Post-J'ville-Meeting Edition

Issue #16…After the 1st Meeting of the Clan.....

If you're approached by a pickpocket in Dublin, this may be what he looks like:

The Secretary’s Report of Our First Meeting…

How shall I say this? After meeting most of our group today, I’d venture that everywhere we go, they’ll know we’ve been there. What a delightful beginning! Thanks to those who were able to make it and to those of you who had to be absent, sorry we didn’t get to meet you. Special apologies to Doug Bradbury who I had on the line for an hour and didn’t give him a chance to talk.

For those of you who were not among us on Sunday, we introduced ourselves (and I could tell from that point on that we were “a group to be reckoned with”). Travis came in a bit later with bruises all over his delicate body after leading his ISD students through the paint ball wars, and Tom Ryder sauntered in just in time to eat…the master of timing.

We then ran through the daily itinerary, especially noting and discussing the various optional excursions. Everyone must sign up individually for these online at our Passports.com website, or by using the order form you received in the mail. If you have trouble with any aspect of this, please let me know.

After enjoying Nancy and Keith’s bounty of cookies and drinks, we adjourned to the north room to sup and chat…from the laughter level, I’d say that we were “well met,” as Shakespeare would put it.

Peg and Janet just before Tom's carefully-timed meal arrival

Some developments as a result of our meeting:

Keith reported that although the dollar is down, it doesn’t seem to be sinking lower lately…AND…he has offered to order British pounds and/or Irish Euros for anyone who wants them from his bank office. Of course you are welcome to contact your own banker, but if you’d like Keith to do it for you, please contact him at bradbury@franklinbank.net or by calling him during banking hours at 217 675-2311. Keith isn’t sure yet about the service charge, but he’ll pro-rate it. To make things easier for Keith, it’d be good for us all to get our orders to by MAY 1^ST. Sound fair? Again, feel free to use your own facilities if you like. I’m sure the price is the same everywhere.

So now you’re asking.. How much? My advice is to simply get “start up money,” …enough to get by on until you hit a bank or an ATM machine. So…I’d advise getting 40 bucks each of British pounds and Euros. Just an idea.

Also, since there will be so many of us traveling down from the Jacksonville/Springfield area, Keith’s investigating some sort of group transport. The cost may be prohibitive but parking and fuel may be equally shocking by mid-summer. Again…just an idea we’re exploring.

Funny...Only 1 even looks Irish!

Other highlights/sidelights of the meeting…. It sounds like Erich Nobis was officially adopted by Bonnie (the cane lady) who’s hired him as a full-time luggage-toter. Her last words upon leaving.. “Remember, Erich! I’ve got you!” (And if you’re of the praying persuasion, Bonnie gets a new knee Thursday. We’re hoping for a green one to match the landscape around Killarney) … Did you ever see three such delightful greeters? (Okay Bill, you were sort of delightful, too.) …I learned from eating with the Ryders that Peg is making the decisions on this trip. …. Tom claims that he and Bob Chipman are rooming together…. I enjoyed hearing of Stephan Vicari’s return to Sicily a few years ago….. Janet Long behaved for an entire meeting. We’ll see how long this lasts when she’d been around Rhonda for a week….. Travis bruises……. Yes, it’s true. I designed Y Nhu’s outfit for Sunday. ……

Why do I have a feeling that this will be the group that'll take the most watching?

Ahhhhh…….

According to USA Today, the National Security Administration is testing new security procedures at the Washington D.C. airport and if they’re successful they’ll be used by airports throughout the nation. To promote a calmer and more peaceful atmosphere, the security area will be bathed in more soothing light and soft music will be playing. They’re trying to create a more relaxing experience for travelers (and they hope that terrorists will stand out more starkly in a calm environment.) They have new scanning machines for passengers whom they pick out of the line for a body-check. You’ll be scanned privately in another room (x-ray) then the scan will be destroyed. Dern… there go some great chances for a vacation souvenir.

Rhonda: I ain't totin' your luggage, Janet.

JANET: You owe me, babe.

Bits to Keep in Mind:

---May 1^st deadline for getting your orders to Keith if you’d like him to order your cash.

---We’ll be looking at dates, probably in June and during the week for another meeting of the clan.

---7-10 days before departure you’ll be hearing from me about flight times.

---A couple of you went home and got online to book your optional excursions. A reminder: our username and password to enter the site are

KBRADBURY

Triopia

Happy booking!

---Ken

Sheik Stephen and his harem. .....

Issue #15…

The Meeting of the Clan

Sunday, April 6, 4 p.m.

So far, everyone local who has responded has answered with a “Yes” to our meeting. Four of our far-flung travelers won’t be there, but I promise to bring you up to date. We’ll meet, greet, get to know each other a bit, then we’ll go over such things as rooming assignments, optional excursions, and I’ll do my best to answer your questions.

Please consider this a casual-dress affair..sort of a warm-up for traveling. I’ll have someone just inside the front door of the Country Club to direct you toward the Brit-Bound crew. Don’t tip them, they’ll just get spoiled.

Our hosts for the meeting: Keith and Nancy:

(They took this cruise on a Peoria Riverboat to see if Keith could tolerate moving over water.)

