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The Travels of Paula
The Travels of Paula

The Travels of Paula

I was a software engineer at the same computer company for 38 years although the name of the company changed 3 times. In 2012 I retired and spend my time now golfing, volunteering and traveling (for fun and on missions). Read more🇺🇸Haymarket
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  • The Travels of PaulaScotland, Wales & England 2017The Travels of Paula
    View from boat trip
    View from boat tripArts and Crafts House in BlackwellView on our walk

    Day 4: The Lake District

    August 12, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Today we toured several places in the Lake District. Our first was an Arts and Crafts House in Blackwell. The Arts and Crafts Movement was a reaction to the excesses of Victorian industrialisation. It grew from a desire to revive traditional craftsmanship and restore simplicity and honesty to how buildings and furnishings were made. The house was very interesting. After the tour of the house we had lunch in a café on the property and then headed to Bowness-on-Windermere. When we left the house it was raining, but when we got to Bowness-on-Windermere, it had stopped.

    John and I had no interest browsing the shops in the town, so we took a boat ride around the islands of Lake Windermere. When we returned to the hotel we decided to walk the trail near the hotel. Finding the trail turned out not to be a trivial task, but we finally found it. We walked about 4 miles on the trail and back to the hotel. I took & used a cane just for safety, but my knee did fine.

    Our group had dinner at a nearby pub. The food was good. It is fun getting to know the members of the group.    Read more

  • The Travels of PaulaScotland, Wales & England 2017The Travels of Paula
    Owner of the Manor House and our host.
    Manor House where we had lunchHadrian's WallDove CottageOne of the rooms in Dove Cottage

    Day 3: Hadrian's Wall; Lake District

    August 11, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    Was a full day on the bus. We departed (the Tauck director refers to it as"Wheels turning") 8am. It drizzled most of the day, but it wasn't too bad. Our first stop was to tour the Chesters Roman fort. From there we drove to a portion of Hadrian's. The part of the wall we saw was no more than 4 feet high - a far cry from the max height of 10-20 feet it is speculated to be.

    The highlight of the day was lunch. We had lunch with a couple at their Manor House. Half of our group dined with the wife and the other half of us dined with the husband. He was very interesting and explained pregenture to us. After lunch we toured the grounds and the gardens around the house. Then we returned to the bus and headed for Grassmere, the home of William Wordsworth. A few of us toured Dove Cottage while the remainder walked through the village and visited the shops.

    Then it was onto Langdale Estate hotel to check-in and have dinner.    Read more

  • The Travels of PaulaScotland, Wales & England 2017The Travels of Paula
    Edinburgh Castle
    Edinburgh CastleEdinburgh CastleHollywood CastleHolyrood CastleEdinburgh Castle

    Day 2: Edinburgh Sightseeing

    August 10, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    My knee was much better today. Our first stop was Holyrood Palace. I always enjoy touring palaces and
    castles and this one did not disappoint. The grounds were beautiful. Once inside the palace, the docents
    were dressed in period costumes and provided information about the rooms and answered any
    questions. In one of the rooms were some golf clubs and the docent showed us a golf ball that was filled
    with feathers and covered with leather.

    At one point to get to the room where Mary Queen of Scots’ friend, David Rizzo, was murdered meant it
    had to climb a set of 28 narrow, steep high steps. I decided to try it. I went slowly and had no trouble or
    pain.

    Our next stop was Edinburgh Castle. It was very crowded. I had been there in 1973, but my impression
    there were more buildings to see now than in 1973. After touring the castle buildings, John and l walked
    around and then got some lunch. While we were at lunch I read one of the Tauck information sheets
    and learned that there are both Scottish pounds and British sounds and Scottish pounds are not
    accepted in Britain. The pounds we had gotten from the ATM on our first day in Edinburg were Scottish
    pounds. So we started using the cash instead of our credit cards to make sure we used up theThen we
    headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and the Tatoo.

    It was pretty chilly tonight so everyone was dressing warmly and wearing layers. I wore my earmuffs and
    socks and I was glad I did. Plus John “rented” cushions at the venue for y pound each. The Taboo was
    great. Hot only was the music great & inspiring, but there was dancing and projections on the Castle
    walls of colors and images. The Tatoo also included fireworks. The Tato started at 9pm and lasted until
    around 10:45pm. John and I waited until the crowds thinned out some before we tried to leave. We got
    back to the hotel a little before 11pm.

    Need to finish packing tonight. We leave at 8am tomorrow for the Lake District.    Read more

  • The Travels of PaulaScotland, Wales & England 2017The Travels of Paula

    Arrival in Edinburgh

    August 9, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    It was a long day. The connection and Customs at Heathrow was easy. Unfortunately, I trieded my knee on the flights to Edinburgh, so my first day out was painful. The Tauck rep who picked us up from the airport realized from our day bags that at least one of us was interested in golf. He told (tortured) me about all the many golf courses some very close to the airport. We even saw a golf ball on the highway!

    After John and I met with the Tauck rep we headed out to try to "encash" our 33 year old travellers cheques. Total failure. We tried 2 places (Travelex & Kanoo) with no success. We will have to send them in to get our money. Oh, well.

    When we got back from that long, but unsuccessful walk our room was ready. Then it was time to meet the group and head for Stirling Castle. We received a tiny booklet with the names of everyone on the tour. That is a very nice perk, especially for someone who has a hard time remembering names.

    Our guide to Stirling Castle was very good, knowlegeable and funny.

    After the tour we filled out personal paperwork, selected our play and restuarant for our night out in London. Then there was just time for a quick shower and then down to the Welcome Reception and dinner. After a tiny bit of Administrivia, a gentleman played the bagpipes for as and answered questions. Later at dinner he recited Address to Haggis. The poem and the demo that went with it turned me off to Haggis, but it was my appetizer and was pretty good.

    It was a long day for us and after icing my knee I headed for bed.    Read more

  • The Travels of PaulaScotland, Wales & England 2017The Travels of Paula

    Get Ready, Set Go!

    August 8, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    I am packed except for my laptop, phone and tablet. This is a "test run" for traveling with my new HP Spectre X2, my new suitcase and for this new Blog site. I am hoping my knee, which is trying to make me believe I am too old to travel, will cooperate. I am armed with meds, a knew brace, a cane and ice packs and loads of optimism. John is taking fewer shoes and less technology, but maybe a few more clothes. The Dulles Flyer picks us up at 2:30 pm. I guess that is the official start of the trip.Read more

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