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Ireland
  • youonlylivetwice
Sep 2016 – Jul 2017

Ireland

A 302-day adventure by youonlylivetwice Read more
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    Waterford

    December 17, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 0 °C

    Left Cork early and headed to Waterford. Dropped my stuff off at the hostel and started touring around immediately. Waterford is the most ancient city in Ireland conquered by the Vikings in 914 AD by Reginald of Norway. It was invaded by the Oliver Cromwell, but he did not succeed in capturing Waterford. Later in the century Richard of Penrose (known as Strongbow) married Aiofe in exchange for land and settled in Waterford. is known as the Viking Triangle. Waterford is also known for its crystal and so I did take a jaunt into the lovely Waterford building to see their crystal and their lovely prices.Read more

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    Kilkenny

    December 17, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ 🌙 3 °C

    Wow this place is magnificent. Medieval town number two. I was going to stay for only one night but after trekking around today I only saw half of the town and so I will stay another day. It's been the coldest day on my journey in Ireland so far at a whopping 0 degrees today. I went to Kilkenny castle which is over 800 years old and was lucky enough to enjoy two musical concerts, one which was Gaelic christmas songs and the other was a harpist. I visited Rothe house, and Butler house and enjoyed the many quaint shops. Christmas is definitely in the air here.Read more

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    Kilkenny Day 2

    December 19, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Another misty chilly day but the sun is shining. I went to morning mass and set out about town again. Went to St. Mary's cathedral, St. John's church, the Black Abbey, and Smithwicks brewery. Smithwicks has been around for over 306 years and was founded by the Fransiscan monks and is older than Guiness. After dinner I went to watch a local band at the Pumphouse Pub. They are celebrating the 12 pubs of Christmas here where the locals hit 12 pubs every day for 12 days and drink 12 pints per day. There is a lot of drinking going on here. I did see a chap do a face plant on the pavement after we left and the ambulance was kind enough to load him up and take him away. Apparently this is quite common here. Great Irish music in the pub and great atmosphere.Read more

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    Leaving Kilkenny

    December 20, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 0 °C

    Yesterday I spent the day walking the Nore River and finding my bus stop for today's travel to Dublin. Heading to Dublin for my last four days before I go to Harrogate to housesit. I will miss Kilkenny it will have a special place in my heart. I met some lovely people at the hostel and enjoyed my time with them. Thanks to Anne, Nicole and Fergus-Travel with your heart!Read more

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    Back in Dublin

    December 21, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    Quick short bus ride and I'm back in Dublin. Staying at the same hostel I started out in when I came the first time, including the same bed. I dropped of my things and headed out in search of the Archaeology museum to view the 3000 year old bog bodies. My archaeology friend in Waterford said it was a must see. Well I found the National museum of Ireland instead (wrong museum). They had a free exhibit of Irish wars and crisis' over the centuries so I took that in. It was very interesting with many interesting artifacts. Today I will find the other museum. It's a good day for it because it is raining again in Dublin.Read more

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    A day at the museums

    December 21, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    Started off at the museum of Science and Violence but the didn't open until noon so I headed to the National Museum of Archaeology. Had to burn off 1/2 hour because it was only 930 and the museum opened at 10; nothing like being a keener. I spent five hours there going through history and artifacts learned so much about Ireland. Lots of Viking history and lots of wars and sieges. The Vikings fascinated me and so did the bog history. I came across the bog bodies that were so well preserved. Also learned about the 3000 year old burial site of Tara. There is a lot of rich and interesting history here. At three I made my way back to the science and violence museum. This too was interesting but in a modern format which included history on protests, weapons, human rights (abortion and the right to die) and genetic modification. An absolute 360 degrees from what I had just seen. So I had a very cerebral day in the end. I finally made it back in time to have dinner at 530, totally missing lunch. I noticed the Abbey theatre down the street was playing Tolstoys "Anna Karenina" starting tomorrow so I will check and see how much the tickets are. If they are not to much I will go to the play.Read more

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    Winding down in Dublin

    December 23, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Last day in Dublin today before I head out to England at 5:30 am tomorrow. I'll spend the day today walking the River Liffey toward the docks if it doesn't rain. It's very windy and I don't think my poor umbrella is going to make it another few days. I spent 3 hours yesterday in the National library yesterday perusing the WB Yeats exhibit. Not only was Yeats a poet, playwright, or political activist but also an intense lover of women. He had many concubines in his lifetime and was a very interesting man. On my walk to the library at 930 in the morning I saw a young well dressed girl doing a ball of heroin in the phone booth. It was very sad. I have been told by the Irish that heroin is a big problem in Dublin and so I kept my head down watching for needles. I saw three on the streets yesterday. I walked the park of St. Stephens Green and Trinity College. The streets and shops are chaotic with Christmas shoppers and I actually felt anxious with all the people yesterday. Looking forward to my housesit in Harrogate tomorrow. Will be missing my boys tomorrow for Christmas-love them both with all of my heart.Read more

