I wasn't able to journal while I was abroad, but I've posted it below. The thoughts and experiences of Jenn! Although...this is super long, if you're curious to know how my travels were, you now can read my thoughts. Enjoy.
DAY 1 –
Friday, March 18, 2016
Hello!
I
am on a plane to Reykjavik, Iceland as I write this. I’m flying to Iceland via Icelandair. Can you believe that? Me, on my own. It’s exciting! How did I get here? I’ll tell
you…
It
started one day in January 2015. I was
really feeling burnt out with my job in Fort Morgan, Colorado. It was a day where I felt it was time to move
on, job wise. I knew that I had to do
something new.
Forever
I’ve wanted to travel, “take a trip around the world” I’d say. One day, I knew I’d “maybe” get the chance to
travel. Funny how that is…how a thought
can turn into an action, this then turns into reality.
I
finally decided to act on my thought. I
searched for travel agencies online one day in August 2015, and I came across
Trisha Kovaly at New Horizons Travel in Greeley, Colorado. What began as emails on what a trip would
cost if I chose to visit this place and that soon turned into an actual
plan. Soon it became a, “You need to
make a deposit by this date.” I thought about things for a while, and talked to
a lot of friends… Suddenly, deposits were made and dates were set!
Months
until a trip, turned into weeks, which turned into payments on the trip. Finally the last payment was made, and the
last weeks turned into days. Fast
forward to March 2016. I had given my
notice at work on February 18, 2016, and my last day was March 9, 2016. I moved out of Fort Morgan on March 10, 2016,
and today I’m on a plane! This week went
glacierly slow in anticipation. I was so
excited.
A
lot of change has happened in the last couple months…if you know me, I’m not a
fan of change. If I can’t control my
“change” then I have a hard time transitioning into the “next chapter” of life.
This
time…I controlled most of it. It still
hasn’t been easy, but I know that everything will be fine in the end. Everything will be worth it in the end. Last night I finished up a bit of packing,
and then I finally headed to bed. I
probably hit the pillow at 12:15 AM this morning. My cat Freya had a different idea of “sleep”
last night. I’m pretty sure she knew I
was packing to go somewhere. I feel so
bad leaving her for 33 days, a month. I
love her so much! I feel so sad, but I know she’ll be okay. She’s safe at my parents’ house, and they love
her just as much as I do. Well…she
wanted to play more than normal; bringing three of her favorite toys to bed,
walking all over me, meowing, keeping me awake.
“It’s
bedtime my baby girl; bedtime.” I’d say.
“Meow.”
She’d reply.
I
tried to play some, but I was so tired, and eventually I fell asleep…maybe two
hours later. Last night was one of
those, “I know I slept, but it definitely didn’t feel like it” kind of
nights. It was a night where I felt like
I was awake all night, where I really couldn’t get to REM sleep; a night where
my eyes were just closed. By morning I
was stressed; half freaked out that today had come, and half freaked out that
I’m actually embarking on this adventure.
I
got through the day, with a few stressful moments (sorry mommy), and suddenly
the drive to the airport was happening.
Seeing my mom drive away, I at curbside outside Icelandair…was
bittersweet. It was sad that I won’t see
my parents for a month, but I was excited to start this journey.
I
walk in, and I see a slew of people, “Where is Icelandair?” I thought to
myself, “It has to be here somewhere.” I got in line, looked up and saw
Lufthansa. “Nope, wrong line.” I stepped
a few steps over to my correct line, and waited patiently to get my
ticket.
Soon
I was on my way, walking to security, and saying, “Oh my gosh,” thinking
“breathe, just breathe”. Deep breaths
and thoughts of what I’ll get to see all filled my head. “Oh my gosh, I’m actually here. I couldn’t believe it at first, but here I am
on a plane! This 7 hour 20 minute flight is about 2 hours and 55 minutes from
landing.
This
flight is EASY in comparison to flying to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is like 14 ½ hours from San
Francisco! This one is 7 hours and 20 minutes straight, non-stop from
Denver. I’m actually surprised at how
fast this flight is going. While
Icelandair didn’t give you food, it does give you FREE complementary
entertainment. Each seat is equipped
with a TV, probably 10 inches by 9 inches in size. We have about 50 movies to choose from plus
tons of television shows and music. It’s
fantastic! Today, I watched, the “Peanuts Movie”, “Live as We Know It”, and now
(as I write) “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. It’s been enjoyable.
I
can’t wait to land and jump into my adventure.
I’m hoping to grow as a person; to discover more about myself. I know I’m brave and strong, independent and
stubborn, passionate and driven; but it’ll be nice to discover even more of
that inside me. I want to prove, “I can
do this!” I know I can do this. I’m
doing it right now! I’m flying internationally by MYSELF! This will be an amazing 33 days, and I can’t
wait to tell you all about it.
Stay
tuned! This adventure is just beginning! ~ Love, Jenn
DAY 2 and 3
– Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20, 2016
The
time in Iceland so far has been magical! I took off from Denver, Colorado at
5:15 PM, on March 18, and landed at 6:35 AM, March 19.
I
met Rachel Cullimore at baggage claim, and we took a taxi to Reykjavik,
Iceland. Iceland only has 340,000
citizens, and 8% of the population is foreigners. It is said everyone is related, to some
degree. Our taxi driver said the same
thing! That you have to make sure you’re not related before you start
dating. When we arrived at the hotel,
our room wasn’t ready…so we immediately left and explored! We enjoyed breakfast
as a nice restaurant, and then took in some of the sights. We walked everywhere.
We
saw Hallgrimskirka, which is a very unique church in Old Town Reykjavik. We went to the top of the church, and saw the
amazing views of the city. We also went
to the Harpa, which is their arts center! The ballet, the opera, as well as, a
really neat 360* degree experience is located.
Rachel and I did the “360* degree Icelandic Experience” and that was
neat! It was about a 20 minute show that showed you the sights of Iceland.
With
our day we walked around the stores. I
was looking to buy an Icelandic Wool Sweater, but I didn’t find one that I
loved. We finally were able to check in
to our hotel around 11:30 AM or noon, and after hanging out around the room, we
decided to explore some more. We saw the
Sun Voyager; it was a statue of a boat, which represented the Viking
influence. We ended our first day with a
stop at Viking, a bar that makes their own Icelandic Beer! It was pretty good!
After beer, we went to a really nice restaurant and enjoyed a six course
gourmet Icelandic cuisine meal.
That
was an interesting experience. We tried
Puffin, which is a type of bird. People
think its penguin, but it’s not. We also
tried Whale! Yeah, whale! Both were interesting, kind of rubbery, and…good to
say I tried it, but not again.
Today,
Rachel and I did a tour of the “Golden Circle”.
We saw Pingvellir National Park, which Icelander’s see as the most
important sight, in terms of history, culture, and geology. We also saw where the tectonic plates of
North America and Eurasia split and drift apart. We saw Gullfoss which was pretty! It’s like Niagara
Falls (which I still need to see)…but Gullfoss is also called, “The Golden
Falls”. We then went to Geysir, a
geothermal area where we saw Strokkur Hot Springs. It blasts out water every 5-7 minutes up to
20 meters high!
We
stopped at the Icelandic Horse Park, Fakasel, and saw the Icelandic Viking
horses. They are really unique looking,
and make me think of Clydesdales horses.
We
were hoping to see the Northern Lights…but nope. The weather is too cloudy, and isn’t
improving. I’m sad and depressed…I
wanted to see them SO bad! Maybe another time…who knows…this item will still be
on my bucket list.
~
Love, Jenn
DAY 4 –
Monday, March 21, 2016
Today
is a great tour. After a nice breakfast
at the hotel, Rachel and I joined a tour called, “Volcanic Peninsula”.
This
tour is very fascinating. It’s a geology
based tour, where we visited the iconic places that really show Iceland’s
landscape. We picked up a tour in
Reykjavik and took the tour out of the city.
