SHIRO GOES TO EURO

So like all good plans....this blog has been rather quiet and fallen by the wayside as I've been off gallivanting around the UK! It's been easy getting internet access in the hostels, but not as easy convincing myself to stay put and take precious time to update. But I'm going to catch up now! Fresh start for June!

I left Ireland for the UK, catching a ferry into Holyhead, Wales. One thing to be said about Ireland is directions can be somewhat misleading...I discovered this after hiking about 3 miles with my very heavy pack and getting lost when the footpath to the ferry suddenly ended with no explanation and I had to hike down a backside warehouse street with the trucks to reach the ferry. Luckily for me I was the last person they admitted before taking off!

After taking the night train in Wales to England, my first stop was Blackpool to visit Jada. Blackpool is a big summer recreational town situated on the northwest coast of England. I would best describe it as Coney Island meets Las Vegas. Jada and her husband Will were the best hosts ever showing me a real slice of English life and a much needed stay at a real home.

From there it was a brief visit to Preston (not the USA Preston) where I discovered that Starbucks is alive and flourishing well in the UK. Funny though, they serve you in a dine-in mug unless you ask for a take-out cup.

Next I went to Sheffield to visit Anna, a good friend (from Washington State) who is attending university there. Sheffield is in the center/north of England. Anna is sampling streams there as part of her work. There is a lovely picture of me in hip-waders when I went along with Anna to one of her sites. I was surprised at how dirty some of the streams are (they look so pristine).

From Sheffield it was on to Scotland. But getting there proved difficult and due to missed trains and bad bus schedules it took me two days longer to get up there. While I was waiting for the buses to work out, I did get a chance to see York, which I highly recommend seeing if you are in England. York was settled on top of the ancient Viking city of Jorvik (settled around 900AD). The "new" city of York has the ruins of a castle, a beautiful stone wall surround the city, and an abbey called Westminster. An absolutely beautiful and very medieval looking town.

Once I finally got to Scotland, the weather took a turn. I was due for it. I had all sunny days in England and Ireland (except for that one foggy day at Skellig). It turned out to rain the whole time I was in Scotland, but the people surely made up for the weather. They were some of the nicest and most friendly people I have met. As for Loch Ness, alas I did not see Nessie in the still waters. I did see some castle ruins though.

Edinburgh is a great city and I decided to do a round-trip flight to Europe from there so that could come back at the end of my trip and explore it some more. How I wish I had more time for everything. I keep meeting people who have been traveling for 6 months or a year and am amazed and envious of them.