Thanks for this beautiful story. I've never been abroad. Recently, I decided it has to happen, and soon, so I've begun to plan. Hoping to go with my husband and kids.
I went alone to Ireland back in 2003. I was hunting faeries, chasing traditional music, and visiting megalithic stones structures. It was glorious and uplifting but also grounding. My fantasy Ireland became a real place filled with real people. Thank you for the lovely reminder!
This sounds absolutely wonderful, Susan! One of our tour friends said her sister had done a goddess tour of the west and that sounded pretty great to me, too.
My sister and I planned and thoroughly enjoyed what we’ve since dubbed our “epic sister trip” in 2022. While we traveled together as children and took a number of trips as adults that included family, this was our inaugural overseas journey as a twosome. She’s my only sibling and very fortunately we are happy in each other’s company. Together we explored our roots across England, traveling from Cambridgeshire to London to Devon, then beyond to Cornwall. It was tremendous and we are already talking about our next adventure. 😊👍🏻
All those Ireland ads must be paying off, because everyone seems to be going there. I always dreamed of going to Ireland, but the closest I have come is discovering Irish music, particularly a dreamy group called Onoir. Four handsome young guys, and one of them with a voice that cuts right into my heart (When You Were Sweet Sixteen is a great intro). I feel like I did when us girls had our favorite Beatles member. Still trying to ramp up for travel post-covid. 😍
I'm not sure I've seen the ads for Ireland, but it was one of my sisters's dream trip, which is why we chose it. Irish music is a delight, and we did hear a lot of it in pubs.
I'd have to say my week in Paris, France, September 2019, would be my gift to my teenaged self. That, and moving to Boston, where I always wanted to live (and where I wish I'd stayed).
What a lovely trip, Barbara! I'm glad all of you went.
My husband loves traveling and I am a homebody. For our 70th birthdays and 50th anniversary he talked me into taking a trip to Scotland to see the country and look up places where my ancestors had lived. We found the church where my many-great grandparents were married near Dalkeith and then just toured the country. I loved the sheep and the accents most of all. So glad we went.
I'm so glad you ventured out of your comfort zone to take the trip. What a rich moment to find the place where your ggrandparents were married. I love the sheep, too. And who doesn't love a Scottish accent? :) Or Irish, for that matter.
I enjoyed traveling vicariously with you in this post, Barbara. Go you on getting so much set up via the fledgling internet for your first Ireland trip. I am not a good traveler anymore, as my travel anxiety-heck, all of my anxiety-has increased these past few years. At the top of my dream travel list, however, is Ireland. My Dad's parents both came over from there to NY and he was first generation. My father was teaching himself Gaelic before he passed in 2001. I am happy that my parents both made it over there while I was away at college in 1983. One of my sisters plans to travel to Ireland next Spring and your sharing about your adventures with your sisters made me pause and ponder the possibility, ever so briefly. Thanks for all of that.
I love traveling in Ireland! One of my favorite countries to visit in Europe, especially the west coast. Happy to read that you could travel with your sisters. As I have lived in Sweden for 36 years, I have been able to travel often with my parents as they were clever enough to bring each of their 9 grandchildren individually to Sweden, and then we visited another country within Europe. Joy filled memories!
The Hubster and I toured the British Isles for our 50th anniversary, in 2019. We had wonderful guides in London, Ireland, and Scotland. We did see Fungi. And the Cliffs of Moher, and castles and distilleries, and so much of the countryside. And sheep. And food. I turned that trip into a novel.
Everything is. About to publish a book set against our European Christmas Market tour last December, and am starting to write one set in Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands we took in August.
The country that called to my soul was Scotland. Perhaps I had lived there in a previous life, as I have no other way to explain the tremendous pull that country had on me even before I had been there. I did the same thing you did. I made a plan, rented a car and spent three weeks touring around Scotland on my own. I will never forget the joy that trip, even with all the other travels that I have been on.
I love your story so glad you had the gift of sharing that time with your sisters.
It sounds like a wonderful trip, actually, the earlier one sounded wonderful as well. I laughed when I read about Fungie the dolphin in Dingle Bay. He was there when I went in the fall of 2019, and his behavior made me wonder if he was tired of the tourist game. On the boat trip I took to see him, the captain did everything but cartwheels to get him to show himself, though he never did. Instead, he hid just beneath the surface and followed us. I happened to sit in one of the few seats where I could see him perfectly as he played with the humans wanting him to perform. Instead, they performed for him!
Your questions have me thinking of the many trips I’ve taken over the years, and how so many of them were life-changing - some in small ways, some in larger ways. I can’t honestly recall any trip that didn’t have significant moments of magic or serendipity. I treasure those.
Now I think about it, I saw him only a few months before he disappeared during the pandemic - was it me? 😳 Mmmm, I don’t think I have quite that much influence on the universe or even Fungie. He was definitely a character.
I found Dingle the happiest place I’ve ever been, which I know is a pretty broad statement. It was a mix of tourists, locals, and incomers ((folks from other places who’d moved there), and somehow that mix created the happiest energy. I don’t know if you found it that way or not - everyone’s experience is different…
Thanks for this beautiful story. I've never been abroad. Recently, I decided it has to happen, and soon, so I've begun to plan. Hoping to go with my husband and kids.
Wonderful plan!
I went alone to Ireland back in 2003. I was hunting faeries, chasing traditional music, and visiting megalithic stones structures. It was glorious and uplifting but also grounding. My fantasy Ireland became a real place filled with real people. Thank you for the lovely reminder!