Bags..Bags…Bags (And Apples)

Most people have neglected the art of packing lightly. The airlines know this and are doing their best to make money off our excess. Yes, there are fuel-cost issues, but it’s mainly a way to make some more bucks. Until we get our plane tickets we won’t know which airline(s) we’re using, and since the restrictions vary from carrier to carrier, we know nothing specific at this time. HOWEVER.. many airlines who used to allow up to a 70 lb. bag without paying overage are now allowing only 50 pounds with a 100 lb. total for two bags.

A Few of Packing Tips

[Bring your oldest clothing and leave the duds in Europe. We’ll make a pact. I won’t tell anyone back in Jacksonville what you wore if you don’t tell on me.

[Create a packing list. The very act of putting things on paper will help you see what you’re missing, and will keep you from throwing in unnecessary items.

[Never, never, never, never, never pack your passport in your luggage.

[If you take medication, either bring a spare prescription, or an extra dose (packed in a separate place from your original.)

[A couple of non-wrinkle tips: put dry cleaner bags between your garments, and spread those drier non-lint thingies like Bounce all over your luggage. They prevent wrinkles and give your clothes a fresh smell when unpacking.

[The perfect toiletries bag: The soft-sided lunchbox.

[A small laundry kit would be a good idea.

[How about a packet of Clorox wipes? Don’t let your European adventure be hampered by a foreign-borne cold.

[Got an extra pair of glasses? Dentures?

[Many new digital cameras come without carrying cases. A toddler’s sock is perfect…You’ll be the talk of the pub as you pull out your baby sock to snap a shot.

[The tip to light-weight packing? ACCESSORIZE!

[Music is a great souvenir. The typical CD of local music takes up very little space in your luggage.

[This from a Chicago-area airline pilot, “The best way to avoid ear-popping upon arrival and departure is to pack an apple. Take out your apple about 25 minutes before the plane lands and begin eating. The act of chewing and swallowing will help keep your ear passages clear. I always take 3 with me on every flight and I have my flight attendants give apples to passengers who are concerned about the fluctuations in air pressure.”

[I expect the Transportation Security Administration to come out with a revised no-no list for the summer, but I’ve not seen it yet.

[If you intend to send postcards home, it’s just a dandy idea to take pre-addressed labels with you. Remember: every minute saved in Europe is a minute you could be out sticking your feet in the river Avon.

Above all! Please assume that we will NOT BE INVITED to a garden party with the Queen. There is practically nothing you can leave at home that you cannot purchase once you get there. Do not bring the drug store! A light suitcase means spiritual freedom! And remember: a heavy suitcase only gets heavier as the trip progresses.

Hiding Your Valuables…

Here’s a site selling under-the-clothing money belts, regular “belt” money belts, around the neck money holders, the type that attach to your leg, bra thingies, and even socks that zipper up to carry your passport.

http://www.letravelstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?screen=CTGY&Store_Code=T&category_code=MB

This comes from LeTravel Store. They have everything imaginable for travel including good travel tips. They also sell electric convertors online as well as a bunch of pretty unique travel items like a combination travel clock/money convertor, a way to carry soap in your purse, a traveling wine glass (at last!), collapsible toothbrushes, quick-drying clothing, those cool pants that unzip at the leg to become shorts, travel vests, underwear with secret compartments, plus those cool vacuum thingies that suck your clothing down to zip-lock size to take up less space.

And by the way, if you’re an Amazon.com aficionado like me, you’ll find many of the same items there at cheaper prices. ..convertors, neck wallets, and collapsible dog bowls. Just type in “travel supplies.”

Not to Dwell on the Negative, But….

Here are a few of the biggest mistakes I’ve known my fellow travelers to make:

Buying new shoes before departure then “breaking them in” on tour. It hurts.

Buying a new camera for the trip, then spend the first week trying to figure out how the darned thing works.

Spending the entire trip calling home.

And probably the single-biggest tourist error: becoming flustered when a new country is not a large-scale version of your own living room, restaurant, and yard. Hey! We’re traveling to see different things, right?

Getting Around …

I know..I know…we’ll just learn to master one mode of transportation on this trip then we’ll have to learn another…The rule of thumb: Be adventurous and be careful.

Keep in mind: Much of our trip will be by escorted coach and we’ll be all together. However, during your free time you might want to take advantage of local public transportation to make best use of your time. Our courier…the person traveling with us… will be our main source of information on how to get around…But here’s a bit of a heads-up on each of the places where we’ll be spending the night:

Killarney: This one’s easy because Killarney has no public transport. It’s a pretty small town. Your feet will be your major means of transportation.

Dublin: As in most cities, it’s wise to ask the cost of the fare before you get into the cab. It helps keep everyone honest. Dublin also has a bus service which I’ve never bothered to figure out. I do know that you can pay on the bus but you need to use coins only.

Edinburgh: Although the population is less than half a million, the city seems much larger. However….most of the sights are in the City Centre and within walking distance. In Edinburgh the taxis are called “The Black Cabs” and their rates are as reasonable as anywhere else in Europe. Again, ask about the fee before you get in. They hold up to five people and of course the charge is based upon distance traveled and the number of riders. If you travel at night, it’s best to call a cab. If you see that the cab has its yellow “For Hire” light on, then simply flag it down. Heck, it’s fun.

Edinburgh has two bus companies: the LRT uses white and maroon double-decker buses and First Edinburgh uses green and white buses. They also operate so-called “Barbie” busses (pink and white) which are best for families with small kids or folks who have trouble getting around.

