One of my very close friend’s daughter had an absolute beautiful wedding day on July 20!
Wedding Day!
Sightseeing in The West Midlands
In March/April 2019, I got to go sightseeing in the West Midlands, UK while visiting my British cousins. My American cousin, Cheryl, came with me and it was her first time meeting them. It is always so rewarding bringing family together! My hobby of genealogy has allowed me to meet and connect many cousins!
Eyam and Bakewell
After a relaxing evening with our cousins, the next day we accomplished quite a lot! First we drove to the plague village of Eyam in the Peak District in Derbyshire. During the Black Death in the mid-1600’s, this village was infected due to a piece of cloth brought up by a trader from London. To protect the surrounding countryside, this village quarantined itself. It was an incredible act of selflessness on the part of these people from the deadly contagion! Between September 1665 and November 1666, around 260 villagers lost their lives to the disease. In the end, just a little over 80 people from Eyam survived. It is a fascinating piece of history and located in a beautiful area of England!
While we were driving, a most remarkable thing happened! We were driving through the beautiful countryside, and a HUGE herd of all white deer crossed the road in front of us! There had to be about 40 of them! They were beautiful, but I was so stunned and in-the-moment that I didn’t even THINK to take a picture or video. I really wish I would have because it was STUNNING!
After Eyam, we drove to Bakewell, also in the Peak District. The town is along the River Wye and is famous for its tarts. Bakewell is quaint and lovely. The shops are so cool and there are so many pubs and restaurants! We enjoyed lunch there at The Wheatsheaf. The fish was ENORMOUS, and the Tomato, Basil and Goat Cheese Tart was delicious! A highlight of the visit were the swans–I’ve always loved swans, they are such majestic creatures but can be fiercely protective and territorial.
Moseley Old Hall
The following day we visited Moseley Old Hall, where King Charles II was hidden for part of the English Civil War before he could be smuggled out of the country to France. The history fascinated me! We even got to see the “priest hole” where the king would have to hide if the house was subject to search by Cromwell’s men (it was illegal then to practice Catholicism, ergo why the house had a “priest hole”). In the yard we saw a beautiful peacock–unfortunately, he would not open his tail for us, but he is stunning to look at any way!
The Crooked House
On the way back from Old Moseley Hall, we visited one of the most surprising buildings I’ve ever seen–The Crooked House. This pub, located between Telford and Dudley, became lopsided due to mining subsidence in the 19th century. One side of the building is now approximately 4 feet lower than the other! The structure was condemned in the 1940s and scheduled for demolition, but the owners of Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries purchased it and capitalized on the uniqueness of the building. They made is safe using buttresses and girders but were able to maintain its lopsided appearance. The leaning walls also give rise to some pretty neat optical illusions where glasses slowly slide across “level” tables and a marble will appear to roll UP hill. This pub is not easy to find–it is at the end of a small side road, so you need to know it is there in order to find it!
Monkland Cheese Dairy and Ludlow
On our third full day in the West Midlands, we packed in a lot of activity! First we visited David’s 93-year-old mother–she is a delightful woman whose mind is sharp as a tack! After that, we drove westward and visited the Monkland Cheese Dairy. Being a cheese-lover, I was in heaven! On the tour, we learned how cheese is made the old-fashioned way! This was fascinating! Afterward, we enjoyed a bite to eat with Linda’s sister Margaret, her daughter Karen, and Karen’s son Warwick. A new generation of cousins!
From the cheese factory we drove further up into the hills to visit the charming town of Ludlow. I had been there last year, but it was Cheryl’s first time. Our visit was brief, so we didn’t go to the ruins of the castle this time, but you can review last year’s visit here. The castle and town played an integral role in defending medieval England from the “savage” Welshmen.
That evening we spent some time with David’s sister, Susan, and her husband, Neil. They were such an interesting and entertaining couple and their home was beautiful! It was an enjoyable evening filled with fun and engaging conversation!
Long Haul flying in Business Class!
The luxury of long haul flying in Business Class is an amazing treat that EVERYONE should experience at some point in their lives! Now that I have experienced this mode of travel, it will be very difficult to go back to coach for longer flights. The service and amenities on my British Airways flights were top-notch all the way!