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    Happy Christmas in Harrogate

    December 25, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    I arrived in Harrogate yesterday with Sandra and her sister Moira, who lives in Scotland, picking me up at the airport. The landing was like a teeter totter coming in because it was so windy. I unpacked my things in a beautiful bedroom and we headed off to a French restaurant for lunch to celebrate Lucy's 30th birthday (Sandra's daughter). After lunch we went to Josie's and Rods played board games and drank lots and lots of wine. So much fun! Wonderful people with such big and funny personalities; very dry wit. Had a good nights sleep and then took Dillon the dog for a 1.5 hr walk this morning. We started Christmas drinks with Prosecco at noon when James joined us. I made the Christmas chicken while Moira made the veggies and then we had a wonderful dinner. After dinner we went to James' place ate more, drank more and played more board games. We had so much fun. What a wonderful bunch of people!Read more

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    Historical Harrogate

    December 27, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌙 1 °C

    It's 4 degrees in December and the tulips have popped out of the ground already. I don't know if my walking shoes will make it another month. I set out this morning to walk the dog and when I got back to the house, after the dog was good and tired, I set out to check out Harrogate. I walked 18 kms today and my legs are feeling it. Interesting things about Harrogate: six royal visits, famous tea house, famous Turkish steam baths with therapeutic mineral/sulphur water; roadways built by a blind man named Jack (a pub was built in his honour); majority of the population is upper class; majority of the people own at least one dog; and hundreds of acres of green space and woodlands. There is a very different feeling to this town, educated, fit, and extremely social. Sandra told me to go visit the tea house as it was a historical place well worth the visit. I found it but the queue to get in was 30 people deep. I did look through the window and the pastries looked fantastic. I will try to get in for the famous Taylor's Yorkshire tea. Yorkshire pudding also originated from here. Jim Carter (Mr. Carson from Downton Abbey) was born here and studied theatre here. The town has many active ghosts. Can't wait to find out more!Read more

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    Hoary frost & Knaresborough

    December 29, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

    Its's not only cold in Canada. It has been foggy and super frosty here for the past two days. Even the spiders are hiding! Walked the dog this morning to Starbeck and then came home had a quick bite and headed for Knaresborough. It was a 8km round trip and I had to watch that I didn't slip and fall. Lots of hills today but when I reached Knaresborough I was thrilled. What a gorgeous English town. There are ghosts that live here and again it is another town that Oliver Cromwell took under siege. Boy he sure did get around fighting battles. I found the castle quickly and it belongs to the Queen now. The view from across the castle was the river Nidd and the railway that was built in the early 1800's is still in use today. The town had the strangest names of its streets; Jockey lane, Cheapside Rd, Bowling Green Yard and funny names for Restaurants and pubs. It was definitely a unique place.Read more

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    Happy New Year 2017 in Harrogate

    January 1, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C

    I've been busy walking for the past three days checking out the neighbouring areas. It warmed up yesterday and back to the cold today. I made myself some curried carrot and ginger coconut soup with a lovely mixed salad for New Years dinner along with a bottle of Jacobs Creek Chardonnay. The wine was on special for 5£ and I know back in Canada it's about $22 per bottle. Managed to make it to see in the new year and watched the fireworks from my bedroom window. Keeping an eye on the weather to see where my next leg will be on the 6th. It's been really great to have my own space and down time. I do miss my boys and my friends. I can't believe I've been away three months already.Read more

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    York

    January 3, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    The dog walker was scheduled to come in at 1pm today so I took advantage after my morning walk with the dog and took off to York for the day. 35 minute train ride to York and paid £17 return. Works out to about $29 for the day. The trains are super expensive here and no where as nice as European trains or as affordable. In fact they are in need of a severe upgrade based on the ludicrous cost of them. Nonetheless York was great and rich with history and quite lovely. I spent around 5 hours touring around but didn't go into the sites as everything was a minimum fee of £6 entrance fee. What ticks me off the most is that churches charge a fee to get in. I refuse to pay an entrance fee for a place of worship and so I turn right around and leave. The vikings and Thomas Cromwell were in York and do was Constantine and the Duchess of York. Remember her she was the fiery redhead that Prince Andrew was married to for short time. I enjoyed the Minster Abbey and found the Ghost walk interesting and also Clifford's tower. Found the library in Starbeck later on my way home and tried to plan my trip to Scotland. Will have to go to the bus company tomorrow to book a ticket as the internet sucks for information in the UK.Read more

