats or Trinity College of a view of the Book of Kells  or Dublin Castle.

Anyway we had lunch, I found wonderful gifts for Noah and Leo and Emmie. We toured St Ann’s Angelian Church

 and spent time enjoying the street entertainers on Grafton Street. They had the live statues here. They were like the ones we saw in Columbia. Ken posed with them and of course they come to life when you drop a coin in their pot. Wonderful.

When everyone returned to the bus we convinced Gary to let us tour St. Patricks Cathedral. We only had 10 minutes to take pictures. L

Gary was very informative but we would have much preferred to spend our time differently. It seemed as if he thought our main interest was shopping and it was not. We wanted to see more of the local attractions.

This is another place we must return to.

Dublin, Ireland/Sept 2nd/2014

Here is the description of Dublin as written in the Princess Shore Excursion Guide

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin has experienced a renaissance. Today, this gracious and cosmopolitan city on the Liffey is one of Europe's premier destinations. The capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin is an intimate place that is easy to explore. Stroll past St. Stephen's Green or survey the gray, stone façades of Trinity College, Ireland's oldest university. The city is also remarkably well-preserved - every June 16, scholars retrace the paths of James Joyce's characters in the novel "Ulysses," set in Dublin on June 16, 1904.

Dublin possesses a storied history. A settlement has existed on the banks of the River Liffey for at least a millennium and a half. Succeeding waves of Gaelic, Viking, Norman and English invaders have left their mark on the city.

Here we were again doing a private tour with the Cruise Critic Group. This time it is with Patty Wagon Tours and here is their description of what we were to expect.

The tour will be a full day tour and will  comprise a city tour of Dublin taking in it's highlights including Trinity College, Guinness Brewery, Grafton Street, St. Patrick's and Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin Castle, the village of Howth and Malahide Castle.

Paddy Wagon goes on to say, "Of course we would provide you with a state of the art vehicle and a top notch Irish driver guide who shall inspire you with songs and stories, laughter and folklore, ensuring an amazing experience with memories to last a lifetime."

The Original Loch Lomond

September First/2014

Today we were scheduled to go to Loch Lomond and again we almost had a problem. There were so many tours and so many different people to contact that I ended up not in the right place. I thought I was on the tour with Mrs Paper and it turned out that I was on her waiting list and not on the actual tour. So I was about to think we would miss the real Loch Lomond when one of the people on one of the other tours offered us his tickets. His wife was not well and so they had spare tickets. So we grabbed them and away we went. It turned out pretty well. The tour was very good and it was 30 pounds less, so we came ahead to be sure.

We ended up in the back of the van and so it was pretty crowded. The guide was very Scottish and there were times when we had no idea what he was saying.

The stop was actually in Greenock which was about 45 minutes from Glasgow. Our first stop was at Dumbarton  Castle . Mary Queen of Scots stayed here as a girl. It was not opened but we did get a lot of very nice photos.

After a brief photo stop we continued on the village of LUSS which is on the banks of the original Loch Lomond. I was going to say the real Loch Lomond but our Loch Lomond is real it is just not the original one.  This is a wonderful little village where time has stopped and everything is as it was hundreds of years ago. In fact it is illegal to modernize things at least on the outside.

The Original Loch Lomond

The village of Luss

We continued on the see the countryside with a brief stop to see Hamish and heather. Hamish is the oldest highland bull and Heather is his wife.

We stopped for an hour at Callander to have our lunch. We found a nice little deli and we bough take out lunches and enjoyed them in the fresh air. We met Barb and Roy and Doug and Nickie here as well. We roamed around a little and if my roses were not still fresh I would have bought flowers here. They had lovely bouquets for only 5 pounds.

Our next major stop was at Stirling Castle. We had over an hour here to explore this magnificent fortress castle. This had been the home of many of the ancient Kings and Queens of Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here as a young girl with her father James V. This is also the area where Sir William Wallace , Braveheart of Scotland won his battles against the English. This is wonderfully done and our hour and 15 minutes was barely enough time to see it all. There were furnished rooms and animated characters in full costume. It is beautifully restored.

Because we had purchased an Explorer pass we did not have to purchase a ticket.

We continued back to Greenock while our guide regaled us with tales of Scottish history. He also made his opinion on the upcoming referendum on independence well known. He believes Scotland should separate from the UK and become its own country.

All in all it was a great tour and I am glad we managed to get tickets.

Glasgow Scotland/ Sept.1st/2014

We actually dock in Greenock which is about 45 minutes from Glasgow.
Here is what Princess says about Glasgow

Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland

Glasgow was Scotland's great industrial center during the 19th century. Today, the city remains the commercial and cultural capital of the Lowlands. Lying on the banks of the River Clyde, Glasgow boasts some of the finest Victorian architecture in the entire United Kingdom, including the stately City Chambers. Elegant Princes Square offers excellent shopping, and among the host of museums and galleries, the Burrell Collection features a superb treasure trove of paintings and art objects.

