I'm going traveling!

[madeleone]

Yes, I'm going traveling. Since we went to Ireland three years ago, hubby and I have talked about taking another trip. Now that we're both retired and don't have things like limited vacation days and work commitments holding us back we decided that this was the year to go. We're also using the excuse that it's to celebrate our 40^th anniversary which is coming up in November. Although we're not waiting until then, we're leaving mid-September and coming back mid-October.

We decided to plan on a longer trip since for us the airfare to get there is a major cost, hence, as long as we are there we might as well stay longer. So I have planned nearly two weeks apiece in Scotland and Ireland.

The last time we went we rented a car and did B&B's. We will still rent cars, since it allows us to travel at our leisure, but I decided to explore the idea of renting cottages this time. Over the long haul it is a little cheaper and also allows us to take some of our meals at home rather than eating out for all meals every single day.

I have been working diligently since the beginning of summer to research and choose places for our trip. Finally as of last week all of our reservations are made for the planes, the cars and the lodging. Squeeees! Very loudly!

We will be spending 12 days in Scotland, staying outside of Edinburgh for three days, then two days at a B&B near the borders where I am hoping things will work out for a meet-up with talesofsnape. We are hoping to meet here at Alnwick Castle , if everything works out (the site was used for filming parts of Hogwarts for HP 1 and 2). Then we move on to a cottage farther north, about 30 minutes north of Dundee, for the last week.

In Ireland we spend a week in Foxford, (which was actually a location featured in one of my LBB stories, LOL), in a beautiful little stone cottage that I have already fallen in love with just from the pictures, The Granary . Then then final week we will be near Thomastown in County Kilkenny, in another lovely little cottage. And our final night at a B&B in Bunratty before we head home.

I am so excited about this trip I can hardly contain myself. I'm not sure if there are any other fangirls from my flist in any of these areas but if so shout out if it might be possible to arrange a meet-up. Also if anyone has any suggestions as to places of interest, things to see and visit in any of these areas please let me know. We are open to suggestions. :)

Comments

[hummingbyrdd.livejournal.com]

This sounds so exciting! I can't wait to see your pictures. :D

[madeleone]

I'm very excited to be sure. I know that I'll have lots to post when we get home.

Squeeee!

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary! I know you and your hubby will have a great time. Take pictures.

Re: Squeeee!

[madeleone]

Thanks! I'm sure we will too, we are both looking forward to the adventure. There will undoubtedly be lots of pics.

[blueartemis07.livejournal.com]

How exciting! I am looking forward to the posts and pictures!

[madeleone]

We have been talking about it for awhile but now that all the reservations are made and it is only a month away it is starting to seem real!

[helenarickman.livejournal.com]

I am so jealous! The cottage idea is most appealing. I cannot wait to see you post when you get home with photos!

[madeleone]

We loved doing the B&B's and one of the best parts was actually getting to spend time with the folks running them, they were so helpful. I get the impression the cottage owners may not be as much of a on site presence, but we thought the idea of using cottages as a base and exploring from there would give us more leeway.

Plus the cost was better, since we are going for such a long time. It is actually costing less than I expected it would to go for a whole month. Several years ago my uncle left me a small inheritance which has been just sitting in the bank so now we are telling everyone that we're taking this trip for Uncle Ed!

[irishredlass.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you know Little Beloved (she wrote Denial) anyway I know she is in Ireland (somewhere)

[madeleone]

Ahhh... I have read her fic and loved it, but I don't think I have ever 'spoken' to her on LJ or anywhere. I know Tonksinger was in Dublin, (she hasn't been around the fandom in quite awhile, though), but I'm not sure we will be going there on this trip, possibly a day-trip while we're in Kilkenny.

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a lovely trip! I think that the cottage idea is so much better than staying at a hotel -- it gives you more of the feel of actually living there. I'm looking forward to lots of piccies when you come back!

[madeleone]

I think that the cottage idea is so much better than staying at a hotel -- it gives you more of the feel of actually living there.

That's exactly what my daughter-in-law said and I think you're both right. :) I'm sure there will be tons of Piccies.

[junewilliams7.livejournal.com]

Squeeeeee!!! I am so excited for you. This wounds wonderful. Hey, you could make it a TWO-month trip - take a month to cross the Chunnel and go through Western Europe. France, Germany, Austria - go wild!

[madeleone]

Oooh... don't tempt me, that sounds wonderful. I love to travel. Maybe that will be for the next trip. ;) I told hubby I'd also love to visit Australia and New Zealand someday, don't know if we'll ever get there though. There's so much of the world to see

I had a patient not long before I retired last year. She was 90-something years old and loved to tell me all these stories about the places she'd visited: the Vatican, Italy, Greece, England, Spain, the Great Wall of China, and more. I was envious of her... hell, I want to be just like her.

[junewilliams7.livejournal.com]

So what's wrong with a two-month trip? As you say, it's the airfare that is the killer....

[madeleone]

Unfortunately, funds are not unlimited and my 'Uncle Ed' money will only go so far. Plus hubby has an annual hunting trip he goes on with his brother during deer season in November. I think there is more 'guy time' than actual hunting but he does look forward to it and honestly I do too as I then have time to do something I want to do. ;) And after a month we will both probably start missing the grandbabies, so four weeks is probably a good amount of time.

[christev.livejournal.com]

Wow - what a fantastic sounding holiday! It is a dream of mine to travel to the UK, but unattainable to date. I'll be eager to hear your opinion on the cottages vs B&B options. And of course, very eagerly await your pics and commentary on the trip in general. Happy Anniversary and Happy Trails to you and hubs!! :D

[madeleone]

Thanks Chris. I'll report on how things go with the cottages after the trip. Like I said in a comment above we did enjoy the B&Bs and you got the personal touch of meeting the hosts and they were all very helpful with suggestions of what to see and do. I get the impression the cottage owners are less hands on and some are managed by agencies.

It's worked out not to be that bad cost wise, if you have someone to share the car rental and lodging with it's really quite reasonable. And my argument to hubby was our kids are all grown and we have limited window of opportunity to do things like this while we still have our health and can enjoy travel (I am well aware of the health issues after working in health care for 31 years).

[lynnylou.livejournal.com]

Your trip sound wonderful. I can't wait to see the pictures when you post them.

[madeleone]

Thanks, I'm sure there will be lots of them posted.

[dreamy-dragon73.livejournal.com]

It sounds brilliant. Have a wonderful time!

[madeleone]

Thanks, Dreamy, I sure hope to.