The SCOTS LAND...and the ORkNEyS

SO it has been a few days since I last updated the blog...but it is definitely not because I wasn't enjoying myself. Scotland is AWESOME!!! Before flying out of Galway...which was an experience on it's own....(Jessie doesn't like small planes much)....we decided to hire a car for two days and go exploring. Since I was the only one with driving experience on left side of the road, I was volunteered...and to be honest....i loved it. It was like being back in New Zealand all over again....well, besides the crazy right hand turn rule....thank god that doesnt exist here. Anyways, we spent the first afternoon cruising up the northwest coast outside of Galway, down some funky little dirty roads, onto some beautiful coral encrusted beaches, and to one the best fish and chips places I have ever been to. That night we visited a great local pub...well, we thought it was a local pub, until we realized it was just after college finals, and there was a dueling guitar performance going on...and yes, we decided to close down the bar. It was also the last night of a mate that we met from Killarney, and we had to send her off proper. The next morning, we awoke bright and early at 6am and headed for the Cliffs of Moher....which are spectacular. Luckily we got there super early and there were no tourists. We explored, hiked, took heaps of pictures, and right when the tour buses showed up...we got the heck out of dodge. WE got to the airport and right on time...flew from Galway, Ireland to Edinburgh Scotland....and I slept the whole way. After arriving in Edinburgh, we met up with some family friends who were nice enough to host and feed us for two days, and gave us a great tour of the local pubs, Edinburgh Castle, and the downtown streets of Edinburgh. After the wonderful tour, Jessie and I took off on a good 10 mile hike to the top of Arthur's Seat and throughout the streets of Edinburgh, which is a beautiful city.....and that is saying a lot, b/c I do not prefer cities much.
Anyways, after two days in Edinburgh we were ready for our next adventure. Due to the fact that hiring a car is much cheaper and way more convenient than figuring out the bus system...we decided to hire a car and go venture through the highlands of Scotland. We first stopped by Sterling, saw the Castle and the Wallace Monument....which were AWESOME...and then headed north into the highlands, past Lock Lomond and onward to Fort William. We stayed at a cute little bed and breakfast outside of Fort William, and then the next day headed north towards the northern tip of Scotland. Along the way, we stopped by a great distillery, tried the local drink and then finished our day in Thurso, which is just south of the Orkney Islands. Early this morning, we left Thurso and took the ferry to the Orkney Islands, which is my new northern hemisphere's mystical destination. We hired bikes today and spent the day coasting along the countryside, visiting the neolithic inhabitant's standing stone circles, which are approx. 5,500 years old...way older than Stonehendge. This place is not only mystical....but the energy here is like no othere. After our wodnerful bike ride, we came back to the little town of Stromness...where we got some grub, and went and ate our sandwiches and biscuits, over looking a seal colony, the Stromness Harbor, and the North Sea. So far, the trip has been phenomenal and I can only wait for more of the adventures to come. I have rambled on long enough for now...but I hope everyone's summer is filled with heaps of fun, sunshine, and plenty of adventures....equal but different to my own. Until next time.... Cheers to ALL and much Love from Scotland!

All beautiful on the Western Front...

So after getting settled in Dublin and spending a few days touring the city, as well as the Guinness Brewery...of course...we then cruised out to the southwest to a beautiful area called Kerry. We stayed two nights in a wonderful town called Killarney, where we biked through the national park, saw the Killarney Castle, biked by the pristine lakes, and the gorgeous waterfalls. After a great bike ride and a wonderful dinner, we sat down for a few pints and some traditional, live Irish music. The following day we took a leisurely tour of the Ring of Kerry, which was phenomenal. The first half of the trip we cruised around the tour, admiring the Dingle Bay and it's beautiful penninsula. Then toured the mountains, lakes, and rivers of the Kerry coast. That night we had a relaxing dinner and of course...a few more pints at a small, home-style pub, with awesome music. We also met up with some really nice travelers from France and Canada, where we shared plenty of laughs and got some great advice about further travels through Europe.
After a morning bus ride north, we have landed in an awesome little college town of Galway, where we plan on checking out the sites and a few pubs for the night and next day....followed by a flight to Edinburgh, Scotland tomorrow afternoon...to meet up with some mates of mine from New Zealand. Im stoked to see some old friends and to tour some more castles and sites of Scotland. So far things are going great, and Im stoked for the future adventures. I hope all is well back home and heres to all of you....
CHEERS...with a Guinness pint in hand.

We made it safe to Dublin. Now it's time for a Guinness!

The countdown....

7 days left and counting....EUrope here I come.