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    Scotland bound

    January 6, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Well my housesitting gig is done and Sandra was kind enough to drop me off at the bus station. I couldn't get my ticket online so I thought I'd get it at the station. Yup no such luck so I had to find the tourist information building so that they could book it for me. I couldn't do it myself because the bus company wouldn't accept my postal code. I have found British transport and online bookings absolutely impossible. I've heard good things about Edinburgh so I'm eager to see it. And oh my god it is absolutely stunning! Gotta be my favourite historical site so far and I've only done a quick night walk since I got in. Walked the Royal mile and can't wait to explore tomorrow.Read more

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    Six hours of walking!

    January 7, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Booked into a different hostel this morning 50 m away from Edinburgh Castle. The place is full and I'm in a dorm of 12. I walked and saw the sights for 6 hours today. Saw so much. Went to Holyrood Palace where the queen stays when she is in Scotland. Booked my flight to Faro, Portugal for the 10th as I have decided to go somewhere warmer and cheaper. Went out to a local pub tonight right next door and met some super friendly Scots. The pub was a sea of men! I had three Scots join me and we talked and laughed for two hours. They thought I was 21 and what a great compliment. I never thought Edinburgh would be so great. The people of Scotland are truly funny and so warm. More walking tomorrow and more sights to see. I actually saw the sea from the castle today.Read more

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    6 more today!

    January 8, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Ugh what a horrible night of sleep. I tossed and turned all night, the room was hot and 12 people breathing made it that much hotter. Thank god no one closed the window I opened. Took off again for another six hour jaunt. Went to Calton Hill, National cemetery where Famous Scots Robbie Burns and Sir Walter Scott are both buried. Found the super expensive and ritzy George St. Shopping district, the National Records of Scotland and then headed off to the National Gallery. The gallery even had my favorite painter Raphael exhibited. Had an early dinner of fish and chips and so expensive. Tomorrow there is rain in the forecast and do I am going to the castle museum. My flight is booked for Faro, Portugal for Tuesday and I will be heading to 17 Celsius temperatures-so looking forward to some heat and sunshine.Read more

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    Last day in Scotland-Portugal bound

    January 9, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    Blustery rainy day today. I toured Edinburgh castle today for 5 hours. Lots of history. I had no idea that the Scottish were so involved in wars; Waterloo, Independence, WW1&11, India, Africa, Afghanistan, the list is endless and they fought in their kilts! Whoa how brave! They are known as warriors, fearless, sense of humour and proud. It was a great interpretive presentation at the castle. Mary Queen Scots was crowned when she was 8 months old and beheaded when she was 25. She was married at the age of 15. The Scots loved her the British didn't. Walked the quarter mile and I found new places to check out. Lots of shopping for kilts and woolen items in this city. Sunshine bound tomorrow and so excited!Read more

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    Faro, Portugal

    January 10, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Early start today and headed for the airport by 11. Flight was delayed by 45 minutes and when we finally boarded the pilot said that they had had 120 km headwinds coming in. Ugh I wasn't thrilled to hear that. But...the flight was super smooth, guess we had the tailwind, and we were only 10 minutes late. Stepped off the plane to 17 degrees with warm winds. For those of you who are in the throes of the coldest winter, sorry! Caught my bus and paid 2 euros for the trip from the airport to the hostel . Was at the hostel in 15 minutes. I am one 100 metres from the marina. It is so beautiful. Found an Italian restaurant and had my first pizza in months with a glass of red wine and sat outside. The restauranteur though I was crazy sitting on the patio and said it was too cold. Not from where I had just come from. I had three different guys whistle and say hello while I had dinner. I am going to rent a bike and a kayak because it is supposed to be warm for the next while. I can even do my laundry and hang it outside on the upper deck to dry. Can't wait to tour around tomorrow . I have traveled 2100 km so far on my travels and that's almost all the way across Canada.Read more

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    Faro around town

    January 11, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Wow, spectacular! Reminds me a little of Piran but on a grandeur scale. Super clean and lots of authentic culture. Walked around in the beautiful 20 degrees sunshine just in my t-shirt. When I got back from my walk I lay on the rooftop soaking up the rays for a bit. Bought a bottle of 2013 Duoro Valley red wine for 2.49 eu and had to got a restaurant next door to open it up for me because someone walked off with the corkscrew at the hostel. I sat up on the rooftop and drank this fabulous red wine. My third bottle of wine since New Year's Eve. Tomorrow I am heading up on the west coast by train to Lagos and will spend three days there, I can catch a bus to Seville Spain from there and it only takes two hours to get there. Could be a day trip. I will see what happens when I get to Lagos. So far I really like Portugal it has a very easy going feeling to it and is very friendly and safe.Read more

