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Nolene DE LUCA
Nolene DE LUCA

Nolene DE LUCA

traveled in 12 countries Read more🇳🇿Tauranga
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  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Family History

    August 22, 2018 in Wales ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Mark and I set off to find houses that my Mum lived in whilst she was here and where her first husband was born. We went to Yredegar, Pontypridd, Maesteg, Ystrad Mynach, Bedwellty among others, then we travelled through the Rhondda valley, it is so beautiful up in the mountains. Weather was drizzly on and off. Mal had wonderful information on all the iron and coal mines as the relations were mostly miners. He took me to Abergavenny where in 1966 the iron hills slid down into the school killing many children and families. Terrible tragedy.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Merthyr Tydfil day tripping

    August 22, 2018 in Wales ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    Too tired to do this last night sorry. Mark ad things to do yesterday and Nancy was working so I tripped around on my own. Got lost a couple of times but who cares. Most of the street names/places are written in Welsh, lovely!! Mr google put me wrong a couple of times!! Went to Llanelli (rugby country), Swansea around the coast, Port Talbot (revolting steelworks on the coast) got lost and found myself headed to the Brecon National Park. Lovely countryside apart from the showery weather. People very friendly. Also found by accident the birth place of Richard Burton. Beautiful, small town with an old rail viaduct.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil

    August 20, 2018 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Stayed in Cardiff last night at a pretty ordinary hotel after what Sharon and I were used to!! I picked up my rental car then met Mark ( a relation by marriage) and followed him to his place. Lovely place in Merthyr Tydfil, pity about the weather, supposed to clear tomorrow. We haven’t stopped talking about family (I am waiting to be called for dinner) hence me writing now. Lovely hospitable people. A couple of snaps of the narrow roads I travelled on. Sorry about the bonnet in the pic!!!Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Portadown/Dublin/Cardiff

    August 19, 2018 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Left our wonderful accommodation this morning and headed to Dublin where we parted ways, Sharon for home and me for Cardiff. Oh dear, my special navigator gone, hopefully Mr Google will take over and do a good job, nothing like Sharon though, she had the patience ‘of Jobe’ with this oldie. I will also miss her company, so nice to share. I am in my hotel in Cardiff ready to move on tomorrow, weather bleak.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Portrush to Portadown

    August 19, 2018 in Wales ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    Was another early start yesterday morning to beat the rush of tourists. Went to the ‘Giants Causeway’. The geology of the rocky landscape is amazing, had to walk down about 1 1/2 kms, ok walking down not tooooo bad walking up but the weather could have been better, drizzly most of the time but well worth the walk. Drove around the coast then into Belfast and saw the ‘peace walls’ still left there after all the riots. Very eerie still especially one of the streets where a lot of the deaths occurred. We also had time to photograph the viaduct close to Portadoen, then on to our great accommodation at Crannagael House, been in the same family since the 1700’s and our self contained accomm. Was just lovely. The hosts were just lovely, we sat outside in a courtyard with them, shared some cider and learnt a lot about their property. We then had a guided tour of the veg garden which supplies a couple of upmarket restaurants, we then picked some for our salad to go with our steak. Yummy.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA
    1

    Letterkenny to Portrush

    August 17, 2018 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Up early and on the road to reach the ferry for the 9am sailing to Rathlin Island, just made it, the rain and wind came with us. Unfortunately the Puffins left a week ago - bugger!!! Saw lots of other birds and the wonderful barren island where there are only 100 inhabitants. Caught a bus on the island to the west lighthouse, as windy as hell but walked down to the lighthouse, just amazing. Then on to carrick-a rede to the rope bridge with about ‘ten thousand’ other tourists in the wind and light rain at times. Good to walk over, something one has to do whilst here. Then off round the coast and a little inland to our accommodation at Portrush. Amazing place, amazing host who called in to see us. Walked down on the promenade to a local pub, hilarious Batman who could ‘sell ice to an Eskimo’ and then met an interesting Irishman living in London. Great night, home for a light dinner and now bed. Watch this space for tomorrow.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Bailieborough to Letterkenny

    August 16, 2018 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Our man to meet this morning was called out by a sick friend but talked to him on the phone, he did a little ‘ferreting’ around last night and is going to continue so we have exchanged details. We will see what happens if anything!!! I think he is like a ‘dog with a bone’ though. We decided to do a ‘roadie’ having never been to Northern Island we thought, why not, so off we went. We wanted to visit some ruins on an island in a lake. Devinish Island had been a monastery, so off we went. Had a private trip in the ferry, skipper so helpful and what a great place. The ruins and where it is situated is amazing. Went up into High country again to Mount Errigal. Very barren countryside, amazing views. Reached our bnb, and is ok. Dinner in a local pub. Back in Ireland but tomorrow in to Northern Ireland, should be interesting. Doing lots of miles and seeing lots of countryside via mainly little roads.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Baillieborough/Cavan