York: York's major sights are within a mere 20-minute walk of each other, but if you're footsore you can hop on a First York local bus and buy an off-peak day pass for under 2.00. Bicycles can be hired at the train station, and you shouldn't find it too hard to hire a taxi if you have to.

Stratford: Another easy-walking city with everything located near the city center. Since we’re opting for a night of theatre in London instead of Stratford, you may want to find something to do at this stop. The little town does have a taxi service and the taxis also rent out for city tours. Another option: a horse-drawn tour of the city.

London: Where do we start? My preferred method of travel is the Tube (which we’d call a subway, but remember: in England a “subway” is an underground walking passageway). Also: the double-decker busses, the city busses, taxis everywhere, and lots of walking. Since I’ve visited London they’ve come up with something called the “Oyster” card. This is sort of a pre-paid travel card which you use to buy Tube and Bus passes. I hear it’s a good deal, but we’ll have to find out a bit more about it.

It looks as if the “Travel Card” offered in our list of options might be the right way to go on this. I do know that the slowest way to use the Tube is to pay for each trip individually.

As I’ve stated before, I like the Tube because it’s nearly impossible to get lost as long as you remember the name of the station nearest our hotel.

A New, Hot London Guidebook…

Ideo Eyes Open: London by Fred Dust and Ideo (Chronicle Books), recently $16 at Amazon.com. (Promises to steer you away from the touristy places and toward the spots where locals hang out.)

A Bit More Info/Advice on the Optional Tours…

I’ve been trying to browse around the various travel websites to find information/reviews on the options offered. Here’s a scrambling of what I’ve learned:

---The Abbey Tavern Dinner Upgrade seems to get generally good reviews, both for the food and the show. And the price Passports offers seems to be in line with what you’d pay at the door.

---I can’t find any reviews on the “Mystery Tour” but the price quoted online is exactly what you’d pay on your own.

---Riverdance in Dublin. This is the 12^th year the show’s played there so it must be a hit. The price range online is from $50 to $110. Of course I don’t know where we’ll be seated for our $60. But frankly, where could you see Riverdance in a more authentic setting? Here’s a YouTube video of part of the Dublin show: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mD5lFbvy3ek&feature=related

---Loch Lomand and the Trossachs full-day tour. Here’s the website: http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org

---The Windsor Castle website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page557.asp

--The Hampton Court Website: http://www.hamptoncourt.org.uk

---The Beefeater Medieval Banquet Upgrade. Frankly, the reviews for this event are all over the place. I guess you pays your money and takes your chances (or not). And remember, since our night of theatre is now in London instead of Stratford, this may automatically preclude another evening out.

---The London Eye. I’ve never done it, and I wanna! Reviews from travelers: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-reviews-2798387-prod-travelguide-action-read-ratings_and_reviews-i

---Thames River Cruise. A good price and a nice tour. ..but it does take a few hours.

From Fellow Traveler Tammy Winters…. .
I’d heard pieces of this story over the years, but Tammy sent along the official version.. Thanks, Tammy.

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman.

'You saved my son's life.'
'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.
'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.
'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord

Randolph Churchill. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

A Delightful Surprise…

I was talking this week with Kathy Bernard, our tour coordinator, and asked her when we’d know which London show we’ll be seeing. She said, “I don’t know. Which show would you like to see?”

Huh? Most tour companies assign the show and the travelers have no input.

She said to send me a couple of choices and the tour company can usually get first or second choice…Wow! I’m drooling!

And a Final Message from Tammy..

An Irish Blessing…

May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Me with my biggest catch of the spring.

Pre-Easter Issue, March 19th

Issue #14…

Our Meeting is Fast Approaching!

Most of you have responded in regard to the April 6^th gathering of the clan. Thanks! For those of you who have yet to let me know about your attendance and whether you’ll be staying to eat, please do so. Just come to the front door of the Jacksonville Country Club and I’ll have my delightful leprechauns there to guide you to the proper room. (Be nice to the leprechauns…they’ll be traveling with us.)

Another great website to tempt your traveling tastes….

(From one of our fellow travelers, Adelle Burrus)

http://www.e-water.net/viewflash.php?flash=irishblessing_en

(I may have sent this to you in a previous email…No matter, it’s worth a second look.)

Worth a Wee Peek…..

A good all-inclusive site for what’s happening, what’s to see, and what’s to do in Ireland. It’s updated more frequently than most Ireland sites and worth a look:

Discoverireland.com

It has an especially good drop-down menu on the right-hand side, allowing you to search Ireland by county, area, city, then by your individual pursuits. Unlike many of those frustrating websites that are set up then seldom maintained, this one is current…for example, it lists the plays that’ll be at the Abbey Theatre while we’re in Dublin.

Several of you have commented on seeing Anthony Bordain’s show on Ireland…he’s the caustic food and travel critic on the Food Network. Also, I hope you caught Frank McCourt’s tour of the Pub’s of Dublin on PBS. I think Frank drank a wee dram at each stop as he speech seemed to slow toward the end. (He’s the author of Angela’s Ashes.)

Seeking Contributions!

So… Have you read anything good that I might be able to share with our group via this newsletter? Fiction? Travel? Stumbled upon a website that might be of benefit to the rest of us?

Two of you recently told me that you’ve enjoyed McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes. I’m currently reading An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor…a Book-of-the-Month club winner.