First
we saw where they dry fish heads and bones.
Africa, specifically Nigeria, and other countries like the dried fish
for snacks. So, Iceland dries it and
sends it to them.
We
then stopped at an area called, Syoristapi.
We saw the black sand beaches, made from all the lava and also fresh
water lakes that have formed over the years.
After
that, we drove to Seltun Krysuvik, a hot springs! Cool ground water seeps down
to where it is heated up by magma or a magmatic intrusion. On its way up to the surface again, the hot
water dissolves various substances in the rock.
As it nears surface level, the water begins to boil and releases hot
spring gases, above all carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide – the
sources of typical hot spring smells.
Sulphur forms at steam vents as hydrogen sulphide meets air. Where there gases rise through surface water,
sulphuric acid is produced and increases water acidity. That water dissolves rock resulting in the
mud pools and their surroundings.
Iceland
is also known for their fishing industry; in fact that is one of their main
stays in Iceland. At first people would farm
and fish in the winter. Now it’s
prominent. In the 1800’s fishing became
more commercial. For lunch we stopped at
“Bryggjan” a small café on the harbor of Grindavik. We all at Lobster Bisque, which was very
tasty!
We
made another small stop and saw the lava fields which are quite typical in
Iceland. The lava fields are covered in
moss. This time of year, because of the
rain, it was a pretty green color and fluffy.
Iceland gets earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It has over 200 active volcanos! Hawaii in
the U.S. only has four. Just to put
things into perspective. Iceland sees an
eruption every 3-4 years, or more occasionally.
They also see earthquakes every 8-10 years. It’s very interesting.
We
then stopped and saw Gunna, another hot spring.
This one derives from the name Gunnuhver, a ghost. Folklore is very active and passed down
through the generations.
The
story goes… Guorun Onundardottir (Gunna), who mentioned in the Ami Magnusson’s
census of 1703, then a crofter near Kirkjubol in Sandgeroi, owned by lawyer
Vilhjaimur Johsson. When Gunna failed to
pay rent Vilhjaimur took away her only property, a cooking pot. Gunna became angry, and refused to drink holy
water, and dropped dead. At her funeral
people said they heard her say, “Don’t bury me deep. I won’t be staying long.” Soon after that the body of Vilhjaimur was
found in the lava fields, dead. Gunna is
said to gotten her revenge. After that,
Vilhjaimur’s wife soon died. The whole
peninsula became haunted by Gunna. It is
said she still haunts Gunnuhver Hot Spring.
People say they still hear her screaming.
The
tour Rachel and I are on is very intimate, only eight of us total, plus the
tour guides…so 10 total, including us. I
like it! I hear what’s being said, and can remember better.
We
also visited a Geothermal Power Plant, which is also fascinating. It’s great that they do “Green Energy”. I love that.
The coolest part of today was seeing the Eurasian and North American
tectonic plates. We stopped at a bridge
that symbolically represents both plates.
I got to straddle the plates, and the plates, and was in Europe and
North America at the same time! It was a really cool experience.
The
Eurasian Plate is Earths largest continental tectonic plate. The plate contains some of the oldest rock
formations in the earth’s crust, in East Siberia on the most expansive plains
on Earth.
The
North American plate is drifting to the west, away from the Eurasian plate,
widening the Atlantic Ocean in the process.
The North American plate is Earth’s sixth largest continental tectonic
plate. Around 200 million years ago, it
was joined with the Eurasian, African, and South American plates until this
super continent, known as Pangaea, started to break apart. The Atlantic Ocean began to form to the south
between Africa and South America about 135 million years ago, while the
separation of the Eurasian Plates began around 65 million years ago.
Following
the tour through Sterna Travel, Rachel and I were dropped off at Blue Lagoon!
It’s a geothermal hot springs that is located in a volcanic crater and lava
field area. It was gorgeous and such an
amazing day. ~ Love, Jenn
DAY’S 5 to 9
– Tuesday, March 22, 2016 – Friday, March 25, 2016
It’s
been a busy few days! Leaving Iceland, it was an early day. Rachel and I got up at 3:50 AM, so we could
make it to an early flight!
That
was an adventure. A bus through
Icelandic Excursions picked us up at 5:06 AM.
The transfer that way, via bus, to the airport was $25.00 USD or 2800
Icelandic Krona. Coming out, when we
arrived, we made the mistake and took a taxi.
It cost $156.00 USD!! If you ever visit Iceland, DO NOT take a taxi to
Reykjavik. Well, once we got picked up,
we drove to the busses main terminal, and then transferred to a bigger
bus. Once we made it to the airport, it
was super busy! We made it through security and onto our plane to Amsterdam,
Holland.
Amsterdam,
Holland in the Netherlands was amazing! Amsterdam is a great city! So beautiful
and interesting! The city is filled with so much history, yet it’s very
modern. The first day we arrived we
walked around the Red Light District, and just explored the city. Rachel wanted to see the Red Light District
so we saw the streets considered that area.
Apparently, there are 909 working windows in the district!
Meaning…prostitution is still an active “legal” industry in the city!
We
also walked down and all around the iconic neighborhoods surrounding the
canals. Amsterdam is the Venice of the
North, and for good reason! Also, known as the biking city, everyone bikes
everywhere. There is no shortage of bike
parking, that’s for sure.
On
Wednesday, we took a canal cruise. We
got a unique look at the city, and were able to explore via boat, the
canals. Back in the day, each canal
street was known for a different industry; like textile goods, flowers, the
flea market, the fish market…it was very interesting. For a city rooted with so much history, they
were ahead of their times on forming ways to deal with all the water that surrounded
the town; thousands of bridges connect you to where you need to go. Before now, I never saw a “car seat” for a
bike! People rode around with no helmets, and even had “bike seats” for babies
and toddlers. It was crazy!
Wednesday
afternoon, Rachel and I did a tour that took us out of Amsterdam to the
windmills! We visited a town called Zaandam, Netherlands. It was a little farming town, where the
iconic windmills are still used to produce goods. The one we visited was called, “De Kat Mill”
on the Kalverringdijk at Zaanse Schans in Zaandam, the Netherlands. It produced paints; mineral colors. Artists all over the world, even in Japan
order and use these paints on their works.
It was fascinating to go inside, and see that it still works the way it
did hundreds of years ago! We also saw a cheese factory, and finished the day
at the nearby harbor. It was really neat
to dive more into the Dutch culture, and learn about the people who settled and
formed the Netherlands.
Thursday
was crazy busy! Rachel and I started the day at the Van Gough Museum! We saw a
lot of Vincent Van Gough’s works of art.
We dove into his life, and went on a journey that took us through his,
although short life as an artist, but his impact on art all together. It was wonderful. I even saw a Claude Monet painting, who was
one of Vincent Van Gough’s influences on his work. Van Gough worked in the art industry before,
and at the age of 27, he decided to become an artist himself. So he went to school, studied all he could,
and became friends with many influential artists, as well!
From
there we went to the Rijksmuseum, which is another art museum, but focuses on
all art from the Dutch. We saw work from
Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gough, and many others! I have to say…if I chose a
museum, Van Gough was my favorite. The
Rijksmuseum is huge, and so overwhelming! How cool though to have all this
history in your country!
Thursday
afternoon we joined a tour called, “The Anne Frank House and Jewish
Amsterdam”. This was my favorite tour we
did! I have always been fascinated by the Holocaust, and how one man could be
so cruel! The story of Anne Frank has always impacted my life, from the moment
that I read, “The Diary of Anne Frank” in eighth grade.
Rachel
and I went by the Anne Frank House at 9:30 AM on Wednesday. The house which opens at 9:00 AM has people
lining up as early as, 6:30 AM! No joke! By the time we got there, the wait was
already 6+ hours! We were shocked! No way were we going to waste a day in line!
“Let’s
go see if there’s a tour that includes it!” Rachel said.