    August 15, 2018 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Out this morning to the registry office, ‘thwarted’ couldn’t find any records for our couple so couldn’t get cert. even though it is on Catholic Church records. Irish!!! Next stop, researcher at Cavan library. Very helpful and eliminated one family from our group. We have a couple with very common names and there several, same Christian and same surname married in the same year, insane!! Next stop cemeteries & more cemeteries. My navigator, I won’t mention who!!! took me up a dirt track only to meet a locked gate, had to back down about 800m, around corners on a steep hill, lovely, compensated by the lovely ripe blackberries. Went to see a crazy Irish women who almost literally dragged us inside and proceeded to bombard us with questions on family and rang half the neighbourhood. Then had to have a cup of tea and digestive biscuits!!! Wonderful woman with whom we will keep in touch, we meet another researcher in the morning, (organised by crazy Irish woman - love her to bits) another hilarious day. Knackered again tonight after wine and dinner here at Cabra Castle.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Research in Bailieborough

    August 15, 2018 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Not too much to report unfortunately, researcher/librarian away yesterday so back today. We went to order certificates but the registry office is closed Wednesday, just our luck, so back today! Everywhere we go we we find that lunch time can be anything between 1-2hours and they shut grrrrrr. However we found a very helpful worker in the local cemetery who put us onto a real old cemetery that we didn’t know about, found lot’s of Lynch’s so now it is a process of elimination. We take different roads when going to little villages and are seeing the most wonderful countryside plus the VERY NARROW roads, had a couple of ‘hairy’ moments but all good. Weather is a bit crappy, cold yesterday and not much better today. Sharon had to buy a jacket. Oh well, we are in Ireland!!Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Wesport to Cabra Castle, Kingscourt

    August 14, 2018 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Straight from Westport to Mullingar for research so an uneventful trip mostly on the motorway. Into the council office/library for our search. No luck unfortunately although I was able to confirm the Flynn family were in this area. Have lots of tips from a historian/librarian who was helping us.
    Back to our accomm. Upgraded so staying in the Hotel not the cottages. Very luxurious. Had a pre dinner drink outside followed by a light dinner. A magic place to be. Off to Baileborough today for more research on the Lynch family, good vibes in this search.    Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Mullingar to ??? (Westport) Tiki Tour

    August 12, 2018 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Sorted out our crappy accommodation by not staying a second night, had a refund and all was well. Lady still m‘learning’!!! Headed on a ‘tiki tour’ to Westport via the coast Road south. Took us to Lakes, Mountains and ocean and anything in between!!! Picnic lunch on the beach, amazing countryside, lots of very windy narrow roads but it was great. Stopped for coffee a couple of times we needed a ‘pit stop’. Arrived Westport and rang our bnb to find they had made an error and we were a ‘day early!!! They were very quick to rectify the situation and after a pint at the local pub we were settled in our accomm. Quite a contrast to last night. Walked to an Italian restaurant and now home feeling quite full. A great day with lots of laughs. Navigator good today, lots of miles and now very tired.😴😴😴 photo of our accommodation tonight with our wagon in front.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA
    1

    Dublin & Sharon

    August 12, 2018 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Lovely to meet up with Sharon yesterday morning and catch up on all the news from home. Picked up car and headed toward Mullingar, easy peasy. Me driving, Sharon navigator, going great, out to see Belvedere Castle when Sharon says ‘oh I can see the coast’ funny when we are in the middle of Ireland!!!! It was a lake (lough) of course. First of many laughs for the day until we came to our air bnb. Totally false advertising, not the same accommodation as in the photos, covered in builders dust from converting the barn. Basically one big room and dirty. No cutlery etc. Too many things to go into detail here. No apology from the owner. So we had to stay the night but will be out of here today. Sunday, so doing a ‘roadie’ out to the ‘real coast’.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Dublin

    August 10, 2018 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Of course I didn’t meet Sharon this morning, she arrives tomorrow morning, must have been those grumpy poms I was focused on. Spent the day in the middle of the city, very busy and the main part very dirty. Lots of building along the water way and will be great when finished. Rained and was cold, I had to buy a rain jacket, no doubt it will come in handy for the rest of the trip!!! Looking forward to getting out into the country.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Ely/Birmingham/Dublin