Some Miscellany…

Although I’m sure we’ll be reminded by our tour guides, it’s good to plant firmly in your mind that there are TWO Irelands… The Republic of Ireland (in which we’ll be traveling) and Northern Ireland. It may seem all the same to us, but to an Irishman, there’s still a big difference.

The good news: There’s only one Scotland. (But never…NEVER… call an Irishman or a Scot “British.” The spirit of Braveheart is very much alive and well.

And on the Lighter Side…

(From fellow journeyer, Tammy Winters…I love this one)

Two men were sitting next to each other at a bar.

After a while, one guy looks at the other and says,

"I can't help but

think, from listening to you, that you're from Ireland "

The other guy responds proudly, "Yes, that I am"

The first guy says, "So am I

And where about from Ireland might you be?"

The other guy answers, "I'm from Dublin , I am."

The first guy responds, and so am I "Sure and begora,

And what street did you live on in Dublin ?"

The other guy says,

"A lovely little area it was, I lived on McCleary

Street in the old central part of town."

The first guy says, "Faith & it's a small world, so did I.

So did I. And to what school would you have been going?"

The other guy answers, "Well now, I went to St. Mary's of course."

The first guy gets really excited and says, "And so did I.

Tell me, what year did you graduate?"

The other guy answers,

"Well, now, let's see, I graduated in 1964."

The first guy exclaims, "The Good Lord must be smiling down upon us!

I can hardly believe our good luck at winding up in the same bar tonight.

Can you believe it, I graduated from St. Mary's in 1964 my own self."

About this time, Vicky walks into the bar, sits down, and orders a beer.

Brian, the bartender, walks over to Vicky, shaking his head & mutters,

"It's going to be a long night tonight"

Vicky asks, "Why do you say that, Brian?"

"The O'Connor twins are drunk again."

And I’d Love to Pass Along …

….the joke Anne Wildrick sent me about the fellow running into a Lephrichan on the golf course, but she’d better tell that one privately ... and quietly.

And If I Might Share With You…

Certainly one of my nicest pre-departure moments so far occurred just a few days ago when college boy and fellow traveler Nick Stephens stopped in for a chat. He was hugely spiffed up with shirt and tie, just back from what we think was a very successful interview for an engineering apprenticeship for the summer.

I asked Nick if he was excited about the trip overseas…He smiled, took a breath, then leaned back in his chair… “Yeah, yeah I am so excited about that.”

I was brief, but it said it all. You’re gonna like this kid…and all the “kids” heading across the Atlantic with us on July 3^rd.

According to the Number of Tourist Visits….

Here are the top ten most-visited places in Dublin:

· Guinness Storehouse

· Trinity College Dublin and The Book of Kells

· Dublinia

· Temple Bar

· Kilmainham Gaol

· The Old Jameson Distillery

· Dublin Castle

· National Gallery of Ireland

· St. Stephen's Green

· Christchurch Cathedral

Okay, so the Guinness clan beat out the churches by several points…remember: ‘tis Ireland.

And the Top Ten of Edinburgh

(although this is from various tourist sites and don’t reflect an actual count)

--Edinburgh Castle

--The National Gallery of Scotland

--Our Dynamic Earth

--The Palace of Holyroodhouse

--Rosslyn Chapel

--The Royal Yacht Britannia

--Scottish Seabird Center

--Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

--Scotch Whiskey Heritage Center

And..According to the Numbers…

The most visited sites in London:

British Museum

Tate Modern

National Gallery

Natural History Museum

The London Eye

Science Museum

The Victoria & Albert Museum

Madame Tussauds

The Tower of London

National Maritime Museum

Safety…Safety…Safety

Nothing can ruin a vacation like losing your valuables. Yep, our groups have been pick-pocketed occasionally, but in general, we’ve done pretty well. Why? Because we’ve traveled PREPARED. (From "Travel Ireland" .. Your chances of being the victim of a pickpocket in the tourist areas of Dublin are 1 in 6.)

Stories come to mind… a lady traveling with us (but not a member of our group) who had her purse taken in Rome and spent the next three days trying to get her papers straightened out (while the rest of the group toured Rome).. She’d put her passport, her plane tickets, her credit cards and all her cash in her purse then slung it over her arm…Duh! It was a mess.

Our little girl from Griggsville who was carrying her purse in a Paris metro (subway) with (again) all her valuables. We caught the thief while he was still in our car, but it was a trauma that followed the girl throughout the entire trip.

We’ll be traveling to the tourist areas and that’s exactly where the pickpockets will be. No, the residents of Dublin and Edinburgh and London are not more evil than we are…we have the same problems in our larger cities.

The key to theft-prevention.. Travel prepared, travel carefully, and don’t travel frightened.

I urge..I beg..I plead with all of you to investigate and then purchase either a pouch that goes under your shirt or under the waistline of your pants. Believe me, these light-fingered-folks can spot you a mile away and they are much better at taking than we are “protecting.” The under-the-clothing pouch is pretty much thief-safe.

Here’s a good website to check out..skip the auto bit and zip down to the pickpocket section:

http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/lib/mpdc/info/safety_pdf/theft_pickpocket_prevention.pdf

From USA Today…

•Act confident. "People who are targeted for street crimes look like victims."

•Keep a spare credit card in your hotel room so you won't be without one in the event of theft or loss.

