Segment 2 Scotland and Ireland

Scotland and Ireland have always been on our “must see” list and now we had to pinch ourselves because we were finally here. Our introduction to Scotland was the port of Portree on the Isle of Skye in the western Inner Hebrides. As we disembarked the ship we were welcomed by a Scotsman in full regalia playing the bagpipes. We were then whisked off to the west side of the island, across scenic landscapes including the famous Cuillin Mountains, to Dunvegan Castle. This was the home of the Clan MacLeod family since the 13th century and still owned by the family today. The castle was full of priceless heirlooms and the surrounding gardens were in full bloom. Back on board ship we had been invited to the Captains table. It was our first meeting with the young Italian captain from Oceania. It was a fun table and a good time was had by all. The next morning we had an all day tour planned out of Belfast in Northern Ireland. We didn’t know what to expect because our image of Northern Ireland was from TV news footage of the fighting in the 1980s and 1990s. Were we ever surprised! Although we bypassed the city of Belfast on our way to the North Atlantic coast, the spectacular scenery enhanced by the perfect weather is what we will now remember. Highlights were the 14th century Dunluce Castle, the majestic rock formation of the Giants Causeway, the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge, and a tour/lunch at Bushmills the world’s oldest whiskey distillery. The next day it was back to Scotland and a cruise up the Firth of Clyde to the port of Greenock. My Dad had told me about this inlet/river, for he had also traveled it in WWII on the Queen Elizabeth when it was being used as a troop ship. At that time there were submarine nets that were placed across the river to stop German subs. During the 20th century this area was known for its 42 ship builders including Cunard. Sadly today only one ship builder remains. Our tour today was to the Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Hill House. He was the Scottish version of our Frank Lloyd Wright and we were impressed with his art nouveau designs which influenced many buildings in Glasgow. By now you can see that this cruise was port intensive. Our daily routine included early morning breakfast in La Veranda, touring most of the day, back on board for late afternoon teatime, trivia, bingo and maybe games and lectures. Then get ready for the evening events starting with local entertainment, cocktail receptions, whiskey tastings, crew shows, followed by dinner with friends in one of the four restaurants, and then the 9:30 show, ending with late night karaoke or Liar’s Club. Whew! I’m tired now just thinking about it; we may need a vacation from our vacation! The next morning we were back in Ireland, this time Dublin. What a vibrant, bustling city and another beautiful blue day. The locals said it was the first good weather in several weeks which accounted for everyone out in the streets. We saw the city from 3 vantage points; a river boat trip on the Liffey Voyager, a bus tour showcasing all the sights and a walking tour where we stopped in at a fudge store (Chuck’s favorite) and the oldest pub established in 1198. So much to see! Our last port in Ireland was the cathedral town of Cobh. Our destination today was Cork and the Blarney Castle, home of the Blarney Stone. We climbed up to the top of the castle in a winding, steep staircase. Up at the top we watched a Japanese woman kissing the stone. No, we didn’t partake with excuses like vertigo, hygiene, possible back problems etc. I guess the Japanese woman will get the gift of eloquence which is what the legend claims. The charming town of Cork was just how we pictured an Irish town. On this day, the school kids were celebrating because it was the last day of school before summer. Our Irish visit appropriately ended with an Irish coffee and shopping in the Waterford crystal store.

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