And, we are almost off!

EurO’Gorman 2019

Well, it is almost time to get going again.  We are off on a night flight to Manchester on the 14th, where we are going to be doing some whirlwind visiting.  We have a B and B booked in Chester, a car rented  at the airport and plans made to meet with  a lot of people during our 2 day stay here.   Nieces, nephews, babies and  more! Breakfast is included at the B and B, ( yum English breakfast of bacon and sausages, baked beans , black puddings-too bad we are all dieting!)  and  it is just supposed to be a 20 minute walk in to Chester.  I’ve always liked Chester.  It  was an old Roman city, and it went through a lot of battles over the ages.  You’ll have to google if you are interested because I cannot really recall the history. Normans and Saxons were there I think.  Anyhow, you can walk on top of the  old Roman wall, and there are lots of old medieval buildings still around.  Chester Cathedral is a very impressive building in the main square.  There is  even a  walk in Wales called the Wales Coast Walk (WCW) that actually starts in Chester.  I wonder if I’ll see any people starting out.  It is not well marked, and quite a difficult walk, so not really popular.  People do little sections of it- it is not on my list this time!

After Chester, we drive to Liverpool airport and catch a flight to Cork, Ireland.  We’ll  grab another rental car in Cork  and do more visiting here, and stay in another B and B.  3 of Peter's nieces live here and lots more kids since the last time we visited in 2015.    Then a drive up to Kilkenny area where we stop to visit friends and overnight at their place.  We always stop at Laura and Mark's and it's fun to see how Jessica has changed there.  (See photos below )Then it’s on to Dublin, where we will drop off the car and find our airbnb where we will be for three nights.  It's near the Liffey river and a walkable part of town.  More people to meet like Mr. McCurdy and co,  and Lizanne who is driving down from Belfast to meet us. She was here   in San Francisco visiting with  her son Cian a few years ago , so it will be fun to see her again.  I am going to try to meet up with Margaret who I walked on the Camino with also. I’ve booked  a manicure for Jess and I at Topical Popical ( where Siorse Ronin the actress gets her nails done).  So, that will be something different to do.  Otherwise, Dublin may be a museum, shopping on Grafton street, and a visit out to hear some traditional music at night.

From Dublin we fly to London, race to dump our bags at a hotel in St. Pancras and then meet up with Jessica’s friend from school Chloe.  She is also visiting Europe with her family this summer.  We hope to meet them for Chinese food and then to see a musical called The Play that Goes Wrong  in West end.

Next day we are off  on the tube to Victoria station for an hour train ride out to Farnham.  We’ll meet my friend Chloe ( and her 6 year old and 2 year old).  I knew Chloe many years ago when she lived with her mom in London and I was working there .  It will be neat to see her all grown up with kids, I cannot believe she is in her 40’s now! Back to London for some sightseeing...

Last day in London shopping on Oxford Street, Harrods, and Hammersmith ( where I remember quite a nice pub on the Thames) and a  evening meet up with David from Winnipeg.  He is a Prof at University of  London now, and will just be getting back from a trip to Spain.  I don’t think he was there walking the Camino!  I think perhaps laying on a beach and glad the year is done.  We hope to fit in one more musical in London if we have time too!

From London it is an early morning train on the 25th to Amsterdam.  This is the Eurostar through the Chunnel  that previously just went directly to Paris.  It is a bit of a new route to Amsterdam.  Our hotel is 4 stops on the tram from  Amsterdam Central station and right in the heart of the city  near the museums.  No one seems keen on the Van Goghs or Rembrandt viewing.  So, we’ve decided to rewatch the film The Fault in Our Stars that was popular a few years ago.  It was set in Amsterdam.  We have downloaded a mini- tour and will be looking for that iconic bench in the movie.  Also, we found a free food tour- so maybe some waffles?

From Amsterdam a few hours on a train again  and we are in Paris near Gare du Lyon on 27th and 28th.  We’ll wander around the city for a few days and  hope for good weather! I found another free walking tour around the Latin Quarter so maybe this will fill up a day.

Then,  a train  ride to Zurich and an afternoon and a night eating chocolates on the 29th.  Not a lot of time in Switzerland, but maybe something fun will turn up.

An 8 hour train ride to Venice.  Should be through the mountains so quite pretty I think.  Booked a hotel   on the canal for a couple of days.  Maybe a gondola ride and some pizza!

Then a train to Florence on the west coast of Italy from June 2-5th.  We have an apartment here for 3 days, and I hope it is air conditioned!  One day visiting the  city and perhaps a bus trip the last day to Cinq-de Terre.  This is that beautiful place that appears in so many photos of  colourfully small towns set on the cliffs.  To get there you have to go via Pisa so perhaps we will see if it is still leaning!

The final day a train to Milan. Jessica has plans to meet Tommi, an Italian boy she went to school with for a few years. The painting of The Last Supper is in Milan, not sure if we want to brave the crowds to get there though!

Then it’s a flight home from Milan via Atlanta  to rest for a day before we are off to Canada.  I’m tired reading all of this… let’s hope it all works out!!

It's been 5 years since we visited Ireland-- everyone will have grown up quite a bit!