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Published: August 12th 2010
We arrived in North Island today - quite cold here too . We watched the news tonight and they have found bombs in Belfast - where we're heading and also the strikes at 6 airports in London and Scotland - at this stage we're not sure if they will affect us but suspect so.
On a lighter side, we've been travelling a fair bit over the last two days but have stopped for meals and also stopped at Kylemore Abbey, Gothic Church & Victorian Walled Garden.
This has a tale of both the Castle and Abbey - a truly remarkable one - the twists of fate which its occupants experienced from moments of romance & happiness to sadness and courage have all combined to create a fascinating history spanning over 150 years.
Kylemore is not home to a community of nuns of the Benedictine Order who went there in 1920 after their Abbey in Ypres, Belgium was destroyed in World War I When settled at Kylemore, the Benedictine Community opened a world renowned boarding school for girls and began restoring the Abbey, Gothic Church & garden to their former glory.
We enjoyed the visit there and the
Kyliemore Abbey
dining room - John looked at me strangely when I asked if we were staying here for lunch?sad history of the place but it's stunning there - complete with dining room set up as it would've been back when the Mitchell Henry Family lived there..... John just looked at me when I asked if we were having lunch there in the dining room.... well didn't want it all to go to waste....
As usual as you are leaving any historic or tourist attraction you leave via the gift shop.... this was NO different. On our way there we missed going in to see the magnificent Galway Irish Crystal Factory BUT they had some at this gift shop and John bought me some beautiful crystal candle holders.
We've discovered that this side of Ireland is not quite as pretty and quaint as the other side but good to experience both sides - and more so as we go along - only a few more days in Ireland.... if we can get a plane out of here.
Last night we stayed at Sligo - a B & B called Stonecroft..... the tiniest room ever with a very small ensuite. The room was so small we weren't even sure where to put the suitcase!!! John asked if
Sligo
A restaurant and pub on the river at the town of Sligo there was a bigger room but all he got was a shocked look... we've found many places are very small by Australian standards and find it hard to get used to but .... we're getting used to it. We will get lost in our bedroom when we get home that's for sure.
We left Sligo and crossed the border into Northern Ireland at Londonderry. John went walked the Walled City of Derry and followed the history of the old city and the battles that had been fought. On the wall there were guides dressed in period uniform telling the history and stories of the era.
The news is on about the airports and right now not looking good....
Tonight we're staying at a seaside B & B terraced type of housing - quite cosy and has more facilities than most we've stayed in including an iron, laundry facilites and thank God - an iron! Built in the 1850s as a Victorian traditional boarding house - now owned by a family called Pollock who are very proud their facility - called AVAREST (and relax).
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