This sounds absolutely wonderful, Susan! One of our tour friends said her sister had done a goddess tour of the west and that sounded pretty great to me, too.
What a treasure to be able to share this trip with your sisters. I will think of you all in June when I go. Thank you for sharing.
It really was a special trip for us. Enjoy your sojurn!
My sister and I planned and thoroughly enjoyed what we’ve since dubbed our “epic sister trip” in 2022. While we traveled together as children and took a number of trips as adults that included family, this was our inaugural overseas journey as a twosome. She’s my only sibling and very fortunately we are happy in each other’s company. Together we explored our roots across England, traveling from Cambridgeshire to London to Devon, then beyond to Cornwall. It was tremendous and we are already talking about our next adventure. 😊👍🏻
So bonding, right?
Absolutely! 😊
All those Ireland ads must be paying off, because everyone seems to be going there. I always dreamed of going to Ireland, but the closest I have come is discovering Irish music, particularly a dreamy group called Onoir. Four handsome young guys, and one of them with a voice that cuts right into my heart (When You Were Sweet Sixteen is a great intro). I feel like I did when us girls had our favorite Beatles member. Still trying to ramp up for travel post-covid. 😍
I'm not sure I've seen the ads for Ireland, but it was one of my sisters's dream trip, which is why we chose it. Irish music is a delight, and we did hear a lot of it in pubs.
I'd have to say my week in Paris, France, September 2019, would be my gift to my teenaged self. That, and moving to Boston, where I always wanted to live (and where I wish I'd stayed).
What a lovely trip, Barbara! I'm glad all of you went.
A week in Paris is a pretty great gift, Sharona.
My husband loves traveling and I am a homebody. For our 70th birthdays and 50th anniversary he talked me into taking a trip to Scotland to see the country and look up places where my ancestors had lived. We found the church where my many-great grandparents were married near Dalkeith and then just toured the country. I loved the sheep and the accents most of all. So glad we went.
I'm so glad you ventured out of your comfort zone to take the trip. What a rich moment to find the place where your ggrandparents were married. I love the sheep, too. And who doesn't love a Scottish accent? :) Or Irish, for that matter.
I enjoyed traveling vicariously with you in this post, Barbara. Go you on getting so much set up via the fledgling internet for your first Ireland trip. I am not a good traveler anymore, as my travel anxiety-heck, all of my anxiety-has increased these past few years. At the top of my dream travel list, however, is Ireland. My Dad's parents both came over from there to NY and he was first generation. My father was teaching himself Gaelic before he passed in 2001. I am happy that my parents both made it over there while I was away at college in 1983. One of my sisters plans to travel to Ireland next Spring and your sharing about your adventures with your sisters made me pause and ponder the possibility, ever so briefly. Thanks for all of that.
I remembered that you had serious Irish connections, Rosemary. I'm glad your father got to go, too, and that he was learning Gaelic! Intense language!
I love traveling in Ireland! One of my favorite countries to visit in Europe, especially the west coast. Happy to read that you could travel with your sisters. As I have lived in Sweden for 36 years, I have been able to travel often with my parents as they were clever enough to bring each of their 9 grandchildren individually to Sweden, and then we visited another country within Europe. Joy filled memories!
That was very clever of your parents! It's so much easier to explore Europe from Europe, and worth every second.
The Hubster and I toured the British Isles for our 50th anniversary, in 2019. We had wonderful guides in London, Ireland, and Scotland. We did see Fungi. And the Cliffs of Moher, and castles and distilleries, and so much of the countryside. And sheep. And food. I turned that trip into a novel.
It's all material, right?
Everything is. About to publish a book set against our European Christmas Market tour last December, and am starting to write one set in Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands we took in August.
The country that called to my soul was Scotland. Perhaps I had lived there in a previous life, as I have no other way to explain the tremendous pull that country had on me even before I had been there. I did the same thing you did. I made a plan, rented a car and spent three weeks touring around Scotland on my own. I will never forget the joy that trip, even with all the other travels that I have been on.
I love your story so glad you had the gift of sharing that time with your sisters.
It sounds like a wonderful trip, actually, the earlier one sounded wonderful as well. I laughed when I read about Fungie the dolphin in Dingle Bay. He was there when I went in the fall of 2019, and his behavior made me wonder if he was tired of the tourist game. On the boat trip I took to see him, the captain did everything but cartwheels to get him to show himself, though he never did. Instead, he hid just beneath the surface and followed us. I happened to sit in one of the few seats where I could see him perfectly as he played with the humans wanting him to perform. Instead, they performed for him!
Your questions have me thinking of the many trips I’ve taken over the years, and how so many of them were life-changing - some in small ways, some in larger ways. I can’t honestly recall any trip that didn’t have significant moments of magic or serendipity. I treasure those.
Thanks for sharing yours…
How funny that you saw Fungie, too. He made quite an impression on my then young teens.
And yes, every trip has some magic in it.
Now I think about it, I saw him only a few months before he disappeared during the pandemic - was it me? 😳 Mmmm, I don’t think I have quite that much influence on the universe or even Fungie. He was definitely a character.
I found Dingle the happiest place I’ve ever been, which I know is a pretty broad statement. It was a mix of tourists, locals, and incomers ((folks from other places who’d moved there), and somehow that mix created the happiest energy. I don’t know if you found it that way or not - everyone’s experience is different…