Another summer would never be complete without another wee trip over to Ireland. Yes I cant get enough of the place!!! My 1st few days I spent milling around Dublin with old friends who never fail to make me feel like I am at home!! I vowed that this time I would actually branch out a bit and visit more of Ireland rather than just the insides of the ever calling temple bar. I booked myself on a paddy's tour (the irony) and along with 2 new auzzie mates explored the depth of the south of Ireland. A kiss of the Balarny Stone .. Giving me the gift the gab (most people would say getting me to be quiet is more the problem.. I'm sure!) and then down to Killarney for a traditional Irish night out.. Session included. We headed as south as we could go around the Ring of Kerry with it's breath taking scenery and Irish legends to match that can only be described as ridiculously charming! A quick stop off in Limerick, home to Angela's Ashes and before I knew it I was back in Dublin. A Whirlwind tour that left me craving to use my Irish visa even more (if that was possible) that I previously wanted too. In continued spirit of exploring the UK. I head up to Northern Ireland. Belfast had me sold by the locals who is true Irish spirit adopted me. I was overwhelmed by the true depth of their history. Through a black cab tour I was able to visit both protestant and catholic areas (yes they still exist) and sign my names along one of the dividing peace walls. Awed and sadden at the same time I managed to head over west to Derry, a city even more engrained in Religious history. Along route the Giants Causeway was not to be missed. Rocks metres high have over time been pushed up out of the sea to create this step like illusion. The story goes that it was once a stepping bridge to Scotland built by an Irish giant to confront the neighbouring Scottish Giant. To me I can only describe it as a true natural wonder!
I had some time to kill before heading over the meet my new Danish niece in Copenhagen, so got myself booked on (very late notice.. I love travelling!) a 9 day Egypt tour. Arriving in Cairo the first thing that hit me was how extremely friendly and polite the Egyptian's actually are (although I suppose it is a tipping country). Yet again karma was on my side and I turned out to be part of a wicked group that although I was a lone traveller instantly made to feel part of the group. In the spirit of Egypt after meet our extremely entertaining tour leader Sam (who also happened to be an Egyptologist.. Meaning he knew everything… and I mean everything about Egypt's history) we headed off to see the first (of what was to be many) pyramids. I was speechless… yes literally! I felt like a kid at Christmas .. I was standing in front of a pyramid posing for a photo.. Wooohoo!! We headed down south to Aswan on an overnight train and some how managed to take over (as a group) one carriage that was used as a bar area… it literally had the words 'DISCO' written on the entry. With cheesy early 90's music and cheap Egyptian beer it proved to be a great ice breaker for the group. Our days in Aswan were spent tripping around several Egyptian temples .. The highlight would have had to be travelling even further down south to Abu Simbil, a historic temple that was not only stunning but worthy of some serious questioning how it was the Egyptians had built it so long ago! The following 2 days were spent cruising up the Nile on a felucca sail boat, were there was nothing other to do that lay in sun, bath in the Nile and dance around bonfires at night.. Could life get any better? Travellers stomach set in potentially due to the locals washing our dinner plates in the Nile (that I pretended very hard not to notice), leaving me a little worse for wears but by no means with a dampen spirit. I was in Egypt and I wasn't going to miss out! We got off the felucca in Luxor and more temples visited, Sam decided to get creative and starting explaining Egyptian mythology with the use of some unvolunteering volunteers from the group leaving us helpless but to giggle. I saw hieroglyphics and the first ever calendar. We rode donkeys and visited the Valley of the Kings. The tour ended in Cairo with a stop off at the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and a visit to the Egyptian museum. Yes I have seen Tutomkamun's golden mask!!! A fantastic trip overloaded with temples but made by the group and Sam our tour guide.
I ended this summers travelling by my usual stop off in Denmark to see the family. It is hard to think that this will be my last time seeing them before I head back to NZ in the not so distance future. Wow can 2 years fly when you are having fun! I spent my days in Denmark with overdue catch ups, mushroom (the legal kind!) hunting and getting to know my beautiful Danish niece. Off to do some work now and hopefully one more stint of travels to fit in before I am back in the land under down under. Love to all xxx