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England

We stayed with friends, Norm and Diane Coleman, who live in the town of Feltwell, which is in an area known as East Anglia, geographically north and east of London. Norm was my boss at Lockheed and has been working in England for about two years now. He comes into Colorado about twice a year for business meetings and we usually get together for dinner. He had extended an invitation to Ann and I to visit England and stay with him. We decided to take advantage of his kind offer. About a year ago he and Diane bought a house that was originally built as a bakery about two hundred years ago. They purchased the house from a man who had spent lots of time and money renovating the house, and Norm has continued that renovation. The house is quite comfortable.  Norm and Diane were great hosts and knocked themselves out to assure we made the most of our trip. Norm even took a week off from work just to show us around.

30 Sept. - We visited Bury St. Edmund (a typical English town), walked through an English street market. Very interesting, much like an open-air flea market. Bought a set of beautiful towels. Then toured the local Ely Cathedral. It was originally founded as a monastery in 673.

1 Oct. - Drove to the Officers club at Lakenheath Royal Air Force Station for their Sunday Buffet. Champagne and all the works. Very nice. Visited Castle Rising, a medieval structure. It did not have a water filled moat, but anyone approaching the castle after the drawbridge was raised had to run down a steep hill, then up another to get to the wall. While doing this, they would be vulnerable to archers on the parapets. Visited Oxburgh Hall, a moated manor house built in 1482. This is really worth seeing. In the courtyard there were two guides, in medieval costume, who demonstrated the use of the pike and the halberd. Many of the rooms were furnished and there were additional guides in each room, who explained living conditions in olden times.

2 Oct. - Visited Lavenham, wait until you see the photos of this very old town. The houses have "settled" and there are many "crooked houses" along the main streets. We had a delicious lunch at the local pub and wandered through the many small shops.

3 Oct. - Duxford Air Station, the National Air Museum. Found this really interesting and it took all day. Displays fill five or six huge hangers, cover World Wars I and II, Desert Storm, etc. All sorts of aircraft on display. Largest and most modern hanger houses US aircraft, everything from World War I vintage through a B-52, U-2 and modern fighters. Really well done!

4 Oct. - First day in London. We traveled all over city by "tube" (Brit for subway). Some of their tubes are 5 stories below the city streets. Thank heavens they use escalators. Visited the West Minster Abby, founded in the 10th century. We took an audio tape tour, which explained a lot of the history. There are many shrines, crypts, etc. of England's former kings and Queens. Saw a stage show in evening (Starlight Express).

5 Oct. - Second day in London, Rode the "London Eye". This is a must do for visitors. It is essentially a 450 foot high Ferris wheel. On a clear day you can view just about all the sights of London. Each car on the wheel is quite large and enclosed, holds about 20 people, with plenty of room to walk about from side to side. One complete revolution takes about 45 minutes. Took photos during the ride and will be posting these too. Took bus and river tour of London (One tour ticket covers both). Bus tours are great. On a nice day you want to sit on top of double deck bus and listen to bus guide rattle on, pointing out sites and providing historical anecdotes. Your bus ticket is good for the day, and buses run past each point about every every 20 minutes or so. That enables you to jump off the bus at any point that interests you, and catch another to continue the tour when you are ready. Toured the Tower of London, once a fortress, as well as the residence of early kings and queens. Later was used to imprison enemies of the crown. Sir Walter Scott was imprisoned here for 13 years. At the scaffold, two of Henry VIII's wives were beheaded. First part of the building was started by William the Conqueror in 1066. Really enjoyed seeing the armory (weapons) and a hall filled with displays of medieval armor. Very interesting! Saw crown jewels, lots of other historic stuff. Definitely a place to visit. Evening we saw another stage show, "Mousetrap", an Agatha Christy play. It was excellent.

6 Oct. - Visited Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum. This is another "must see". "Awesome" is the correct word to describe the place. Just read in Denver Post that a Madam Tussaud's is opening in New York. If you can't get to London, this might be an alternative. Visited London Art Museum. Art displayed ranges from daVinci and Michelangelo to Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Dali, to name just a few.

Ireland

7 Oct. - Bid a fond farewell to Norm and Diane and flew out of England to Dublin, to start the Ireland part of our trip. Picked up our rental car at the Dublin Airport. Took a while to find our B&B.

8 Oct. - Took Dublin City bus tour Saw Trinity College - The Book of Kells, written by hand over 1000 years ago, containing the four gospels, in Latin. The artwork of the monks who produced it is amazing. The Trinity College Library is also worth seeing. We also saw the National museum. Spent our second night at same B&B.

9 Oct. - Toured Rock of Cashel. This is a must see if you go to Ireland. It has been an abby and sometime fortress. Very imposing. We came upon it from the north, and it sits high on a promontory, looking much like Dr Frankenstein's castle. Spent night at B&B in Tipperary.

10 Oct. - Saw Blarney Castle, the present structure was built around a thousand years ago. It's said the first Irish Chieftain who lived there averted attacks of enemies through promises and flattery, thus using a bit of blarney. There is a myth that anyone who kisses the blarney stone will be endowed with ten years of eloquence, a soft, persuasive manner of speech, with just a touch of flattery and a twinkle in the eye. Kissing the stone isn't too easy a feat. It is located in a wall with an open shaft in front of it. You are required to lie down on your back, grab two metal rods affixed to the wall, pull yourself over the shaft, arch your back and crane your neck. All this just to get into position to plant a kiss on it. While in position, I made sure I kissed the Blarney Stone twice. That should cover me for the next twenty years. At my age, that should be plenty. (Twinkle, twinkle ) Ann decided she didn't need to kiss the stone, she satisfied herself by kissing me after I kissed the Blarney Stone. Saw Charles Fort. An ancient fortification that guarded the harbor. Spent night at B&B in Kinsale (South of Cork on Southern coast). This area is reputed to be the gourmet center of Ireland.

11 Oct. - Drove to Kilarny, shopped and ate at excellent pub, spent night at B&B. Charming shops and stores.

12 Oct. - Drove to Limerick and spent night at a B&B called Gallows View. Toured Bunratty Castle, ate at Durty Nellie's Pub (That's not a misspelling). Excellent food!

Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002 Thomas and Ann Pickett