Points Travel
Recently, I traveled from Pittsburgh to London Heathrow primarily using points!! I have accrued Chase Ultimate Reward Points and British Airways Avios for several years and finally had more than enough for this trip. Unfortunately, it was just before the direct flights from Pittsburgh started, so I did have to deal with layovers. Next time I can fly direct!! I am looking forward to that!
The first leg of my journey, from Pittsburgh to JFK in New York City, was on Delta. Using Chase points, plus some cash to upgrade, I flew in First Class. On a trip this short, it was unnecessary, but I wanted to splurge. I made the mistake of picking a seat in the second row–I had to put my carry-on bag BEHIND me. After that experience, I quickly adjusted my seat selection for my return flight. I enjoyed comfort and punctuality on this leg of my journey–always a plus!
After I changed terminals and went through security, I spent a few hours in the British Airways Business Class Lounge at JFK. The food was decent, and there was free wine and Prosecco. I worked on my computer, relaxed, and made it to my gate with plenty of time to spare. JFK is not my favorite airport (by a long shot) but having lounge access helped make a fairly long layover more tolerable. Soon the time came for me to enjoy my flight in Business Class!
Amazing Service, Generous Space
Upon boarding my flight, the very gracious cabin stewards greeted me with a glass of champagne. I settled into my spacious pod, stowed my gear, and enjoyed a cocktail while the remainder of the passengers boarded. Before I knew it, we were in the air on our way to Heathrow! The wonderful steward took my order for our late-night meal as well as breakfast. I enjoyed a light, delicious meal, and was soon ready to settle down in my lay-flat seat. Once I put on my sleep mask and snuggled under my blanket–I was out very quickly–for the first time on a flight I was able to sleep soundly and not just doze!
After a delicious breakfast, I readied myself for our arrival at Heathrow. I breezed through customs–it was one of the easiest customs experiences I’ve had. Since I still had lounge access, I visited the British Airways arrival lounge for some coffee and to freshen up before boarding the Hotel Hoppa bus. The hotel had allowed me to arrange for early check-in at the Hilton, so my room was ready for me. I considered a side trip to Houndslow to visit an inn I would like to do a story on, but I wasn’t sure time would allow–my cousin Cheryl was flying in from Morocco that afternoon. As it turned out, her flight was delayed, so I would have had time.
Once Cheryl arrived, we enjoyed some food and drinks in the hotel restaurant, then turned in for some well-deserved sleep. The next day we traveled north to visit our Taylor cousins in Dudley. I share more details of that trip here.
Return Trip, Flying in Business Class!
After I enjoyed time with my British cousins and Cheryl, I traveled back to London by train. I stayed at the same Hilton. Since I had to get up quite early the next morning , I turned in early. I enjoyed a very satisfying breakfast in the lounge, then headed to my gate. Unfortunately, my flight was delayed for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours, but the wonderful British Airway staff supplied us with water and snacks as we waited, which helped quite a bit! I was just happy I didn’t have a tight connection in Boston or I would have missed that flight!
The plane from London to Boston was the largest I’ve ever flown in–it had two levels!!! It was also the smoothest take-off I have ever experienced! I didn’t even realize we had left the ground! Again, I enjoyed the amenities in Business Class (Club World). It was probably overkill for the return trip–it was a daytime flight and I didn’t need to sleep. I did enjoy the comfort, delicious food, free drinks, and two movies!
Stateside Once More
Getting through customs at Boston Logan Airport was NOT easy. I have Global Entry, but the airport only had about 10 kiosks for MANY passengers, then only ONE agent processing all of us! Between the flight delay and the customs fiasco, I was happy that my layover was long! I opted to walk from Terminal E to Terminal A, which was quite a trek. By the time I got there, I was very overheated! Fortunately, I had time to drink some water, relax, and make some new friends before my Delta flight to Pittsburgh. This flight was first class, and a great way to end my trip!
By the time I landed in Pittsburgh, I had spent about 20 hours on trains, in airports or on planes. It was nice to get home and see my kids, my pets, and sleep in my own bed! I love to travel, but getting home is also awesome! Now that I have experienced the luxury of First and Business Class, it will be VERY hard to travel in coach! I look forward to the next time I will be flying in Business Class!