“Great
idea!” I responded.
We
went right into a tour office and booked the “Anne Frank House and Jewish
Amsterdam Tour”. We paid like $91.00
UST, but we got guarantee entrance to the museum, plus we got to see more of
Jewish Amsterdam. Our tour guide, Andy,
is Jewish. He was fantastic! He spoke
like five languages; Hebrew, Dutch, English, Spanish, and even German! It was
crazy; I wish I could speak that many languages! The tour started at Gassen
Diamonds, a company started in like 1897, by a Jewish family. It is still active today! From there we saw
the Jewish Historical Museum, and the synagogue that was one of the original
four built in that area. We learned more
about the religion, and even some of my questions were answered. The culture has always fascinated me, through
my interest of the history of the Holocaust and European History in
general. I soaked this up! From the Jewish
Historical Museum, we went to the Portuguese Synagogue. This one is lit by candle, and survived the
Second World War. It was beautiful
inside, and I even saw their eternal flame!
From
there we FINALLY got to see the Anne Frank House. We went inside the house, and saw the
original bookcase that hid the Franks! The museum even had original pages from
Anne’s diary, and the original diary itself! They had filmed interviews with
those who helped hide the Frank’s and their friends for almost two years, as
well as, from childhood friends themselves!
It
was a very moving experience. I cried at hearing Otto Frank talk about his
family…he is the only one who survived.
He made it his mission to get Anne’s voice heard! To tell her story! All
her “what if’s” are our opportunities! If only we could have a world that is
free from such hate and pain; a world that is united and that loves each other,
for whom we are! That’s my wish too. So
much bad happens, I wish that wasn’t the case.
I’m
so grateful for my life, and the opportunities I’ve had, will have, and what I
will get to still experience. For so
many…that didn’t happen. Day’s like this
day make me realize again how thankful and grateful I am for what the world is
like today. Through heartache, new life
and beauty forms. It was a day where I
am reminded that my life is mine. Not
anyone else, MINE! I get to do what I want, date who I want, do whatever
career or job I want. I get to make my
own decisions. I get to experience my
own experiences.
I
get to live.
I
get to live, and I certainly won’t mess anything up. I won’t miss any opportunity to grow. No matter where life takes me, I will
continue to live an extraordinary life.
I promise this to myself.
Today,
Rachel and I travel to Stockholm, Sweden! The journey continues!
~
Love, Jenn
DAY 10 and
11 – Saturday and Sunday, March 26 and 27, 2016
After
Rachel and I landed in Stockholm, we took the Arlanda Express, a train, to our
hotel, the Sheraton at Stockholm.
What
a nice city! A little slow moving, but that’s Europe for you in general. They’re very relaxed. We checked into our hotel and immediately hit
the town! We wanted to see all we could since we only really had 48 hours in
Stockholm before traveling on to England.
That
afternoon, we walked to Old Town. What a
beautiful area of Stockholm. Old Town
was the original city that was founded when the Viking’s landed in Sweden. I wish I could have walked around there
more.
We
visited the Nobel Museum, the museum dedicated to the Nobel Peace Prize for
peace, leadership, science, technology, etc. It was so interesting, I loved
it. After that we went to dinner at a
really nice restaurant. We had Swedish
Meatballs and mashed potatoes! Um…yummy! After dinner we wanted to go back to
the hotel, but ended up getting lost. At
least we got to explore some more. The people
in Stockholm are so nice! A few people saw us navigating by our maps, and
helped us on our way.
We
ultimately made it back to the hotel briefly before we headed to
Struecompagniet. It’s one of Stockholm’s
oldest and most legendary night clubs for young people. It was so fun! We danced until 2:00 AM and
then went back to the hotel.
On
March 27, 2016, we did a Hop-On-Hop-Off tour of the city. We saw Skansen, an old Viking town that they
still have preserved, filled with cute stores, restaurants, and
activities. It was super cute. We also saw the Abba Museum and Swedish Hall
of Fame. That was awesome! I LOVE ABBA!
From
there we visited the Vasa Museum, a museum dedicated to the ship Vasa. Vasa sank on August 10, 1628, in Stockholm
Harbor on her maiden voyage. Over time,
her location was forgotten, but in the 1920’s, a group of divers applied for
the black oak timbers. During the
1950’s, a private researcher, Anders Franzen, began to search for her. He knew that wooden ships are preserved in
the blackish water of the Baltic. In
more salty waters, wood is rapidly destroyed by the shipworm, Teredo
Navalis. Vasa was found, excavated, and
now in the museum, 333 years after she sank! The museum was definitely a
highlight! So cool!
Saturday
night we also went to Ice Bar, by the Ice Hotel Stockholm! That was better than
Vegas’ Ice Bar! After the ice bare, we went around the town a little more, and
then ended up at Struecompagniet again for more dancing! We couldn’t stay away!
Rachel wanted to go out again, so we did.
We
made a new friend! His name is Jonathan Kall.
He is a lawyer, born and raised in Stockholm. He just came over to our table and asked if
he could join us. He was alone, and his
friends were busy with Easter holiday activities. Of course we let him join us. He was really nice. He has family in the U.S., so he visits
periodically. He even danced with us,
and we even became friends on Facebook!
It’s
so cool to meet new people, and make new friends. I had a “sad” night Friday. I actually cried a little. I think it was a little bit homesick, and a
little bit, “I miss my kitty Freya”… mixed with pent-up emotions. This is the part of the journey that I was waiting
for, and knew would happen eventually; healing.
I’m healing after a breakup, quitting my job (Media
Logic Radio), and moving back home…so much change! I know this will take time,
but it will be worth it in the end.
I’m
soul searching too. I know I need to do
what will make me happy. I know that some
of my choices or moments in life may take me away from those I love…but my love
for everyone will never end. They’re not
going anywhere, and if I don’t ever like something, I can always quit. You can always change what you don’t like,
and go back to what is comfortable.
I’m
hopeful. God had a plan, and what is His
will, will be.
I’m
on a plane to London! Where in the world is JSO?! The adventure continues!
~
Love, Jenn
DAY 13 –
Monday, March 28, 2016
Today
was a rough start. Rachel and I called
yesterday to re-confirm our tour, “Simply Stonehenge” through Golden
Tours. It’s a company of Grey Line. You
think it would be great!
No.
No it’s not.
We
woke up at 6:00 AM, and were told to meet at the hotel, Kensington Close Hotel,
by 7:20 AM for a 7:30 AM pickup. They
were prompt picking us up, which made us think we have an 8:15 AM or 8:30 AM
departure. We were told to transfer to
our tour bus at a tour meeting point.
When we got to Victoria Station, it was raining, and we had to exchange
our voucher for our tickets. Rachel and
I paid 44 pounds, or $62.34 USD per person.
Once
we got our tickets we were told to line up behind our tour #229, Simply
Stonehenge. Time now? Probably 8:20
AM. We thought we only had 10 minutes
before the tour left. Well, no one told
us anything! We’re standing in line, out in the pouring rain, and we have no
idea when we’re heading to the bus. The
time ticks by…still we’re waiting to get on the bus. There were a ton of people. Victoria Station was a huge gathering place
for all tour companies; Evans Evans Tours, Big Red Bus Tours, Golden Tours,
etc. No public restrooms, the cold and rain, you could tell people were getting
annoyed. It was disorganized. We finally got on the bus at 8:57 AM!! The
drive to Stonehenge from London took 2 hours.
We had 2 hours there, and then it was 2 hours back. Despite the rough morning, I am excited to
see Stonehenge.
Stonehenge
has fascinated people for thousands of years.
The monument dates back so far that it is surrounded in mystery. For thousands of years people speculated over
the true purpose of the massive structure.
Some of the most popular theories include: built as a religious temple?,
an astronomical clock?, a Bronze Age burial ground? The site has stumped the world
for more than 5,000 years.