    August 9, 2018 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Most of the last couple of days have been travelling and waiting to travel. Neither the train or air employees are very accommodating in England. Little bit more friendly in Ireland where I will meet Sharon in the morning. Yippee, then we start a new adventure (yes, looking for dead people) as John puts it. More family research. Met and befriended 8 young lads on the plane coming to Ireland for a ‘stag couple days’, god knows what they will look like when they arrive home!!! No photos until tomorrow. Don’t think you want to see train stations or airports.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Cambridge

    August 7, 2018 in England ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    At ‘Shire Hall’ for 9.00 opening. Used ‘park ‘n ride’ as parking in Cambridge is expensive and busy love them. Research was reasonably successful. Certainly have other options for following through when I get home. Very helpful. The joys of being on site!!! Mixed feelings when I walked down by the river, there is still an Italian restaurant where Mike and I had lunch twenty years ago, went and had a coffee and watched the world go by. Spent all day researching, was looking forward to a nice meal. Should have known better. Ordered fish and a salad, salad rotten but they couldn’t really care. My wine was good so told them that was all I was going to pay for. - blank look, but not even an apology!! Poms!!! Of on my next venture tomorrow.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Ely

    August 7, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Where did Monday go?? That’s what happens when you get engrossed in family research!!! More lovely little villages, bad, narrow roads and dead ends!!! Moved ‘digs’ now right in Ely at a lovely b & b, very old a little tired but nice. Went to visit the Stretham old steam engine that helped drain the fens way back. Where some of the family worked.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Wicken/Freckingham

    August 5, 2018 in England ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Sunday morning sleep in, yeah right!!! Off to the mill to say goodbye to Jacqui as she was heading back home. Went to Worlington to visit a relation, 94 year old and bright as a button, 20 years since I saw him too. He could be one of the old Howe family from NZ, there is such a resemblance!! Got lost a couple of times but it really is easy to get around, not too much distance between little towns. Took a photo of the Boars Head pub where the 94 year old was born. Little villages are so beautiful. Last night here, then move to Ely to a b & b. I am in this area for longer than first thought. Looking forward to Ireland in the next chapter of my trip.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Wicken

    August 5, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    At the mill today to see it operating. A very dedicated bunch of volunteers from all walks of life. I met the head of the trust who is also a historian so now I have good knowledge of the mill owners, saves me doing the research!!! Went to meet another ‘oldie’ in the village in his ancient little cottage and found that the farm house where my family lived is no longer there, shame. A photo of the pub I am staying in and the view from the dining room looking out at the canal.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Wicken/Stretham/Ely

    August 4, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Went to visit relatives this morn, not to much info as they were s bit ‘away with the fairies’, very old. Each parish I went to do research was closed and not open until Tuesday, bummer.!!! Looked through more churchyards then met Jacqui later in the day. Today is ‘Mill day’. Looking forward to meeting some of the workers.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Wicken/Stretham

    August 3, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Hair cut day yesterday and a look around Ely visiting the Cathedral and the house Oliver Cromwell lived in which is now the (i) centre plus museum. Then a catch up with a relative, Jacqui, having not seen her for 20 years. How 20 years changes us!!!! Lovely time with Jacqui taking me to a couple of churches and grave yards then had dinner together. Found my 3rd g. Grandfathers grave with the headstone barely visible. Found a local historian who is a retired stonemason who is willing to clean and restore the stone, it really is in good condition despite it’s age. Today is library day. Weather is beautiful, temperatures in the late 20,s.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    London to Cambridgeshire

    August 2, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We think we have traffic problems in N Z, forget it!!! Took an hour in taxi from where I was staying in Kensington to King Cross station, taxi driver was pulling his hair out!! Reached Ely, picked up my rental no problem, a peppy little Audi. Accomm basic but clean, typical pub on a canal, could be beautiful but poms generally lazy. Visited Wicken and the ‘family mill’ lots of memories, all good. Today is serious research.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Notting Hill

    July 31, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Decided to walk to Notting Hill today, tried to look like Julia Roberts but couldn’t find Hugh Grant so had to give that up!!! Ha ha. Walked the length of Portobello Road, looking very drab and every stall holder was either Indian or Middle East. I was a little disappointed but it has been done now. Very busy today. Went across to Hyde Park again, today very busy, probably because the weather is a little better. I spent some time organising to do research when I get back here and rang a couple of relatives, so all good. Catch the train to Ely in Cambridgeshire at 10 tomorrow morning. Looking forward to being up there again.Read more

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