Planes, Trains and Automobiles–My Trip Home
My trip home from the UK involved planes, trains and automobiles, along with the London Tube! All told, it took about 37 hours. However, I did get to sleep at a hotel for about 6 hours in the midst of it all. It was a long journey, but gave me time to reflect, My visit with my British family was wonderful, and introducing them to my (our) American cousin Cheryl was especially rewarding!
The Journey Begins
My journey began when Linda and David drove me to the Dudley-Sandwell train station at about 2pm their time (8am EST). I rode the train to Euston Station in London. The rail system in Europe is so much better than anything we have here in the US! It is an efficient and comfortable way to get around a country, or between countries. I do enjoy this mode of travel!
Hilton
Again, I had hoped to visit The Ostrich Inn in Slough, near Heathrow, during my overnight at the Hilton Heathrow Airport. However, I decided it was more important to rest up for my journey the following day. Therefore, I had dinner and a drink, then turned in for the night. I have enjoyed every Hilton I’ve ever stayed at, and the one near Terminal 4 at Heathrow didn’t disappoint. Often I do not sleep well away from home, but my room was so comfortable and quiet that I had no problems at all.
Heathrow
After the delicious breakfast buffet, I checked out and headed for the airport. Since I always try to be early, I had a couple of hours to kill before my flight scheduled departure time. Therefore, I spent some time sipping coffee and catching up on e-mail in the Business Class lounge. I previously wrote a post about my flights home, which you can read here. My trip home was long, but mostly uneventful, a definite plus when you are traveling by planes, trains, and automobiles!
Our Trip to York, UK
I had the pleasure to take a trip to York, UK during my recent trip to visit family in England. I got to meet new cousins, who live in Yorkshire, on the way! Linda and David were gracious enough to accomodate my love of Viking and British history, and took me up there for a couple of days!
New Cousins!
On the way to York, we stopped in Yorkshire to visit Marian and her family. She had a lovely lunchtime spread for us and it was delightful getting to know everyone. I especially liked her grandson, Seth–he was a remarkable young man!
Introduction to York
We drove from Marian’s to the city of York. The ancient city walls greeted us, along with bright flowerbeds planted along the route into the city. The sight is breathtaking! Imagine a structure that has been standing for over a thousand years! The US has only been a nation for a fraction of that time, so it is humbling.
A Brief History of York
Humans have lived at the site of York since the Neolithic Period (4000-2000 BC). It first became a major center when occupied by the Romans in 71 BC. The Roman name for York was Eburacum. The Romans turned Eburacum into a center of world importance for the next three centuries! During the 7th century the first Minster was built in York for the baptism of King Edwin or Deira. Subsequently, York became a center of enlightenment, wealth and power,
York was one of the first places in Britain conquered by the Vikings, and they occupied the area for about a hundred years. Although many think of the Vikings as plundering, seafaring warriors, their culture at the time was very robust. It is largely due to the archealogical discoveries made in York that we know more about their lives in this time period. They called the city Jorvik, and there were many craftsmen, farmers, traders, engineers and ship builders. Many Vikings actually became Christians during this occupation. Today, you can see what it was like in the city by visiting Jorvik–The Viking Experience. A visit to this attraction is a must during any trip to York, and it was a highlight for me!
The Lovely Hazelwood
Linda and I had searched for accomodations, and we were delighted with The Hazelwood. We chose it because it was close to the attractions we wanted to visit, and because it had free parking. The establishment is comprised of 4 or 5 separate old stately townhomes that are adjoined. The rooms were quaint and comfortable, and the staff very friendly. We enjoyed breakfast both days!
Lamb & Lion Inn for Dinner
We strolled around York our first night there. It was cold and wet and rainy, so we were anxious to find somewhere tOno eat, warm up, and dry off. Between the cathedral and the Hazelwood, we found a lovely little eatery called Lamb & Lion Inn. It consisted of multiple smaller rooms with 3 or 4 tables each, so it was rather intimate. The food was delicious and presented beautifully, and the drinks were strong enough to warm us from the inside out!