•Carry a photocopy of relevant information in your passport.

•Use a money belt, and don't carry all your cash in one place.

•Relax. "Wouldn't it be terrible if vacations were ruined because of fear?"

Be aware, and listen to your instincts

Dublin Trivia:

Dublin was originally called Dubh Linn meaning Black Lake. The lake to which the name referred is the oldest known natural treacle lake in Northern Europe and currently forms the centrepiece of the penguin enclosure in Dublin Zoo.

Dublin's oldest traffic light is situated beside the Renault garage in Clontarf. The light, which is still in full working order, was installed in 1893 outside the home of Fergus Mitchell who was the owner of the first car in Ireland.

Dublin's O'Connell Bridge was originally made of rope and could only carry one man and a donkey at a time. It was replaced with a wooden structure in 1801. The current concrete bridge was built in 1863.

There are over 10,000 prostitutes operating in the Dublin area on any given night. Most are women from Galway and Cork who were forced to flee the family farm in their home county.

The average Dubliner earns £33,000 per annum.

There are 2.5 million men, 1 million women and 0.5 million children currently residing in Dublin and its suburbs.

The Temple Bar area is so called because it housed the first Jewish temple built in Ireland. The word 'bar' refers to the refusal of Catholics to allow the Jewish to enter any of the adjoining commercial premises.

The average age of a Dublin male is 33 whilst females average 28 years of age.

In 1761 a family of itinerants from Navan were refused entry to Dublin. The family settled on the outskirts of the city and created the town of Rush. Almost two hundred and fifty years later the entire population of Rush can still trace their roots back to this one family.

Dubliners drink a total of 9,800 pints an hour between the hours of 5.30pm on a Friday and 3.00am the following Monday.

The average 25-year-old Dubliner still lives with his/her parents, preferring to spend their money on fast cars and clothes rather than a mortgage.

Dubliners have a one in six chance of being targeted by a pickpocket whilst in the City Centre.

The converted Ford Transit used for the Pope's visit in 1976 was upholstered using the most expensive carpet ever made in Dublin. The carpet was a silk and Teflon weave and rumoured to have cost over £950.00 per square metre.

The largest cake ever baked in Dublin weighed a whopping 190lb and was made to celebrate the 1988 city millennium. The cake stood untouched in the Mansion House until 1991 when it was thrown out.

A pint of Guinness in Dublin can cost as much as £2.75 or as little as £2.10 depending on where you drink.

Dubliners are more likely to buy a stranger a drink than locals from any other area of the country are.

Dubliners are the least racist people in Ireland except when it comes to the people of Kerry.

The statue in Dublin's O'Connell Street is commonly known as the 'Whore in the Sewer' while the one at the bottom of Grafton Street is best known as the 'Tart with the Cart'.

See You on April 6th, 4 p.m.!

Brit-Bound-Blog, Issue 13, March 7, 2008

Issue #13…

Be Blessed!

First, let me share this with you..

One of our fellow travelers, Kay Welch, sent this link to an Irish Blessings.. It’s beautiful:

http://www.e-water.net/irishblessing_en.html

And by the way, Kay will be listed as “Margaret” on any Passport forms you see. Many of us have long forgone our given names and when our tour guide calls out our name to assign hotel room keys, there will no doubt be some chuckling. Some of us have literally never used those names since our baptism.

Meet Us at the Club!

Our meeting is fast approaching.. at the Jacksonville Country Club, April 6^th, 4 p.m.

The Club is located just off the main road leaving Jacksonville and heading east. The sign pointing toward the place is very small and located on the south side of the road. You dip under the viaduct headed east out of Jacksonville and turn right just as you pass Martin’s Town and Country.

We’ll be………….

--getting to know each other (After 37 years of teachers’ meetings I have valiantly resisted the urge to use name tags, but I may have to relent on this. Several of you have suggested this and you’re probably right.)

--discussing the optional excursions

--trying valiantly to answer your questions

---taking educated guesses as to our stateside travel arrangements

---talking a bit about what to take with us on the trip

---eating Nancy Bradbury’s shamrock cookies

Some of you have responded, but if everyone could drop me a line/email/call as to whether you’ll be dining with us, it’d tickled the folks at the country club.. and yes, everyone’s invited..spouses, parents, kids…whoever’s hanging around the house that day. ken@bradbury.cc

Departure Times, Hotels, etc.

Okay, this is a less than satisfying answer to a couple of your questions, but, as I mentioned in several other mailings, it’s what I expected. (From Kathy Bernard, our tour operator.)

Hi Ken,
Two weeks prior for flight information; hotels bout the same time. You'll receive a large
Fedex from us 7-10 days prior to departure,
With 2 copies for each traveler of hotel list,
Flight bulletin and day-by-day itinerary.
All info will also be published to your website
For viewing about 10-14 days prior to departure.
Talk to you soon,
Kathy

News of the Group

One of our crew, Erich Nobis, recently appeared onstage with the granddaughter of another traveler (Jaymee Toler’s grandmother is Sharon) in Bystanders, a play presented at the Franklin Methodist Church.

Erich and Hannah Stephens are both gearing up for their school’s production of Doo-Wop, a new play by KB to be presented at Triopia in April. Hannah will not only be appearing onstage but also serving as the show’s choreographer.

