13 April - Day 13

We have decided to do a spa treatment this afternoon but this morning (begun 1283) Conwy Castle – Edward I - again! Conwy is a wonderful walled town giving it a very medieval feel. Conwy also boasts the smallest house in the world! A ride to Llandundo – seaside Victorian town beautifully preserved. Everyone on Easter bank holiday so lots of people strolling on this warm and sunny day. Lunch outdoors in front of the Stafford Hotel looking at the bay. Back at the Hall lovely walk in the garen through the woods. Sheep, sheep and more sheep on the hills immediately around the Hall...in fact you ride over sheep grates into the sheep pasture on your way to the hotel. Baby lambs sunning, romping - so cute! Head, neck and shoulder massage at 3 – a swim, whirlpool, steam room, sigh…dinner in the 1620 Room the new restaurant at Bodysgallen...a little more relaxed atmosphere and food...delicious.

12 April - Day 12

Happy Easter! Taxi to Dublin Port - no funny cabbie this ride. Fast ferry to Holyhead – club class - beautiful private cabin with a small complimentary buffet. Named the Jonathan Swift...of course! Powered by 4 large water jets that pump 60,000 tonnes (UK version) of sea water per second so we roll along at 39 knots/hour! Gorgeous day and great views! We cover the 60 nautical miles to Holyhead in just under two hours – very relaxing way to travel! Vickie Owen (driver Philip’s wife) waiting for us as Philip had a late night. Sheep, sheep and more sheep. Nice drive along the coast of Anglesey. Looking very rugged in the distance. Travel through the town with the world’s longest name - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch - really! No kidding! The Welsh call it LlanfairPG (the LL is pronounced like SH). It means "The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave"...On our way to Beaumaris (1295 but never completed)– another one of Edward I’s castles. Philip meets us in Beaumaris. Quick lunch and off to Caenarfon Castle (first a Roman fort and then 1096 the first stone structure– Edward starts his castle in 1283. Caenarfon lies on the Menai Staits between Anlesey and mainland Wales. Impressive! A ride up through Llanberis toward Snowdonia. Incredible 11th century Conwy Castle from my window!! Bodysgallen is fabulous.

11 April - Day 11

Tom wanted to go to gym and stay in hotel. Kris and Ed to Irish National Stud. BMW today - nice! Oh the foals! Fields and fields of mares and foals. Three in Nursery paddocks. Immaculate barns and stalls. Paddocks for the stallions. Foaling stalls – straw piled so high it is unbelievable! The stud was estalished around 1900 by Colonel William Hall-Walker who had remarkable luck racing the horses he bred. He would have each foal's horoscope read and if it was deemed auspicious - a bad reading and the horse was sold! Lunch on the deck overlooking a pond complete with swan. Back to Dublin and the Guinness Storehouse. Great tour…better pint – now I understand! Back to the hotel. Wales tomorrow!

10 April - Day 10

Ed the driver – Lexus…sweet! Great orientation tour of Dublin – history, views, wonderful! Drive up the coast north of Dublin to Howth – gorgeous views. Narrow, narrow roads. Unexpected visit to Malahide Castle owned by the Talbot family 1185-1973. Ed thought we should see it due to our interest in castles and history. Lovely Irish furniture and accessories. Lots of legends about the house - One of the more poignant legends concerns the morning of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, when fourteen members of the family breakfasted together in the dining room, never to return, as all were dead by nightfall. Drive to Powerscourt. Mile long drive with 2000 beech trees! The house is being renovated again after a devastating fire. Nice lunch. Great garden! Gorgeous waterfall. Return via the coast south of Dublin. Killiney, Dalkey, etc. Dinner in The Vault!

9 April - Day 9

Up early to get to the airport. Aer Lingus to Dublin. Hillarious cabbie – brilliantly told story about England vs Ireland in the World Cup - "Got drunk. Missed the plane." It might have been a tall tale but it was a great tall tale! Welcome to Ireland! Exceptional hotel – converted bank - unbelieveable bathroom. Unpacked and walked across the street to Trinity College. Book of Kells and the Long Hall. Up to Dublin Castle but no tours left. Christ Church and the Dulblinia/Viking Exhibit. Lovely walk back to the hotel. Early dinner in the Atrium. Delicious!

8 April - Day 8

John arrives at 8. Off to Glamis (Glams) Castle home of the Queen Mum. Drive around Perth. Arrive Glamis...lovely kitchen for a little mid-morning snack! Medieval plus early 20th century. Off to St. Andrew’s . The Royal and Ancient Clubhouse. Pretty town – great cathedral ruin...and interesting though brief tour of the university. Drop Kris off at Edinburgh Castle. Tom back to the hotel. I have a wonderful self-guided tour of the Castle and then walk down the Royal Mall all the way to Holyrood House...another lovely day. When will all the rain arrive? So far very, very little!!

7 April - Day 7

John the driver picks us up at 9. A little orientation to Edinburgh – views from Calton Hill toward the Firth of Forth. A stop in Queen’s Ferry. St. Margaret and the pilgrims. Off to Linlithgow Castle first then Stirling Castle. St. Michael’s Church in Linthithgow. Doune Castle in the distance- Monty Python’s Holy Grail. Up into the Highands. A drive through the Trossachs around Loch Lomand. Lunch stop – Hammish the Highland Cow. The Royal Grouse. Scottish strawberries. A wee dram of Glennfydditch and some shortbread....A visit to Glenneagles Golf Club where the Ryder Cup will be played in 2014! It should be great...the mountains filled with gorse in brilliant yellow and dark patches of heather that will bloom in the fall... the light rain today seemed so appropriate for Scotland - broody and dramatic - interestingly the rain did not shroud the views - they were great! Dinner in the hotel - very nice. Lovely staff - true everywhere on this trip.