Getting
to see Stonehenge was amazing! I’m so excited and happy that I got to see it! One
of the wonders of the world! So cool! My heart is so happy!
~
Love, Jenn
DAY’S 14 to
17 – Tuesday, March 29, 2016, to Friday, April 1, 2016
Hello!
What a busy last few days. Let me catch
you up!
On
Monday, Rachel and I had tea following our “Simply Stonehenge” tour at a cute
bakery called, “The Muffin Man.” We then got lost in Harrods for a few hours
and did dinner at an amazing place nearby.
If you get a chance to see Harrods lit up at night, that’s a must see!
On
Tuesday, March 29, 2016, we did our own thing.
Rachel did a “London in a Day” tour.
I chose to go see Highclere Castle.
If you don’t know what I’m referring to, it’s Downton Abbey! Only the
best UK show of all time!
My
tour was fantastic! We first went to the town of Bampton, and saw the village
of Downton Abbey; where the hospital was or where the Countess Dowager (Maggie
Smith’s character) lived. We learned the
secrets of how it was filmed. After a
village tour we went to Highclere Castle itself. What a surreal experience. It was so neat!
I
was super excited to have gotten to see inside the castle! Apparently, a bad
storm came through the area, and the castle was closed to the public! Not on
this day! I saw the dining room, the living room…the iconic places filmed for
the show. I also walked around the
grounds and gardens. I was in awe. It made me love the show even more than I
already do!
After
Downton Abbey I met my Aunt Cobelle’s sister, Macille To, her husband Franklin,
and their children Tiffany, Ainsley, and Christopher for dinner in China
Town. Ainsley’s girlfriend Vikki was
also there. What a nice evening! I’m so
glad I was able to see everyone!
On
Wednesday, March 30, 2016, it was Rachel’s last full day in London. She would leave the next day.
We
did a “Making of Harry Potter Tour”! We went to the Warner Brothers Studios
sound stages and went behind the scenes.
We saw Dumbledore’s Office, the Great Hall, Hagrid’s House, the
Gryffindor Common room, and Boy’s Dormitory, along with other props and other
sets! It was epic! We saw Diagon Alley, and even a full scale model of
Hogwarts! We totally loved it!
Wednesday
night we went to “The Artesian” the #1 rated bar/club/lounge in the world!
(Four years and counting). The drinks
were 18 pounds or $25 USD; that is if you wanted the specialty drinks. We had fun; it was a great experience, even
if it was expensive. “When in London!”
we exclaimed.
Thursday,
March 31, 2016, Rachel left to fly home, and I took my suitcase to the new
hotel, where I was meeting Contiki.
Contiki is a tour company for 18 to 35-year-olds, who want to travel all
over the world. Their mantra is:
#NoRegrets. You have one life, one shot,
make it count. (I’ll tell you more in a bit.)
Once
I got checked in, I made my way to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre! I walked across
the Millennium Bridge, also known as the Harry Potter Bridge, because it’s the
bridge destroyed in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movies.
Well…as
I walked across the bridge and saw the Globe, I was speechless. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre was so cool to
see! As an actor, I can’t even express how happy I was to see it! Shakespeare
is such a huge part of theatre, the English language, and society. I literally teared up, because I was so happy
to be there. The Globe is the third
theatre there. The first burned down,
and the second was forced to close (I believe), so the one on location now is
the third and most modern. It is
however, the most authentic to what the Globe would have been like in
Shakespeare’s time. It was awesome!
After
the Globe, I made my way back to the Royal National Hotel, and walked around
Russell Square Garden, before a welcome meeting. They told us what to expect for when we
leave, and what the tour entails.
Thursday
night I met my roommate, Kara Durham from Portland, Oregon. She’s 31-years-old, and is a graphic designer
for NIKE! She’s super nice, and we clicked right away!
Today,
April 1, 2016. We all met and left
London at 7:30 AM. We did a city tour of
London, before making our way to Liverpool! The birthplace of the Beatles! When
we arrived, we had the remainder of the day to do what we wanted. Many went shopping…I went to Liverpool
Cathedral; absolutely stunning. I also
climbed to the top of the tower, and saw the beautiful panoramic views of the
city. I also walked around their China
Town, and then stopped at a café on Albert Dock to journal (where I am
now). In a bit I’ll go walk around the
dock, before meeting the tour for a dinner (which is one of many included on
the tour).
After
dinner, we’re all going to the “Cavern Club”, which is the hot, hip place to go
to see up and coming artists perform.
The Beatles themselves including many others have performed there! It’s
like the “Bluebird” in Nashville or any iconic venue for artists. It was pretty epic! Tomorrow, we’ll do a
“Beatles City Tour” all focused on the Fab Four! I can’t wait! ~ Love, Jenn
DAY 18 –
Saturday, April 2, 2016
After
checking out of the hotel, we all got back on the coach and did a driving tour
of the Beatles. It wasn’t exactly, what
I thought we’d get to see. We saw where
the Fab Four went to school, the neighborhoods where they grew up, and places
where they used to work before they were famous. Although, we didn’t see everything, the
highlight for me was seeing “Penny Lane”! We were able to get off the coach and
take our picture by the “Penny Lane” street sign. I’ll have to go back to Liverpool with my mom
and dad, they’ll love it!
We
were soon on the road again, on our way to York. Tonight we’ll do a Ghost Walk, and later
today we’ll have our own “free time” to do what we want.
I’ve
been making so many new friends on this tour, and having time to myself too! My
feelings of homesickness are gone. I had
one moment the day Rachel went home, before I met up with Contiki. I’m now rejuvenated and I have a new look on
life. Kara, my roommate, let me read my
2016 Astrology year look.
I
know I’ll find love again this year, and I know I’ll find a new job. I know the year will bring amazing things (it
already has), but it will continue to change and I’ll continue to grow. ~ Love,
Jenn
DAY 19 –
Sunday, April 3, 2016
York
is a very cute town! We arrived and took a small walking tour. We walked down the most popular street in
England; “The Shambles”. It was a street
where back in the day butchers lived on.
The road was built with a special ditch.
Butchers would cut up their meat and display it on a hook, hanging
outside their door for the day. It was
to show what they were selling that day.
All the blood and guts would run down the ditch. Back then in the 1500’s and 1600’s they would
also dump their chamber pots down the ditches, to wash away the blood and
guts…so just imagine how dirty, smelly, and gross everything was!
On
our way down the Shambles we stopped at the York Minster. It was a Catholic Cathedral that took 300
years to build. They built it to instill
fear, because people were rebelling against it.
It was pretty, but I didn’t pay to go inside.
I
chose instead to visit Clifford’s Tower and castle wall. Clifford’s Tower was a castle that was
actually built by William the Conqueror.
York Castle was what it was called and served as a prison and royal mint
in its time. It was once the center of
government for the north or England. In
the 11th century Timber Tower on the top of the earth mound was
burned down in 1190, after York’s Jewish community, some 150 strong, was besieged
there by a mob and committed mass suicide.
The present 13th century stone tower was then used as a
treasury and later a prison.
There
were tensions between Christians and Jews and it increased in the 12th
century. Mostly because many people were
in debt to Jewish money lenders and there was crusading propaganda directed not
only against Muslims, but also Jews.
Later
on in 1596, a public scandal arose when the alderman of York accused the gaoler
Robert Redhead, of trying to diminish the derelict tower and sell the stone for
lime-burning. Contemporary
correspondence about these events contains the first recorded use of the name,
“Clifford’s Tower”.
The
name is sometimes interpreted as evidence that the Clifford family claimed the
post of constable to be hereditary.
Alternatively, it may refer to the rebel Roger de Clifford, who was
executed after the Battle of Borough Bridge in 1322, and whose body was
displayed on a gibbet at the castle.
The
tower was really interesting. There is
so much history on it. It was part of
what is seen today as Old York.
After
seeing Clifford’s Tower, I walked around the old castle walls. That was pretty cool too! Seeing the old town
mixed with the new modern town, was beautiful.
