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. :)