Yorkminster Cathedral
We spent the following day discovering the city in all of its historical glory! We started out by visiting Yorkminster Cathedral, a huge magnificent place that has been in existence since Norman times! I need to look up the statistics, but it seems even bigger than Notre Dame to me! The achitecture is awe-inspiring, as are the stained glass windows.
The first minster was built in York in the 7th century, as mentioned previously. The Norman invasion in 1066 brought many changes to the area, and was initially trouble for the area, but subseqently ended up being very prosperous for York. Later, during the Middle Ages, stonemasons and stained glass artisans worked together to build one of the greatest cathedrals in the world, Yorkminster!
Since the 7th Century, the Minster in York has been the centre of Christianity in the north of England. Every aspect of the cathedral, from the stained glass to the exquisite handcrafted stone, tells the story of Jesus Christ. It is a masterpiece!
Other Views Around York
It was wonderful to walk around York and take in its beauty and history. We discovered small shops, old churches, and quaint bistros. I completely enjoyed ambling around the old narrow streets and finding new delights around every corner!
Yorkshire Museum
Toward the end of the day, we visited the Yorkshire Museum and its grounds, the site of an old monastery in York. It demonstrated the history of the area from the paleolithic era up until modern times. For a history buff like myself, it was fascinating!
The Exhibition–A Place I Would Hang Out!
After our visit to the museum, we walked back to The Hazelwood. It was rather cold and breezy that day, and we wanted to find someplace to warm our bones. We fortunately wandered into The Exhibition–a welcoming pub with a warm fireplace and wonderful service! The food and the drinks were rejuvinating, and we enjoyed our time there. It is definitely a place I could hang out on the regular!
My time in York was so incredibly enjoyable, and I am eternally grateful to my cousins, Linda and David, for indulging me in our little side trip! I definitely recommend York as a destination during any trip to England!
Wonderful Luck for Our Trip to the West Midlands
In March of this year, I experienced wonderful luck for our trip to the West Midlands from London to visit family. My cousin, Cheryl, and I met up in London after her trip to Morocco. I had, at one time, planned to go there with her, but work circumstances changed and prevented me from being able to take an extended time off. Therefore, I flew in from the US and we met in London. You can read about my journey here.
Many of our cousins live in the West Midlands, near Birmingham. We were staying in Rowley Regis with our cousin Linda and her husband David.The plan was to take a taxi from our hotel near Heathrow to Euston Station to catch a train up to Dudley/Sandwell, the closest station to their home.
We arranged transport to the station via the concierge at the hotel. Our driver arrived promptly and we loaded our bags into the car. As Abid drove us to the station, he asked how much we were going to have to pay for our train tickets. When we told him, he offered to drive us right to our cousin’s door for the same price!! This was amazing!! Apparently, he usually does tours to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath, but his tour that day was canceled. It was a win-win situation for everyone! Abid was a fascinating man and we enjoyed talking with him. He kept us hydrated with water (a key for me) and entertained us with stories of his life. I DEFINITELY plan to use him again on future trips!
Sadly, I didn’t take any pictures. The whole situation surprised me so much! It was wonderful to be driven, in a nice car, instead of being on a train in coach. Also, being dropped off right at Linda’s house instead of them having to pick us up at the train station was amazing! And it cost us no more than taking the train! Definitely a win-win situation for everyone involved! It was such wonderful luck for all of us!
You can read more about our adventures in the West Midlands here.
Hi All! I’m Still Here!
Hello readers! I am sorry I have not posted recently. After attending the Great Escape Publishing’s Ultimate Travel Writers’ Workshop in September, I have been quite busy with courses and readings! Between that and my work schedule, I have not had a chance to post.
I do have three new travel posts planned–Dallas and Austin in September, NYC in October, and a recent trip to Virginia to see Haley and Riley. Stay tuned!
Family Trip to Lynchburg, Virginia
At the end of June (2018), my youngest two children, Kendyl and CJ, and I drove down to Lynchburg, Virginia to visit their half-sister and my step-daughter, Haley. We always love to see Haley, and now that she has a precious daughter, Riley, we love it even more! It was a rainy drive down, which is sad because the drive is usually such a beautiful one!