I like York, WAY more than Liverpool.
Both towns were nice, but York is so much cuter!
Last
night we all went on a Ghost Walk. For
two hours, we walked around the streets, court yards, and small alley ways of
York. We heard a few of the hundreds of
ghost stories, and it was fascinating!
We heard about the murders, the massacres, decapitations, and tortures
that happened in the 1500’s and 1600’s; things from people who were punished
and killed for not denouncing their catholic faith. We heard about all kinds of stories of
spirits who still linger around the streets and homes of York. It was actually a bit scary for me! Just
thinking about everything, but it is so true! So much happened in those times
that it makes sense.
Today
we’re on our way to the Lake District! We’re going to take a cruise on Lake
Windermere and explore more! I’ll be
doing a ropes course later today as well!
As
I sit here and write on the bus…I see myself and feel myself growing. I thought I’d be reading a lot and finish a
couple books, but I’ve not read at all! I’ve been writing more, or exploring
these towns; making new friends. Rather
than reading, I find myself reflecting on this adventure instead.
I
absolutely love this tour. Contiki
Vacations is amazing, and I definitely will be doing another tour with them
again. It’s wonderful, and I love it!
~
Love, Jenn
DAY’S 20 to
22 – Monday to Wednesday, April 4 to 6, 2016
The
last few days have been amazing! Let’s catch you up!
The
cruise on Lake Windermere at Bowness in the Lake District was awesome! It was
just relaxing and nice to take in the scenery.
Following the cruise we drove to another Lake District town called,
Keswick. As an excursion I decided to do
a Ropes Course. Most of the people on
the tour decided to join in on the fun! It was a blast! I’ve always wanted to
do a ropes course, and I’m so glad I did this.
Not only do you bond with your tour group, but you challenge
yourself. I love heights and thrills,
adventure, and trying everything once.
How will you know you don’t like it, until you try?
The
ropes course was great! I close my eyes and see myself walking high above the
ground…finding myself slightly challenged to conquer some of the tasks. Some even challenged me! It just felt amazing
to conquer! The course ended with a zip-line drop. So amazing! I stretched my arms out to my
sides, like wing! Flying through the air and feeling the wind rush over me was
utterly amazing! Truly, I can’t wait to do a ropes course again.
It’s
a nice reminder that life is filled with challenges. Even at times, if you feel defeated or beat
down, sad or burnt out…the ropes course opened my eyes to see that no matter
the “challenge” you will get through it.
You will conquer all the “obstacles” and you will succeed.
You.
Will. Always. Succeed.
You
will be a better person for it too! Your confidence, your bravery, and you will
grow too.
Following
the ropes course we walked to Castlerigg Stone Circle. The stones were ruins, similar to Stonehenge,
but not as grand and mysterious. It’s
near Keswick in Cumbria, North West England.
It is one of around 1,300 stone circles in the British Isles and
Brittany. It was constructed as part of
a megalithic tradition that lasted from 3,300 to 900 BC, during the Late
Neolithic and Early Bronze Ages. The
views surrounding Castlerigg Stone Castle itself were breathtaking and very
serene!
Sunday
night we stayed in Carlisle, and enjoyed a fun night with our new friends!
On
Monday, we made our journey to Edinburgh, Scotland!
We
started our day with a visit to Gretna Green.
It’s a place just half a mile from the boarder of England. Couples for 303 years or more would cross the
border to get married. England had high
standards or strict rules, but Scotland was much more relaxed. The age in England to get married was older
than the age in Scotland too! So…many young couples would run away and go home
married. A black smith at Gretna Green
performed the marriages, which were recognized by the Church of England! It was
very interesting!
After
Gretna Green we visited the site of Hadrian’s Wall!
The
Homesteads Roman Fort is the most complete Roman Fort in Britain. Almost 1,900 years ago it was a fortress on
the frontier of the Roman Empire, today known as Hadrian’s Wall. Its ruins now, but it’s so cool! All the history
I’m seeing, and learning about! It makes my life feel so rich with knowledge
and cultures.
We
finally made it to Edinburgh, Scotland where we stayed two nights.
The
first night we went to Murrayfield Hotel and House for a traditional Scottish
evening experience. I tried a
traditional Scottish juice/soda drink called, “Iru Bru”. It’s like orange soda, but not a fizzy. I tried haggis! Yeah…look up what it is…I
liked it. Where we went for dinner, they
had the best haggis in town! (Apparently) so…I ate some. I also tried a traditional Scottish
dessert. It was a dessert that had the
iconic shortbread cookies, called Cream Crowdie. I loved it! So good!
I
love all the foods I’ve been trying.
I’ve loved all my afternoon teas, and walking around everywhere! I love
it here…I want to go home to see my cat and family, but I love traveling! I
love it here! The dinner even had a performance from a bag piper! Andy, was his
name. He was so cool, very funny, a
total Scotsman!
Yesterday
was a free day in Edinburgh. The day
started off with a walking tour of Edinburgh Castle. That castle is the home (now) to many
museums! It was also where Mary Queen of Scots lived for some time. She gave birth to her only son. King James VI there too. After the castle tour, my new friends and I
explored Edinburgh more. When we got
here, we picked up eight more people who joined the tour. They’re all super nice!
Well,
my new friends and I went and did tea at a place called, “Clarinda’s Tea Room”. After tea I walked over and toured Holyrood
Palace.
Holyrood
Palace was the home of Mary Queen of Scots! I actually saw her actual bed
chambers! It was so fascinating! It’s also still a working palace, and Queen
Elizabeth II stays there every summer when she visits Scotland. It was so cool to see! I am so glad I got to
see it!
Once
I was done seeing Holyrood Palace, I walked over to Arthur’s Seat. It’s a dormant volcano, and you could hike to
the top. I didn’t go to the top, because
I didn’t have too much time by this point, but I still walked it a little. I ended up seeing some friends and walked
back down with them. We shopped around a
little, and I walked around the city, found the Hard Rock Café, got my city
pin, and then we went and toured the underground.
I
don’t know if you know this, but Edinburgh build a newer Edinburgh on top of
the old Edinburgh. Read more about it
online, it’s really neat!
Today,
Wednesday, April 6th, it’s sunny and blue skies! A rarity on this
trip! We are driving through the Scottish Highlands! We stopped at St. Andrews
where the world renowned golf course is.
It’s also where Kate Middleton and Prince William met! I went to the
café where they would go for coffee dates, and got a chai. It was so cute! I also saw St. Mary’s on the
Rock Cathedral, or the ruins of it. We
walked along the beach and saw the ruins of an old castle too. I then walked down to the St. Andrews Golf
Course, and saw the Swilken Bridge, which is where the green jackets are given
to those who win. It was cool; I know
it’s a golfer’s dream to see. I’m glad I
got to see it too. Even though I don’t
play golf, I can still appreciate it.
Now,
as I write, we are heading to Loch Ness! We’re going to do a cruise, try to
spot the Loch Ness monster, and enjoy the Scottish Highlands. Tonight we’ll be staying in a town called,
Inverness. We’ll probably try Scottish
Whiskey too!
~
Love, Jenn
DAY 23 –
Thursday, April 7, 2016
What
a wonderful night last night was!
Jumping
into Loch Ness was like, what I imagine the “Polar Plunge” is in Colorado. It was the coldest water I ever felt. I jumped in wearing my swim suit; others used
their clothes if they didn’t have a swimmer (as our tour manager Ian Lyne would
say.)
I’m
so glad I jumped in! It was so exhilarating! After the Loch Ness cruise we
checked into our hotel and then quickly got ready to go jump into Loch
Ness. It was so cool. Just doing something like that, not only do
you live life, but…you also form an unforgettable memory. Isn’t that what life should be about? The
unforgettable memories; the moments of utter happiness. I’m always going to remember that. It was freezing cold and afterward my toes
were so swollen. You felt warmer on
land, than in the water, but the smallest amount of hot water or something warm
was extreme to the skin. Only until it
warmed back up itself then you were fine.