Speaking of which…we’ll have two choreographers on board as Rhonda Vinyard, Pittsfield’s belle of dance, joins us.

Nick Stephens has officially been accepted to the engineering program in Rolla.

An Irish member of our group, Bonnie Flynn, recently heard Richard Simmons speak at Prairie Heart’s 10^th anniversary of their new building. Bonnie was quite impressed with the flamboyant exerciser’s personality and genuineness. She sent along the link to his website containing some Irish advice: http://www.richardsimmons.com

Bob and Janet Chipman returned safe and gratified after visiting son Tim in Latvia where he’s teaching this year. I know that some of you have had the treat of reading Tim’s extremely literate and interesting blog.

This also from our traveling friend Kay Welsh:

My cousin, Billie, went all thru school & good friends with Tammy Winters & Rhonda Vinyard a was about 2 yrs behind them. Billie is also an elementary teacher in the Danville area.

A Mini-Gathering…

Although it wasn’t exactly planned, we had several members of our British-bound group at the Franklin Methodist Church on March 1^st. Erich Nobis was appearing in the play, I was pretending to direct, Sharon Toler was in charge of the marvelous lasagna fest that night, and in the audience were Maxine Crawford, Rhonda Downs, Janet Long, Kay Welsh, plus Keith & Nancy Bradbury. Heck, we had enough to make our first plane load.

From Mary Jo Seiz:

Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, "Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey!"
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
Paddy looked up again and said, "Never mind, I found one."

From Another of our group:

At the start of every Mass, the priest would make the sign of the cross, followed as usual by the entrance song and the blessing, after which the congregation responded, "And also with you."

One Sunday, after making the sign of the cross, our priest appeared to be having difficulty with the sound system during the singing of the entrance hymn. At the conclusion of the song, the priest said, "There seems to be something wrong with the mike."

The congregation automatically responded, "And also with you!"

Some Interesting Browsing

I have a friend named Justine Jones who lives in London. Actually, I’ve never met her, but I edited her recent book on Improvisational Theatre. When she learned we’d be coming over the waves this summer she sent this web link that she considers to be the best source for London theatre:

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk

She and her husband are on the committee who choose the annual Olivier Awards, the counterpart of our Tony Awards for Broadway. As a result they see about 75 shows a year. What a job!

Issue #12…

First…News Flash!

We’ve set the date for our group meeting. I mean, it’s still a bit in the distance and if a large number of you can’t make it, I suppose we can still wiggle a bit…BUT…How about April 6^th, 5 p.m., somewhere in Jacksonville. (I think the size of our group may have outgrown my sister-in-law’s living room so we’ll search around a bit for something that resembles an Irish Pub or a Scottish Peat Bog… (yeah, sure..) in Jacksonville. More later on this meeting.

However, it would help us in planning if you could email me with your availability on the April 6^th date.

Be assured that whatever we discuss, I’ll send you notes if you can’t make it. You won’t lose your bed.

Optional Excursions….

All tour companies offer add-on’s to the tours. It’s really not a trick. In fact, it allows the cost of the tour to be kept reasonable while allowing each traveler to extend the experience a bit if they so wish. Bottom line: you’ll have a great trip whether or not you buy into any of the excursions. I’m doing my best to compare the Passport cost with that of an on-the-day-of purchase. Of course, purchasing in advance guarantees you a spot.

The material states that these trips must be purchased at least 30 days prior to our departure. However, most of these can probably be purchased independently at perhaps a higher cost, once we get there.

Also, I’ve seen them gather folks from several different groups to make a tour.

I think you’ve all received an email from Passports regarding the options and perhaps a hard copy as well. Here they are again with a little here and there concerning what I know about them. We’ll discuss these at our group’s meeting. Some require a minimum of 15 participants and some don’t. In general, you’ll find that when coach travel is required, there’s a minimum.

If you do an online search for these places and their prices, you’ll find that some are a bit higher and some lower. When I asked Passports about the discrepancy, Kathy, our tour organizer said that if the price is cheaper it’s because we’re getting a group rate (like on the all-day excursions) and if it’s higher it’s the handling fee of someone getting our tickets ahead of time. Also, she mentioned that if six people sign up for a tour, the tour organizer (me) gets a free ticket. I don’t like agreements like that, but it’s out of my hands.

Again, you don’t have to sign up for the options, and I know that several of you have expressed an interest in whether others in our group are inclined to look at a few.

I’ll list the Passport Blurb then give you my take on each. ..first the official description, then my take:

Dublin

Price: $100 Includes: Dinner Length: Night (need 15 to sign up)

ABBEY TAVERN DINNER UPGRADE

• Dinner and entertainment with traditional Irish music and dancing.

Opt to upgrade your included dinner this evening.
For a taste of traditional Irish entertainment, an evening at the Abbey Tavern in Howth is hard to beat.
Howth alone, a quaint fishing village on Dublin Bay, makes the trip worthwhile. Dublin's rapid transit system, called DART, will take you right there in about 30 minutes. The Abbey Tavern is just a couple of minutes' walk from the quayside.
In the atmospheric surroundings of this traditional Irish pub, complete with turf walls and fires, you will eat excellent local food before sitting back to enjoy a cozy show of traditional Irish music and dancing.

KB’S Take on it: Most European cities have halls, restaurants, or theatres offering a night of “local color” and that seems to be what this is. I’ve not done this option. You can think of some of these as “Branson with dinner” as they wine and dine you plus provide entertainment tied to your particular city.