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    Up the Algarve coast-Lagos

    January 12, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Left Faro today and headed up coast and it took hour and a half by train to Lagos. Stunning! Reminds me a little of Nice, France except friendlier. Apparently this place has a lot of pirate stories. Lots of British and apparently Canadians spend time here. I met a lady from Salt Spring Island here today who quit her job and sold her house and is travelling for a while too. Met a lovely Swedish girl, Josephine, who is my bunk mate for three nights and we've already spent an hour talking. Great people here. Walked the promenade this afternoon after I dropped the pack off and found the fortress built in 1690 that protected the coastline and spent some time on the beach. Found another great seashell that's coming home with me. Temperature today 20 degrees.Read more

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    Cliff walk at Lagos

    January 13, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    Set out for a walkabout with Hugo and three others from the hostel to see the city and the cliffs. The views were breathtaking and the sun was shining with a breeze throughout the day. The cliffs are comprised of sandstone and clay and have a unique yellow and orange colour. Some parts looked like Nevada. Walked through a giant agave cactus patch and interesting tuber like grasses. Stopped along the way for a drink break and to enjoy the view. Total km 12.76 thanks to Emily and her fit bit. In bed early as my legs were sore doing all those hills.Read more

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    Last day in Lagos

    January 14, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 10 °C

    Today was a day of easy walking before I take off to Lisbon tomorrow. Had a great Portugese medieval sandwich for lunch. In the evening when the late American women checked in a group of us headed down to the beach for a bonfire. A very sure footed walk down the cliffs and a beautiful sunset with tons of stars in the sky. We had a fabulous time and the tide went way out. Great talks with Emily, Steph and Woody from Oz and also Julia from Brazil. We had to come up the cliffs on the way back in the dark which was a little harder except for Emily who was like a mountain goat climbing the hills. So much fun!Read more

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    Lisbon

    January 15, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Departed at 10:30 from Lagos to Lisbon today. The bus was almost 4 hrs but a great and comfortable ride. I didn't book s hostel because there were so many choices and thought I'd wait. I had picked one out in my head. It took me 2.5 hours to find it because the hostels are not marked and I couldn't get free wifi anywhere. Lisbon is huge and by the time I did a circle and finally did find the hostel i was tired and had walked 10 km. The hostel is fabulous and way better than the last two dumps I've been in. My bed actually has a curtain around it for privacy. Huge racial mix of people in this city. I walked through the black, Chinese, Turkish, Muslim and Jewish section on my way to the hostel. The United Nations! Im in bed early because I have a lot to see tomorrow. Breakfast us included here so I am looking forward to that.Read more

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    Walking Tour yesterday

    January 17, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    Set out yesterday on a guided walking tour from the hostel. It wasn't as informative as I hoped. Once the tour was over Joni and I set out to the Almalfa area on our own. This is the the oldest town area in Lisbon. Lisbon was flattened by a 9.4 earthquake on all saints day in 1775 and 10000 people died. The king and his son were also assassinated in the town square.Read more

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    Cascais and Cabo da Roca

    January 17, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    Set out on a day trip to Cascais and Cabo da Roca with my lovely Aussie friends Steph and Emily. Headed out by train and spent a good part of the day walking the promenade of Cascais; apparently the richer part of Portugal. Watched as a local spear fisherman brought out his haul onto the beach which he had nicely tucked away into the back of his wetsuit. Looked like something out of a Bond movie. We had lunch and then caught the bus to the most westerly part of the European continent. The road was really windy and when we got there the wind was blowing really hard. Walked the trail to the edge of a cliff and took some great photos. When we got back to Cascais we had a cheese and cracker picnic at a beach viewpoint. Took the train back to Lisbon and went for dinner and then a custard tart, said to be the national desert of Portugal. It was a beautiful day and we walked 13.5 km in the gorgeous sun.Read more

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    Sintra and the Moorish influence

    January 18, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 5 °C

    There are so many amazing places in this planet and I've hit another one. Took the local train this morning and 40 minutes later I'm in another National Park. I was surprised how much influence the Moorish (Moroccans) had in this area particularly in architecture. Lots of beautiful tile and Muslim influence. Visited the mansion, grottos, church, gardens and underground caves and labrynth. Wales 2km uphill to see the castle and holy crap I thought my lungs were going to pop; thank god it was all downhill on the way back. I was exhausted when I got back to the hostel. Total walking kms today in walking , 14!Read more

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