The
hotel that we stayed at looked like a Colorado Mountain Lodge on tartan
steroids. Tartan is the Scottish word
for their plaid. Each clan has their own
style of tartan, and this hotel was very proud of it. We called it the Tartan Palace. WiFi only worked in the Bar/Lounge area,
otherwise we were “off the grid” like camping.
That’s another reason why it made me think of a Colorado Mountain
Lodge. Loch Ness, aside from the lake,
is a small town. We as the tour had a
quiet night in. The hotel gave us a nice
meal; we played games, and did trivia.
It was like a night away at camp; just fun with friends. It’s been so long since I really had a night
like that. It was just wonderful.
Today
has been a driving day. We got up early,
left the hotel, and began driving all around the Scottish Highlands! At 400-700
feet above sea level, their mountains are foothills compared to Colorado
Mountains, but the scenery is still beautiful.
We
drove to the Isle of Skye, and also saw Loch Alsh; another big body of water
like Loch Ness. We took some photos at
various points where beautiful sights were viewed. Panoramic views for days! My photos don’t do
the Scottish Highlands justice! It’s gorgeous here!
We
also stopped and saw Eilean Donan Castle.
It’s Scotland’s most romantic castle, and is actually still a family
home! It was the castle used in the Patrick Dempsy movie, “Maid of Honor”, when
everyone fly’s to Scotland for their friends’ wedding who Patrick Dempsy’s
character secretly loves. (You know
Romantic Comedies); it’s a beautiful castle!
We
then saw the Fort William Commando Memorial and Scotland’s tallest mountain,
Ben Nevis. The memorial was tribute to
those who fought a battle at Ben Nevis.
Some of the Royal Army even came down to Scotland to fight this
particular battle. It was a battle that
occurred during World War II. The
mountain Ben Nevis is located in the distance.
Tonight
we’re staying in a Scottish fishing town called, Oban. We’ll be doing some Scottish Dancing at a
place called, “Skippinish”, and enjoy some seafood for dinner. I can’t wait to dive into the culture even
more.
The
drive today, has given me time to reflect.
It rained some, but cleared up and the sun was out too. A lot of the scenery makes me think of Rocky
Mountain National Park and the mountains in general, but at the same time it’s
all different here. Moss grows on
everything, and it rains so often, the ground is so wet and muddy. That aside, everything is so green and greenery
is so full. I found myself gazing out of
the windows, trying to make a mental memory of everything. I hope I can remember everything! I wish you
could see how beautiful this drive has been!
I’m
so glad I’m traveling, and seeing all of these sights! I’ve decided…I’m going
to try to do a trip a year (depending on funds)…just for me. I want to continue to see all that I can see!
~ Love, Jenn
DAY 24 –
Friday, April 8, 2016
Hello
from Glasgow, Scotland! Today is a new day, and a fun one it has been. We drove to Stirling, Scotland today and I
saw the Wallace Monument.
The
Wallace’s in Colorado would be proud! It’s their ancestor! The National Wallace
Monument is Scotland’s best-known landmarks.
It tells the story of William Wallace, Scotland’s first national hero,
for over 145 years.
Sir
William Wallace was a patriot and martyr.
He led and won the battle of Stirling Bridge and although he wasn’t seen
as a hero at first, is a key role to Scottish history. Scotland’s victory at this battle has
inspired generations of Scots, who saw Wallace as the spirit which drove him to
fight oppression and injustice. We even
saw the Sword of Wallace on display at the monument! It was amazing!
From
there I grabbed a quick bite to eat and saw Stirling Castle. That’s where Mary Queen of Scots was
coronated at almost a year old as Queen of Scotland. Her son year’s later King James VI was also
coronated there. It’s a pretty cool
castle. I didn’t have time to go inside,
but I hear it was neat. I did Edinburgh
Castle and Holyrood Palace, and those were the top ones I wanted to see.
Now
for a serious reflection:
Last
night at Skippinish, the Scottish Dancing Club…we learned traditional
dances. It was fun, but I didn’t get to
dance a lot. Everyone had to be in pairs
or couples, and it was tough for me to break out and ask the very few guys on
the tour to dance. I just felt
uncomfortable, left out, and sad. I hate
when my mind does that! It gets all “woe is me” and ruins everything. I’m very in my head as it is, and I over
analyze everything in general. I have to
tell myself to not do that sometimes, and other times I can’t get out of my funk. I’m not depressed, but being someone who is
generally happy, bubbly, and positive…when I’m sad or mad or bummed…it’s a 180*
degree shift.
Last
night was one of those nights, triggered by my recent breakup. The last time I was dancing was October 2015,
when I was with my love at our friend Emily’s wedding. The day I realized how deeply I'd fallen in love with him. Last night’s dancing triggered the fact that
we won’t have that again (well you never know the future, but from the looks of
things now…); instead of telling myself, “Hello! You’re in Scotland! Dance with
the Scottish men!” or “You’ll meet someone even better!” I was stuck in the
doldrums. I left the club, and walked to
the harbor, cried, and composed myself.
I
cried twice on this world adventure, and both were triggered because I saw
something that reminded me of something else… Breakups suck…especially if you
wanted a future with who you were dating.
I know I’ll find and meet my soulmate.
He’s just taking forever to come into my life.
This
is a random thought…one room number in the tons of rooms I’ve stayed in was
#129! You know 129 is my number! It was the address of my apartment when I
lived in Fort Morgan, and it’s my birthday.
It’s my lucky number. 129 in my
mind, when I see it, tells me I’m doing the right thing. I believe it’s God subtly easing my mind;
telling me that I’m on the right path.
I’m doing the right thing. Seeing
the number 129 put’s my mind at ease…and tells me all will be okay.
No
more repeats of last night. ~ Love, Jenn
DAYS 25 to
27 – Saturday to Monday, April 9 to 11, 2016
Hello
from Ireland!
Friday
night was fun. We went to a few pubs and
said goodbye to those who were not traveling on to Ireland. I made friends with a couple from Singapore,
Herrick and Celeste. They’re very nice,
and it’s sad that they left, but now I know some people to visit in Singapore.
Saturday
was a travel day. Not a ton
happened. We drove to the P&O
Ferries and took the Ferry across the Irish Sea to Ireland. That day we had a welcome dinner to greet
those who are joining the tour for Ireland.
After dinner we went and enjoyed a Guinness beer! We are in Dublin!
Sunday
we had a big day! We went to Kilkenny, Ireland, and did a bike ride around
town. Oh my goodness was it cold! It was
pouring rain and so windy! It was brutal…but the bike ride was cool. I hadn’t ridden a bike since 2006. It’s been a good 10 years, because my bike
needs to be fixed. It makes a weird
click-noise. Anyway, we rode around for
90 minutes in the rain and wind! By the end of the bike ride my hands and feet
were wet and frozen. Even in gloves…it
was cold. My jeans were wet and mud
splattered…it was not pretty. My hair
was all wet and tangled…because my hood on my coat wouldn’t stay up. It felt miserable, but once we were warm
again, I’m so glad I did it. I completed
it too! It was definitely hard, not a hard bike ride, but hard due to
weather.
While
biking around Kilkenny we saw the first catholic cathedral in Ireland (or maybe
it was in Kilkenny…) anyway it was called, “The Black Abbey”. It has a beautiful stained glass window that
is one of the largest in Ireland! It was pretty! We also saw Kilkenny Castle!
I’m sad it was so cold and wet, because I didn’t get a ton of pictures. I wish I could have gotten more.
Ian
Lyne, the tour manager said it best, “The rain may dampen our skin, but not our
spirits!”