We met Haley at one of our favorite eateries, Wasabi. It is kind of a tradition for us to eat there each time we visit. It is a hibachi place and our chef was a ton of fun!
The next day we had brunch at El Jefe, where Riley hammed it up for some pictures.
That night, Sean (Haley’s husband) grilled us some amazing steaks–that was the highlight for CJ!
On Sunday we went to Cracker Barrel for brunch to meet Barbara, the kids’ grandmother. Unfortunately, Great-granddad was not up to making it. He is 94 years old now, so we need to make it a point to drive out to his farm next time we visit. That evening we had dinner at Robin Alexander. The food was amazing and there was a caramel apple martini that was TOO DIE FOR!
Most of our visit was for catching up with Haley and Riley! I had not seen them since right after Riley was born last August, so it was amazing to see how much she had grown and how her little personality had developed!
Fortunately, our drive home was much nicer weather-wise and I was able to get a picture during one of our stops!
Traveling Back to the US
Traveling back to the US was pretty uneventful, other than the fact that I was travelling in a sling. The BEST part of the day was being able to go through US Customs while still in Dublin! This was key, allowing us added time for our layover in Charlotte. It was especially nice since our arrival gate and departure gate in Charlotte were adjacent to one another. If we had had to go through Customs in Charlotte, we would have had to leave the concourse only to return to the same area!
Dublin to Charlotte
We enjoyed several movies during the Dublin to Charlotte flight, including The Darkest Hour (which was even more interesting after visiting The Churchill War Rooms–they were exactly like the movie–did they film in there?) and the newest Jumanji. I usually read when flying, but on a flight that long, I was happy to have some other form of entertainment. The food was very good for airplane food, and the free wine was a bonus!
Home Sweet Home
I thoroughly enjoyed our European vacation, but I was happy to get home to my other kids and my pets! During our trip I had decided not to travel for more than two weeks at a time, but I’ve already blown that–next March I am going to Morocco with my cousin and some of her friends. That trip is 15 days, but Cheryl and I are planning a side trip afterward back to the UK to visit our cousins again. It will be Cheryl’s first time meeting them and I will be excited to see them again!
Our Last Full Day of Dublin Attractions
We enjoyed our last full day of Dublin attractions, despite having my arm in a sling due to my fall the day before (read about it here). Our first stop was the Jennie Johnson, one of the famine tall ships that took the folks that left Ireland during the potato famine to other places in the world. Often the US and Canada. Our guide, Ronan, was very knowledgeable about the plight of the people in general, and about the history of this particular ship specifically. It was an eye opening experience and anyone who had family leave Ireland during that time should visit it!
The Jennie Johnson Tall Ship
Museum of Irish Emigration
After the ship we visited the Museum of Irish Emigration. Amazing fact–there are over 70 million people in the world who have Irish ancestry! This is WAY more than live in Ireland today! The museum was very interesting and informative, and another thing I recommend for anyone of Irish descent!
Lunch at HQ
We tried to have lunch at the Ferryman Pub we had been trying to get to for our whole visit, Bingo! We got a seat at the bar–only to find out they do not serve food on the weekend! WTF???? I was so disappointed! Ah well, we walked back to the canal area and ended up having a lovely lunch at HQ. Our server was named Kevin and he was very friendly and nice! I had a Chicken Pesto Salad and it was AMAZINGLY good! Seth had a burger and fries that he enjoyed quite a bit!
After lunch, we walked back to our hotel and passed what looks to be the Irish headquarters for Facebook!
Our Last Dinner in Dublin
As per our tradition, we had dinner on our last night at the restaurant in our hotel. I had a lovely salmon while Seth had duck (his favorite). Both were delicious, and we killed a couple bottles of wine! It was the perfect way to cap off our wonderful trip enjoying all of the Dublin attractions!
!
We were sad that our European adventure was coming to an end, but both of us were more than ready to get home. I missed my other kids, my pets, and my own bed! Believe it or not, I even missed my job and my co-workers! Yes, my work is a major part of who I am, and I miss it if I’m gone too long!
My next post will be a brief one about our trip back to the States! Stay tuned! You can find it here.