Month: August 2017

Iconic for its beautiful crystal vases and wine glasses, Waterford, England was someplace that we had to see. We were already exited to come here, but when we found a place at Waterford Castle that had a pool and a golf course (and no you didn’t hear that wrong it really has a golf course), it made all the difference. Continue reading “Aug 29-31 Waterford, Ireland by Mick”

Having enjoyed our brief flight from Newquay to Dublin, and then our bus ride from the airport to the city center, we were nonetheless happy to arrive at our bright, IKEA-decorated apartment right off O’Connell Street (reminded me of Market Street in San Francisco). Out our window we could see the General Post Office, which we later discovered was famous for its association with the 1916 Easter Rising. Continue reading “Aug 26-28: Dublin, by Cathy”

On to Newquay, like England’s Santa Cruz, with lots of surfing (please see Mick’s boogie boarding post).  Not the most southern southwestern tip, but close enough to say we were there.  Overall, Cornwall is a beautiful and lush area with spectacular beaches that go for miles with tidal influences that we never witness in California. We stayed three days in Newquay with a day trip down to Perranporth to walk a beach recommended by our friend Susan (she and her husband, Ian, are handling our mail while we are away). Sue and Ian lived and owned a business there 30 years ago and Sue told us it was the most beautiful beach she’d ever seen. I’d have to agree that it’s pretty amazing.

Our last night, we stayed a night in the Hotel California. It’s kind of a funky hotel built from a large older grand home in the seventies with a bowling alley, an outdoor pool which needed some work and was not open, a beautiful indoor pool and sauna, a squash court, a table tennis room and a pool table. Cathy would go on about its funkiness and the work it needed, but I loved the place even though the double room I booked happened to be two twin beds.  His majesty, King Mick, was not about to relinquish his bed so Cathy and I shared a twin. The hotel was located on the southern side of Newquay and overlooked the River Gannel, a river that forms an amazing tidal estuary before meeting the Celtic Sea.  We walked the river-beach at low tide for a least a half mile towards the sea and later that evening observed high tide, where paddle boarders actually floated by us at the hotel with no river-beach to be seen. All so beautiful!

Now we head to the airport for a short ride on a small plane, much to Mick’s pleasure, up to Dublin where we start a twelve-day roundabout of Southern Ireland…

Body-boarding in Newquay, by Mick

In Newquay, England I immediately wanted to bodyboard when I saw the Newquay Harbor beach and all of the people riding the waves and wiping out. I asked my dad if I could rent a wetsuit and a bodyboard and he said, “Yes, but not today.” I waited and waited for two whole days to bodyboard and I finally did. It was the first time I had ever tried on a wetsuit and it felt really weird. I quickly got used to it and had lots of fun bodyboarding. I was so sad my rent time was up and the tide was coming in, too, but a soft-serve ice cream made up for it. We walked home through the jumpin’ town and I took a shower that felt great. I got into clean clothes, got in my cozy bunk bed, and took a nap.

Gardens Galore, by Cathy

After leaving Plymouth, we took the train to St. Austell. Or, perhaps I should say that I took the train to St. Austell, as Jeff and Mick didn’t make it off before the doors closed. Uh oh. Luckily the next station/town, Truro, was close and our first transportation crisis was minor. Plus, Mick and Jeff really enjoy telling me how they’ve seen one more city than I have. We stayed for three nights in St. Austell, a very small town known primarily because of its proximity to the Eden Project. Continue reading “Aug 20-23: St. Austell”

The Historical Importance of Plymouth, England by Mick

Although Plymouth, England was not our favorite spot in the UK, it has some important significance in history – from the Mayflower to their famous gin. Continue reading “Aug 18-20: Plymouth”

Stick with Pasties in Devonshire, by A. Burrito Snob

The Jordans love burritos, but finding a good one in the old country is tough. Dónde están?! Continue reading “Aug 18: Plymouth”

My Kind of Town, Brockenhurst, by Cathy

After praising London for its clean streets, you’d think that a town littered with cow pies and horse poop would be offensive. Au contraire! Continue reading “Aug 16-18: Brockenhurst”

After two great weeks in London, tomorrow we head for Cornwall by train. Here’s our upcoming itinerary as far out as we’ve planned:
8/16 – Train from London to Brockenhurst
8/18 – Train from Brockenhurst to Plymouth
8/20 – Train from Plymouth to St. Austell
8/23 – Train from St. Austell to Newquay
8/26 – Fly from Newquay to Dublin
8/29 – ???