It
makes for a great memory. We finally
warmed up, and traveled to Midleton, Ireland, where we toured the Jameson
Distillery. We learned all about Irish whiskey,
and how Jameson is made. It was so
interesting! We saw how the barley was heated and dried, and learned about the
different stages of the process. Jameson
Whiskey is aged at least three years before it’s distributed around the
world. Some of their specialty whiskeys
are aged for 12 years! Others longer, even 30 years! As the whiskey continues
to age, the darker it becomes, and the more the flavors change and morph as
well. It was fascinating!
At
the end 1 hour 20 minute tour we were led to a bar where we were able to get a
drink of Jameson. Many of us chose a
“Whiskey Mac”. In the states it’s called
an, “Irish Mule”. Anyway, what the
Whiskey Mac is is Jameson, ginger ale, and lime. I really liked it! I may have found my new
“go to” drink! In fact…yes, I know it will be! When in Ireland!
After
the distillery we headed into Cork, Ireland for the night. We enjoyed a nice included dinner and live
music at another pub afterward. Scotland
and Ireland both have big pub lives. I
love pubs!
Today,
April 11, 2016, we drove out of Cork to the small town of Blarney, Ireland. We walked around Blarney Castle and kissed
the Blarney Stone, which is said to give you the gift of gab and eloquent
speech, and walked around the gardens.
It was beautiful. The gardens
were gorgeous as well and so serene! ~ Love, Jenn
DAYS 28 and 29
– Tuesday and Wednesday, April 12 and 13, 2016
The
Cliffs of Moher were breathtaking!! Photos don’t do them justice. I can’t express how beautiful they are! When
you see them in the movie, they look just as majestic as in person. We arrived and immediately went on to
explore. The park had barriers set up,
because over the years, people have actually fallen off the cliffs. So, we had to remain behind the current
barriers. It had rained a lot, but this
particular day the sun was coming out, and it was beautiful weather! There was
one moment where you could climb over the barriers, and get some epic photos! I
can’t wait to frame some of mine!
Tuesday,
April 12, 2016, was a busy day! We made it to Galway, Ireland, where Monday
night we went out to a couple pubs for live music. It was fun, and our tour manager and bus
driver Ian and Will joined us too! I drank a “Whiskey Mac” with my new friends,
and enjoyed the night. On Tuesday
morning, we woke up, tired from the night before, but excited for our day at
the Aran Islands. We took the coach to
the pier, and boarded a ferry. It took
us to the Aran Islands, and we spend the day on Inishmore. It’s the biggest of the three islands that
make up the Aran Islands.
Last
summer, Golden, Colorado put on the play, “The Cripple of Inishmaan”, and that
island is part of the Aran Islands. I
was so excited to get to go to Inishmore! When I think of Ireland, I think of
these islands. Filled with beautiful
scenery and fresh air! It was a little cloudy, but it later cleared up, and the
sun came out. Oh, how blue the sky was!
I haven’t seen a super blue sky in so long! No joke! It’s been cloudy, partly
cloudy, and rainy most of the time. It
was a gorgeous day! So sunny!
When
we arrived we were told the best way to see the island is by bike. So for 10 Euros for the day, that’s what we
did.
We
probably biked like 15 kilometers that day or 9.3 miles; we biked around the
whole island. We started off biking
along the coastline, where we saw a seal colony. We pedaled around all the homes and little
streets, it was a blast! We ended at Dun Aonghasa.
Dun
Aonghasa is one of the finest prehistoric fortresses in Western Europe. It consists of three dry-stone ramparts, and
the remains of a fourth, the outermost of which encloses an area of 11
acres. Outside the second rampart there
is a 30 foot band of upright stones forming a defensive band or “chevaux de frise”. Considerable alterations were made in the 19th
century when the buttresses in the inside wall were erected.
It
was amazing! It was built on cliffs, and we could get right up to the edge! We
got some epic pictures! It was a moment of amazing happiness. The views of the ocean and cliffs were
beautiful and grandiose. I wanted to
stay there forever. What a wonderful
time to sit, relax, reflect, and enjoy life.
Once
we were done we grabbed a quick lunch, and headed back to town. We biked back, checked out the Aran Islands
Sweater Market, and enjoyed a pub. It
was a wonderful day, and it was the most fun to bike everywhere.
Time
for some reflection:
I’ve
been so active this trip. I’ve not
turned on the TV, let alone think about it in weeks! I’ve not texted friends,
driven a car, or done any thinking about a job… I’ve been seeing this beautiful
world that we live in! I’ve seen some wanders, and even others I didn’t know
about! It’s been absolutely wonderful.
This
trip has changed my life! I want to continue to do and see all that I can! No
matter where life takes me, I want to see it all! I know I’ll be traveling
again on my own. I plan on doing more
Contiki’s while I still can. I want to
see some amazing things, and Contiki has the possibility to do that, at
reasonable prices. Maybe Greece or
Australia and New Zealand are next!
Going
home to Colorado and seeing the end of this world adventure will be so
surreal. It’s crazy! I can’t wait to see
my kitty and family. I just hope I
transition with the outlook on life that I have, and that I don’t revert back
to where I was before I left. I’m happy
and in love with the world. I don’t want
to go home and feel lost again, or overwhelmed, or sad. I want to go home and be excited for what is
next; jobs, love, happy times, all of it.
I
will not let anyone one or anything influence my mind; if you don’t like it,
too bad. Suck it up, and get on
board. I’m doing what I want, when I
want from now on!
Wednesday,
April 13, 2016, has been a long driving day.
We’re on our way to Derry/Londonderry.
Once we arrive, we’ll partake in a city walking tour; staying the night
in town as well. ~ Love, Jenn
DAYS 30 and
31 – Thursday and Friday, April 14 and 15, 2016
Today
is Friday, April 15, 2016, and I’m nearing the end of my world adventure. I can’t believe it.
Yesterday
we drove from Derry/Londonderry to Belfast.
The Derry/Londonderry tour was amazing.
It’s part of Northern Ireland which has seen so much unrest for so many
years. It stems from a division in those
who wanted Ireland to be separate from England, and those who wanted to stay
loyal to the King. All these years
there’s been a division between the Protestants and Catholics. We did a city walking tour which was so
interesting! It concluded at the Peace Bridge, which was built to show that
there can be peace amidst hostility.
Derry/Londonderry
had the Peace Bridge, and Belfast had the Peace Wall. Both places in Northern Ireland, are clearly
trying to move forward…things are improving little by little.
In
Belfast, which is the capital of Northern Ireland, the division is still
visible there too. It’s so divided that
schools are still segregated! Protestant kids versus Catholic kids. Apparently, it’s so segregated that some
people go their whole life not meeting anyone Catholic or Protestant, or they
just don’t cross the river. It’s sad,
but it’s their reality. It is much
better than before, but it will still take more generations to fully be
okay. We spent time at the Peace Wall in
Belfast, tagged a message on the wall too!
I wrote: “Love and Peace, NOT HATE!” ~ Jennifer,
Colorado
It’s
true. We need to live our life with love
and peace. We need to be the change we wish
to see in the world. We need to live
united together. It is only together
that we will be able to make the world better.
“Where the Streets Have No Names” by U2 is a song about Belfast. It’s a song of hope, peace, love, and unification,
where we can all live happily together without conflict. Something I wish the world had.
Wednesday
night in Derry/Londonderry we had time on our own. We did dinner at the hotel, which was really
nice, and then we went to Monroe’s Bar and listened to live music. So fun!
Thursday
we drove from Derry/Londonderry to Belfast, but first we stopped at Giant’s Causeway. Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000
interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is also known as, “Clochan an Aifir” or “Clochan
na bhFomhorach” in Irish, and “tha Giant’s Causey” in Ulster-Scots.
It’s
located on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, and was declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and a national nature reserve in 1987 by the
Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. In 2005, Giant’s Causeway was named as the
fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. It is so fascinating. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although
there are also some with four, five, seven, or eight sides. The tallest are about 12 meters (39 feet)
high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 meters (92 feet) thick in
places.
