ENGLAND, IRELAND AND SCOTLAND 1996.

Saturday 29th, it was back to London, via Chester where a walking tour took them past Roman remains, past black and white half timbered buildings, the cathedral and the historic two-tiered shopping arcades called the 'Rows'.  Also Margaret was taken with music in the center of the mall, by a man playing honky tonk piano, while his dog lay at his feet. She even did a little song and dance which Ev managed to video.  Onto Shakespear's home, at  Stratford-Upon Avon. They saw his home, also Anne Hathaway's Cottage.  She lived there before marrying William Shakespear in 1582.  He was 18, she 26.  He died in 1616, and is buried at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford.  The bus stopped for only a short 1 hour, so Margaret hot footed it along the Avon River to the Church where Shakespear and his family are buried. A great experience and wonderful company on the bus.  They returned to London on the M6, arriving at the Kennedy Hotel at 5.30 p.m., ready for the...

On Friday 28th, they departed Dublin for Wales. After a 3 hour ferry ride they arrived at Holyhead in North Wales.  From there to Wrexham, arriving at 7.45 p.m.  That was the most beautiful country, with huge mountains covered with heather.  In Caernarfon they admired the mighty castle which saw the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales.  They drove through Snowdonia, pretty Llangollen, home of an annual international competition for poets and minstrels, then drove over spectacular Horseshoe Pass near Llangollen.  There was slight rain which made it all the more romantic.  This famous pass, running at a height of some 1,300 feet offers some fine views, especially towards the Eglwyseg Hills to the east.  All the farm houses are built of slate as the mountains are full of slate.  At Pulford near Wrexham is a high castle, with only walls remaining.  The hotel at Wrexham has a lovely court-yard with many colourful hanging plants.  ...

They arrived at Rosslare in Ireland at 6 pm. then onto Waterford, famous for its crystal.  Dooley's Pub beside the river proved an interesting rabbit warren.  After dinner the four did a walk about the town, with Carrol and Margaret walking longer and meeting some youngsters who should have been in bed at 9.30. Their adjectives were amazing.  Fn this and Fn that.  Could be that some 'hoon' Irish didn't like the English, as for the second time in a month, one tyre on our tour bus was slashed overnight, so there was a slight delay in departure for Killarney. The tour continued to Dungarvan, Youghal and Cork, the country's second largest city on the way to Blarney, renowned for its Stone of Eloquence.  At Youghal, Sir Walter Raleigh started potato farming and Moby Dick movie was filmed there.  Yes, Carrol and Margaret climbed 162 narrow cold stairs to kiss the Blarney Stone.  The Castle is famous for its stone, which has the traditional power of conferr...