The two on-line reviews I’ve read have both been positive.

Note that on Day Seven, a similar evening in Edinburgh is included in our tour…at least it says “traditional” and “Scottish” and “entertainment.”

Price: $60

Includes: Coach, Train

Length: Half Day

MYSTERY TOUR* (15 not needed)

• Professionally-guided mystery coach tour to an inland town, a coastal village, a castle, mountain or hill. All coach and train transfers included.

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Let us take you away from Dublin for half a day and show you some of Ireland's loveliest countryside. You may visit an inland town or coastal village, a magnificent castle perhaps, mountain scenery or gentle rolling hills. You won't be disappointed.
Check in Dublin Connolly station for a train journey to a mystery destination. You may go North, South, or West. At some stage, transfer to a luxury coach and tour the highways and byways. You'll be taken off the beaten track, and will almost certainly see a historic castle, a lovely fishing village or a scenic mountain range. Wherever you go, there will be plenty of time to stop, look around, and generally explore delightful destinations.
Return to Dublin by train in time for dinner. Not Available on Sundays. (This tour does not go to the Wicklow mountains.)

KB’S TAKE: I’ve never seen a tour quite like this one. You literally don’t know where you’re going until the tour begins. Sounds enticing. It seems to me to be a tour that says, “Hey! There’s more to the Dublin area than the city!”

Price: $60 - $150

Includes:

Length: Night

RIVERDANCE (15 needed)

• Riverdance performance.

Tonight, enjoy a spellbinding performance of Riverdance. Rhythmic, raucous and fast-moving step dances alternate with ethereal tunes to evoke ancient Celtic mythology and Irish culture in a grand spectacle full of color and energy.

KB’S TAKE: I remember sitting beside fellow traveler Hannah Stephens and watching River Dance onstage in Springfield. It’s a heck of a show. Of course, I’m sure that many of you have seen it stateside. Keep in mind that we’ll have two nights in Dublin so if you do both River Dance and the Traditional night, you’ll need to do one on the night we arrive.

Edinburgh

Price: $160 Includes: Lunch, Coach

Length: Full Day

LOCH LOMOND AND THE TROSSACHS (15 needed)

• Full-day professionally-guided coach excursion to the Trossachs and Loch Lomond, including lake cruise and lunch.

The great Scottish countryside, with its lochs and heather-clad mountains, is all yours to enjoy in this relaxing and inspiring excursion to the region where the Highlands and Lowlands meet in scenic splendor.
This is the land of Rob Roy, and the Macfarlane, Macgregor and Colquhoun clans. It is landscape beloved of Sir Walter Scott himself.
After absorbing the wild, yet somehow intimate appeal of the myriad Trossachs lochs, you will embark on a delightful short cruise on Loch Lomond, the largest and among the grandest of all the Scottish lakes.

KB’S TAKE: I’ve quizzed Kathy Bernard, our tour consultant, about this one. She said that although she’s not been on it, she’s heard good things from past travelers. Kathy’s been pretty straight on everything. We will have a free day in Edinburgh so you might want to consider this one. Some of us have a friend, Jackie Clinton and hubby who are currently living in Edinburgh and may want to spend this day with Jackie. The “sightseeing part” of Edinburgh isn’t nearly as large as London nor are the sites as plentiful. So…you might want to consider this one.

London

Price: $100 Includes: Dinner

Length: Night

BEEFEATER MEDIEVAL BANQUET UPGRADE* (15 not required)

• Four-course traditional english banquet including soft drinks and two hours of themed entertainment.

Opt to upgrade your included dinner this evening.
The regal medieval banquet takes place by flickering torchlight in the vaulted cellars of Ivory House, just a stone's throw from the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. You'll find jousting knights and strolling players singing medieval ballads. You'll eat and drink in historic surroundings as they did in medieval times, served by dancing wenches who invite you to join the revels.
The Elizabethan Banquet at the Beefeater by the Tower in London is all this and more. The host for this historic pageant is Henry VIII, and he's joined by a cast of colorful characters from England's past, so sit back and enjoy the show, as Henry's medieval court entertainers provide a breathtaking and magical display for your delight.

KB’S TAKE: I don’t know if I’ve done this particular option or not. I know that we’ve been to Hatfield House for a similar evening and to one other place. Hatfield House was delightful and “the other place” was a bit hot and crowded.

I’ve read online reviews of this place and they are literally all over the place. ..ranging from “I loved it!” to “Never again!” I do know that on one night in London a play is included in our trip, and this will take the other available night.

It sounds really tourist-y, but ….hey, lots of folks enjoy that experience.

One guarantee, it’s not a “nice, quiet evening.”

Price: $40 Includes: Entrance

Length:

BRITISH AIRWAYS LONDON EYE (15 not required)

• Ride on the London Eye.

Check out the London Eye - the world's largest Ferris wheel, magnificently situated across from the Houses of Parliament on the River Thames. Revolving slowly above the London skyline, the Millennium Wheel uses the latest in communications technology to take you on a unique overview of England's capital city.

KB’S TAKE: The last time I was in London I had tickets to ride The Eye, and it was closed that week for repairs. I guess I should be glad that they didn’t put us on it before they made the repairs. It has sort of become the thing to do in London and Lord knows it is one big sucker! An unparalleled view.

