The summit kept its promise

We found where the rocks connect the ocean to the sky. And it is misty.

 

Seven of us took the train Wednesday to Howth, a port town on the edge of a peninsula northeast of Dublin. There, we walked through the main street of the city, past the east pier and around the bend to walk along the coastal road up the side of cliff that borders the sea.

(from left) Natalie, Rosemary, Mary, Shannon, Mike and Jason at the start of our hike around Howth.

We followed the road, beyond the cliff-side cottages and stately manors and past the Balscadden House where W.B. Yeats lived from 1880-1883. The plaque quotes Yeats: “I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”

Our hardy band taking a moment with Yeats.

So we continued to tread softly past Devil’s Rock, where the legend says St. Nessan threw Satan from the cliff. The Devil fell so hard he crashed through the rocks below and back to hell, leaving an imprint of his body.

This actually isn't Devil's Rock, but I didn't have a good picture of that. So you get a picture of this one instead.

We followed the trail past wild roses, thorn bushes, tar-black slugs and tourists. We hiked into a cloud, leaving our hair sopping and shiny. We could brush away the air in front of our faces. And with each meter we climbed, we got hungrier.

Rosemary and Natalie on the cliff's trail.

Still, we kept going up –  so seemingly far from civilization that all we could hear were the gulls and waves. Then the trail led us to a rock staircase so long and so steep that our legs burned.

Jason and Mike contemplate life's mysteries as they look out into the mist from the edge of the world.

And finally, when we couldn’t rise any higher, there was a pub. 

Group selfie from a cliff's edge. Yes, that green behind us is straight down.

Signs of the Day (tie)

On the trail: 

This makes not for what the sign says, but for what it has become. Sticker art? I'm not sure, actually.

At the Summit Pub: 

I can't remember if I've seen this at a European pub/restaurant before or not, but Jason spotted it, and we all laughed.

Tourist nerdishness yields new appreciation for certain old Brits

We have tried not to seem too much like tourists by avoiding the white "trainers" and adhering to proper Tube and pub etiquette. But at least for a day, we abandoned that and embraced our inner tourist nerdishness.

On Friday, we boarded a tour bus to three iconic English sites outside of London.

First stop: Windsor Castle


Windsor Castle in the morning. It was cold.

My biggest takeaway was that Prince Philip, 90, is more useful than I ever gave him credit. Truth be told, I guess I never thought much about him. But as we toured the state rooms of Windsor Castle, we saw on display some of the books he has written with such titles as A Question of Balance, Birds from Britania, and Down to Earth, in which I'm guessing he's not trying to be ironic.

But perhaps his most memorable contribution was a cool snapshot he took of two lizards sitting on a rock on the Galapagos Islands as one lizard has its arm around the other.

After looking at the various treasures, paintings and ornately-decorated rooms, we had to hustle out of the castle to make our bus on time. We weren't able to stay for the changing of the guard, but got a few quick snapshots on our brisk walk out.


Next stop: Bath

I wonder if the original entrance to the Roman Baths was so well marked?

Being American, it's odd to think of going from a country's east coast to the west coast in an hour and 40 minutes. But you can on this island.

The Roman Baths site was interesting to see and learn about, but the most amazing quality of the western city is its architecture. All the buildings are made with sandy colored bath stones or built with concrete and a bath stone facade, giving the city a uniform and warm gothic-Mediterranean feel.


Final stop: Stonehenge


Stonehenge in the late afternoon. It was cold.


This was the stop to which I was most looking forward. And it did not disappoint, although I would have liked to have had more than 40 minutes there.

What's most amazing is how many mysteries still surround the rocks, such as who built it, why they built it and how the heck the got 30 of those 25-ton stones from 20 miles away and the 4-ton blue stones from Wales - more than 250 miles from there.

Twelve hours later, we returned to London happy to have seen the sites we did and to get the tour bus experience, since you see so many of them in London. But Elizabeth and I were glad we only decided to do this type of activity once during our trip.

To see more snapshots from our daytrip, check out our slideshow:

Packing mishaps

Rick Steves said that no one regrets what they don't pack. I disagree.

After seven days in London, I admit -- I brought too much. But I also didn't bring the right stuff for London, which I guess is what happens when you go off a generic checklist that should work for any trip.

So for my Florida State Multimedia classmates who are arriving in London on Thursday, here's what I wish I knew beforehand:

• The weather here has been closer to a Midwestern September, in my opinion. Seventy-one degrees just isn't that warm when you're used to 95-degree days in July. I had to buy a fleece and a heavier jacket because it is too cold in just a cardigan and windbreaker. A sweatshirt might not be remiss either.
• Bring lots of things you can layer to adjust for changing temperatures during the day. It's cool in the morning and any time the clouds block the sun (and they often do).
• Women here seem to frequently wear blazers or medium-weight jackets at night. A denim jacket would be perfect, and I dreadfully miss the one hanging in my closet at home.
• Pants are definitely the way to go (shorts are for tourists, as Professor Everhart mentioned earlier). I haven't worn shorts at all, and have only worn capris once.
• Make sure your jackets are weatherproof. Windbreakers do OK in these English showers but it's better to have a heavier (even lined) raincoat.  

Perhaps it will warm up after you all arrive. But at the very least, make sure you have options to layer or be prepared to buy what you need when you arrive.



Me at the Roman Baths on Friday in Bath. It was rainy and cold most of the day. Clothing involved: T-shirt, long-sleeved T-shirt, fleece, scarf, lightweight raincoat. I wanted to buy gloves, but thought my husband might not agree to be seen with me.



Full disclosure: I am one of those people who wear jeans and sweaters to air-conditioned places in the summer because I think they're just too cold. So take my advice with that in mind.