Note: Your ship docks in Greenock, which is approximately 45 minutes from Glasgow.

On this stop we are doing a tour with the Cruise Critic Group and here is the description of the planned excursion.

Here is a detail of the Loch Lomond , Stirling and Trossachs Tour:

When we leave Greenock we pass the little Castle of Newark is more like a fly-by as it does not open until after we pass in the morning.  It is one of the many ruins of castles in Scotland, we have over 2,000.

There are lots of brief stops for photographs including Dumbarton Castle, where Mary Queens of Scots stayed before leaving for France as a young girl. 

We then proceed to Loch Lomond and the village of Luss, where we stop for about 45 mins, to see the village and take photo's of this "Brig a Doon" type village.

 We then proceed to the Trossachs area of mountains and Lochs (lakes) and make a brief stop at the village of Aberfoyle, famous for Fairies in times past. There is an interesting Wool and Sheep attraction and time for a comfort break and a quick shopping.

We now leave Aberfoyle along the Dukes Mountain Pass, through the Trossachs, famous for Rob Roy MacGregor, passing fields of Scottish Bluebells, (if they are still out) and some outstanding scenery as we make our way into the town of Callander. We have a very brief stop to see a Scottish Highland Bull, called Hamish and his wife Heather.

    Callander is a nice Highland Town with lots of shops and eateries. We spend just over an hour here to let you get a bite to eat before leaving for the City of Stirling.

 We stop briefly at the Castle of Doune, where the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail was partially filmed. People like to get a few photos, but there is not enough time to go this castle.

 We arrive at Stirling Castle and spend at least an hour going through this magnificent Fortress Castle, where the ancient Kings of Scotland resided. The cost is about £12 pounds per person to go through it. Mary Queens of Scots also stayed here as a young child with her Father King James V. and generations of Kings and Queens before that. This is also the area where Sir William Wallace, Braveheart of Scotland won his battles against the English. You can see the Wallace Monument from the castle approaches.

Time is now against us and we have to make our way back to the ship.

Our Visit to Belfast

This is the last day of August and we are scheduled to visit Belfast.

We are booked with Odyssey Tours organized by Jim of Cruise Critic. We were in line and finally the line began to move. It was just then that I discovered I didn’t have my cruise card where I normally keep it. You cannot leave the ship until they have scanned your card so I had to leave my place in line and head back to the stateroom. Fortunately the line up was on the same floor. Ken and I found my card in my jacket pocket where I had left it the night before.

Soon we were on the bus. Being late we had to sit at the back and we were packed in tight to say the least. Our guide was really nice and he was very informed. He was exactly what I would have imagined one of the little people might have  looked  like.  His name was mike. There were times when we had absolutely no idea what he was saying his accent was so strong.

Our first stop was a photo stop to see the castle at Dunluce. It was a beautiful old structure. Mike told us how during a big storm the back end containing the kitchen broke away and fell into the sea. It is said you can sometimes hear the doomed staff screaming.

Next we headed for the Giant’s Causeway. This is considered one of the  wonders of the world . These formations are said to have been caused by the cooling of volcanic lave after an eruption.

Mike let us know before we arrived that the visitors center charged 8 pounds fifty per person to enter. He said basically they are charging that much just to use the facilities. He showed us a gift shop, a pub and a hotel  that we could use at no charge. He also showed us a good path we could use to see the causeway. The walk was over a mile but it was beautiful. The sun was shining and there was a cool breeze.

We saw the Giants Causeway from the top and I bought some postcards that I will scan for the photobook. I also got a fridge magnet.

We all piled into the bus and headed for the community of Ballycastle. Here we stopped at the Century Inn for lunch. The ambiance was wonderful and the food was great and the prices were not shocking. Or perhaps we are getting accustomed to the prices.

Before we boarded the bus we saw a sign advertising a BOOT SALE. They were not selling boots, they were selling items from the trunk of their car. It was like a garage sale on wheels.

Our last major stop was the newly opened Titanic museum. I am not usually a museum fan but this one is amazing. It is done with visual displays that you stand in the middle of. Videos are being played so the sounds and the effect of the life and times come to life. They tell of the history before the ship was built, the effect while it was being built and the trauma of its loss. There is even a ride where you travel into the bowels of the ship to witness and hear the sounds of the rivets being installed.

There are displays of the different classes of staterooms and it goes on and on.

I loved it but again there was not enough time. We could have spent the entire day here.

To close out the day Mike took us on a quick trip through Belfast . We saw the walls and the murals and the bullet holes. Such a sad time for all concerned. Hopefully the peace will hold.

Then it was time to return to the ship. Dinner waits for no man!!

Another memorable day to be sure.

We drove across the country enjoying the views. Ireland is so beautiful and green , it is everything I imagined. Along the way Mike entertained us with stories and legends and Irish mu