Price: $115 Includes: Entrance, Coach

Length: Half Day

HAMPTON COURT (15 required)

• Professionally-guided coach excursion to Hampton Court, including a visit to the palace and its grounds.

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The Palace of Hampton Court is set in the idyllic surroundings of the stately River Thames and parkland grazed by deer. It is a jewel of Tudor and Renaissance architecture. Hampton Court was the favorite residence of King Henry VIII, the Stuart kings and King William of Orange. Ghosts from the royal past still famously haunt its splendid rooms and corridors.
Explore the brilliantly reconstructed Tudor kitchens. Take time to wander through the breathtaking formal gardens, just recently restored to their seventeenth-century perfection. See the Real Tennis courts where Henry VIII used to work out the frustrations of kingship. Lose yourself in the Great Maze that inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland. The historic resonances and the varied delights of Hampton Court together make up one of the greatest treasures of Britain.

KB’S TAKE: Okay, this is purely my opinion, but I’ve been to Hampton Court and Windsor Castle and I sort of favor Windsor. It’s got more to do and although it’s a bit more crowded, I really like the place. No matter what Henry VIII thought, the present Queen favors this one and I like her better.

Price: $70 - $160 Includes:

Length: Night

LONDON THEATRE* (15 not required)

• West End theatre performance.

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With 77 mainstream theatres in central London, the variety of shows here is unmatched anywhere in the engligh-speaking world. Will it be a blockbusting musical, a Shakespearean masterpiece, a much-loved traditional classic or an innovative play at the cutting edge of modern theatre? You choose. A night at the theatre in London's West End is an indispensable outing for any visitor to this city of drama, creativity and thespian genius.

KB’S TAKE: We’ll talk about this, but since we’ve switched off our night at the Stratford Theatre for a night of London Theatre, our tour already includes one night at a show.

It would be “relatively easy” to get theatre tickets on our own on the other night in London, especially if we’re willing to go in smaller groups. Frankly, if I’m in London, I’d like to do two nights of theatre.

Price: $16 Includes:

LONDON TRAVELCARD - ONE DAY*

• London Travelcard for one day unlimited usage within zones 1 and 2. (Expires at midnight on the day of purchase.)

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One-day London Travelcard for use in zones 1 and 2.

Price: $39 Includes: Length:

LONDON TRAVELCARD - THREE DAY* (15 not required)

• London Travelcard for three days of unlimited usage within zones 1 and 2. (Expires at midnight on the third day from day of purchase.)

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Three-day London Travelcard for use in zones 1 and 2.

KB’S TAKE: These Travel Cards are the way to go if you plan to do any exploring at all. They’re good for zones 1 and 2, which pretty much covers Central London. If you’re ever “out of the zone,” you simply buy another ticket to get you back into the zone.

Price: $35

Includes: Entrance

Length: Half Day

THAMES RIVER CRUISE AND GREENWICH* (15 not required)

• Round-trip river cruise with entrances to the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark. (You may substitute the Greenwich Observatory for one of these entrances.) *Please note the entire group must choose the same two entrances.

See London from the soothingly lovely perspective of the River Thames. This cruise takes you from Westminster Pier, in the shadow of Big Ben, all the way downstream to Greenwich and the meridian itself. The trip is punctuated by entertaining cockney commentary which introduces you to London's riverside treasures: the Globe Theatre, St. Paul's Cathedral, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge and the spectacular waterfront of Greenwich.
Visit the great naval sites of historic Greenwich or simply enjoy free time in this intimate, lovely town that straddles east and west, before reboarding the boat to Westminster and the heart of London.

KB’S TAKE: I took this one on my own, not with a group. I’d heard it was a good tour and have recommended it to several traveling friends since then. I liked it.. If memory serves me correctly it’s about an hour cruise each way on the boat with narration en route. You get to see London from the river and of course Greenwich is where all time starts.

Price: $115 Includes: Entrance, Coach

Length: Half Day

WINDSOR CASTLE (15 required)

• Professionally-guided coach excursion to Windsor Castle, including the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls' House and St. George's Chapel.

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This is a sight that no visitor to London should miss. Sitting proudly on a bluff above the River Thames, Windsor Castle dominates the landscape for miles around just as it dominates the heart and soul of England.
Built by William the Conqueror to strengthen his hold on his new domain, it has been the main residence of every king and queen for the last millennium. The State Apartments, restored to international acclaim after the recent tragic fire, offer an unbelievable insight into the treasures, the possessions and the lifestyles of the Royals from the medieval warrior-kings to Queen Elizabeth II herself.
St. George's Chapel, burial-place of King Henry VIII and the seat of Britain's highest Order of Knights, is a Gothic jewel of extraordinary beauty.
These are just some highlights of this exciting visit to the most famous castle in the world. (If her Majesty is in Residence, Hampton Court will be offered instead.)

KB’S TAKE: As I said above, I’m a fan of Windsor. If you happened to catch the PBS series, “A Year at Windsor,” you may have seen many of the sights. It’s a “working” castle in that it’s one of the Queen’s official residences and it’s absolutely chock-a-block with pomp and pageantry… plus shopping, plus scones, plus those funky hairy-topped guards.

HOWEVER.. keep in mind that tours of either Windsor or Hampton Court are half-day tours and that will cut into our free time in London.