Giant’s
Causeway was formed around 50 to 60 million years ago, during the Paleocene
Epoch, Antrim was subject to intense volcanic activity, when high fluid molten
basalt intruded through chalk beds to form an extensive lava plateau. It was so neat to see!!
Following
a city tour of Belfast and the stop at the Peace Wall, we all went to the
Titanic Quarter. We saw Titanic Studios
where Game of Thrones on HBO is filmed.
This area of Belfast was also where Titanic was built. The Titanic sank 104 years ago, today, April
15, 2016. We went to the “Titanic
Experience”. It is an experience for
sure. It’s not like a museum with
artifacts, it’s an experience. Still
good, but not like phenomenal. I’m not
sorry I did it, it was still fun.
Last
night concluded with a night of karaoke.
That was fun. We did dinner on
our own, and then we all hung out for a night of fun. This world adventure has been so fun! I’m
doing things I wouldn’t normally do, and that’s great! That includes karaoke!
A
moment of reflection:
Ian
Lyne, the tour manager periodically walks down the aisle of the coach and asks
everyone, “Any questions?”
“Can
you stop time?” I said.
“What?”
He responded.
“Can
you stop time? I don’t want this to end.” I said.
“Quit
your job and do another tour with us.” He said with a smile. “Just have a new debit card sent over and
stay. Where there’s a will, there’s a
way Jenn. Where there’s a will, there’s
a way.” Ian smiled again, before continuing on down the aisle.
While
heading back to Dublin, Ireland on this last full day of the tour…and I’m once
again journaling on the coach, what is on my mind is what Ian said. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” I haven’t heard that saying in quite some
time…I find Ian very nice, positive, and energetic! ~ Love, Jenn
DAYS 32 and 33
– Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17, 2016
The
rest of April 15th was wonderful.
We made it back to Dublin, and enjoyed the Guinness Storehouse. Ireland is known for Guinness too, and I’ve
only ever tired it here and there.
On
this day, we toured what is one of their breweries. It was awesome! We learned about the process
to make beer, and more about Guinness through the years. Guinness was started by Arthur Guinness. He is fondly regarded as the 5th
magical ingredient of Guinness. Aside
from the hops, barley, water, yeast, he was a bold man. Those remember him as a visionary thinker and
philanthropist. He made a huge impact on
the community of Dublin, the people, and the business of Guinness. The tour included a private tasting of beer,
and later a pint of Guinness in their bar/lounge.
I
chose to go to “Guinness Academy” and learn how to pour my own Guinness. It’s quite the technique. The logo of Guinness is a harp, so on your
special Guinness glass you use the harp as a guide. You hold your glass at a 45* degree angle,
and pull forward on the tap. Let the
glass fill then slowly raise the glass up vertical and continue to fill the
glass until the beer reaches the bottom of the harp. Then you set it aside for a couple
minutes. Once the Guinness has set, and
you see the separation of the beer and the frothy foam on top, you can top off
your beer. So to do so, you push back on
the tap, and it releases beer at a slow amount.
Fill your glass to the very tip top, and set aside once again.
Once
the beer looks complete you can enjoy it.
There is a technique to drinking Guinness too.
You
want to drink your beer below the foam.
The goal is to have the foam at the bottom of your glass when your beer
is gone. The way to enjoy Guinness is to
take a mouth full, let it coat your mouth and tongue, and then swallow; all
while noticing the flavors that are in Guinness. Also, a pint of Guinness is like 160 calories
or something, so it’s less than like a glass of orange juice.
Following
the Guinness Storehouse tour, my new friends and I went and walked around
Trinity College. We went into the Old
Library, and it was so grand and gorgeous! It was like the library at Hogwarts
in Harry Potter. Perhaps it was
inspiration. The Library of Trinity
College Dublin is the largest library in Ireland and the library is the
permanent home to the famous Book of Kells.
Two of the four volumes are on public display, one opened to a major
decorated page and the other to a typical page of text. The Book of Kells is an illuminated
manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New
Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created in a Columban monastery in
Ireland or may have had contributions for various Columban institutions form
both Britain and Ireland; believed to be created in c. 800.
From
there we walked to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and that was beautiful too!
Friday
night we all enjoyed a farewell dinner at “The Merry Ploughboy Pub”. It was SO cool! We enjoyed traditional Irish
music and dance. Irish Step Dancing is a
form of dance that I still would love to learn.
The show also included a three course meal, and an included drink. Being there with all my new friends enforced
the feeling of how fast this has all gone.
We all said goodbye to each other and went back to the hotel.
A
group of us traveled with Contiki back to London. My roommate Kara and I, along with most of
the original London group traveled back together. We drove from Dublin to the port and took the
Ferry to Wales. From Wales we drove back
to London.
When
we got back everyone one so depressed.
Goodbyes suck. It was very hard
to say goodbye, because you were just with a group of people for 17 days,
24/7.
Let’s
reflect:
I
went into this very shy, but excited. I
immediately clicked with my roommate, and quickly made other friends too. I’m very grateful that this tour was a
positive experience. It has changed my
life. I can’t express how amazing the
tour was. It pushed me out of my comfort
zone, and it made me fall in love even more with the beautiful world we live
in.
I
didn’t expect to make lifelong friends, but I did. We all bonded over our love for travel. We bonded when we tacked the ropes course,
and we continued to bond as we all jumped into the freezing cold water of Loch
Ness. Our deep friendships were
solidified with the night of trivia and games following Loch Ness. It was wonderful, and I thank God for this
experience, for this adventure, for my new friends.
When
we all said our goodbyes and took those last photos, my emotions were very
raw. I was trying to fight back tears
and moments of utter sadness, and trying to focus on the memories, adventures,
and friendships that formed.
When
I walked into my hotel room…that’s when it hit me; that this was ending. I walked in and saw a single bed, in this
single person room. I was alone. Everyone had gone their own way, and were
either traveling on or flying home.
Before I left the drop off point, those staying around said, “We’re
doing dinner at the Royal National Pub at 7:30 PM”. I pushed the sad moments aside, and went to
dinner.
This
was the same place where we all went to dinner the first night we all met. The night before the tour started, just after
our welcome meeting. How everything has
come full circle. We were all sad…we all
tried to eat, but for me and a few other people, our appetites were just not
there. We were all depressed.
Once
we said our final goodbyes, we went our separate ways saying, “This isn’t goodbye,
but rather ‘see you later’”.
We
all look forward to when our paths will cross again, and we’ll get to see each other
again. Perhaps we will go on other
Contiki tours together. That’s something
I’m definitely thinking about.
Today
I woke up, showered, and made my way to the airport. I flew out of Gatwick Airport, and it was
very smooth today. No major crowds or
crazy security lines. I’m on the plane
now writing and I realize that this is my final “solo travel” entry.
What
a crazy ride this has been. There were a
few sad moments, but everything has been so amazing. All of the happy moments outweigh the
sad. My mind is filled with beautiful
sights, and experiences. Remembering all
the new foods I tried, all of the cultures I’ve seen, and all the laughter I’ve
had.
The
whole “world adventure” has been phenomenal.
I’m glad I decided to do this. I
definitely will again too.
Ian said it best, “I hope you guys travel again
soon an often. The greatest gift in life
that you can give yourself is the gift of travel; especially while you’re
young. So travel as often as you can and
life with NO REGRETS.”
I
truly see that I’ve changed for the better.
I want to take what I’ve learned about myself and continue to grow. There are still things to reflect on, that I
can’t put into words. All I know is that
I’m ready for the next chapter of my life.
Whatever that may be, I will continue to live my life with
#NoRegrets. I am now part of the Contiki
family, filled of people who love the world, to travel, love to explore, grow,
and live.
Until
next time, I better say, “goodbye”; not forever, but for now. Thank you for going on this World Adventure
with me.
I
love you. ~ Love, Jenn
