Looks Like London Again

Hello fellow friends and travellers,
Looks good for coming back to London. My cousin has given the invitation and looks like I'll take it in November. Ireland next door will def. be back there as well. My trip back here was quite event full. After four airports and being up almost 12 hours I finally get to my last destination Heathrow Airport the airport from hell. Flight time was to be at 3:00. We finally left at 8:30 that evening. Now you got it. If I hadn't had such a session the night before in Dublin O'Neils at the airport would of known me very well. Actually the plane that I was on just down a few more gates was the one that was to leave at the same time as we did to the same destination. We flew into Boston 5 minutes apart from one another. Astounding......

My last few nights in Dublin were filled with such activities as the Dublin Zoo, local pub with friends and the ghost bus tour. That was fantastic. A double decker bus where the curtains are drawn until you start reaching destinations. The stories and grave yards, old churches all in the dark mind you stumbling over these items such as grave stones is not the best intended things to be doing especially when a full day the following one is to be charged full of activities. I highly recommend this tour and to book early as it sells out quickly. Anne and her daughter Kate were with me of course when this was all taking place. I don't think Anne has gotten over yet the Irish pub I brought her to and left her as well on Sunday night of last. The singing and carrying on at these places is remarkable. Of course it helps to have a few pints while attending these activities.

I haven't quite got what is going to happen with my friend in Canada however if nonething is going to until January than off to London the end of October beginning of November for at least a month anyway. Now I can start all over again with my UK friends getting back to where we left off. Covent Gardens of course is one place to begin with.

The free spirit is still moving within me and have to move onward to new and old destinations. Africa is still not out of the picture. Life does go on and I????? enjoying it to the fullist. Keep up with the news guys still want to hear from you.

Mark you shall have no problem in St. Kilda

Helen glad to hear the good news

Jude still trying to get to you

Wally looking at flights right now

Mary cheap flights back to Philly again did you get my numbers for here? Need yours again

Steven meet your new room mate

Mitch will be good to see you and Steve again

Everyone else

Irish blessings

ME

Just a Quick One

Had a great day with my friends from Australia I haven't seen since May when I left England. Met up with them last march in Thailand. We went to the Kilkamaine? the famous jail from 200 years ago. Alot of films where made there including one of U-2's songs (one of my favourite groups) it is also where the Easter up rising group where shot as well. Alot of history and an almost a 2 1/2 hour tour. Anne and Kate have never been to Dublin so did one of the bus things as well just had a great day. Going to Phenonix Park tomorrow to the Dublin Zoo. The lion that is still roaring on the MGM films beginning? That lion came from The Dublin Zoo. Don't think he is still roaring although. A party at the Pub with friends of mine from Dublin as in the late afternoon a real Irish pub where tourists don't go. It will be quite the session with singing and real Irish music.

Gotta go as I'm on a ghost bus tonight at 9:30 for 2 hours and need to walk to meet up with my friends and get onto the bus.

Still living on the edge. Blessings from Ireland as they say.

ME

Another Fine Day in Dublin

Hello fellow travelers and wish to be's,

Left town this am as the weather was going to be rain and it did. Cancelled out my DIrty Boots walking tour so got on a tour bus & was quite surprised it was really good. On a double decker bus no less out to the Wicklow mountains Ballykissangel and Glendalough which means land of two lakes. Ballykissangel is really Avaron a series is made for tv in the UK called Ballykissangle. By the time we got to Glendalough it was pouring which made this monastic place more errie. It goes back to St.Kevin where he built the monastry which the arches upon entrance are still standing and so is the tower. The door to the tower is 10 feet high so people could escape manely the monks from their enmies. They pulled a rope ladder up behind them when they entered. They were smoked out however as the tower may be tall but narrow as well. There were 6 more floors to go to the top of the tower which are now long gone. It is all made of stone made thousands of years ago. It is surrounded by a hugh cemetary with celtic crosses in different stages of disaray staring back at you in silence. The ruins of the cathderal are still there but a small church made entirly of stone even the roof still stands with St. Kevins cross in the front. Beyond is an unbelievable walk to 2 lakes lower and upper. I had been given an umberella by the tour guide so I could do my thing in the rain The mist hovered over the mountains as I was nearing the lake clinging every so often upon the land and lake below. No one was about as I took this walk and as I kept looking back at the tower it seemed to follow me in the distance. BY the time I got back to the hotel where we were dropped off, people on the tour were hovering in the hotel pub trying to dry off or so they said. We went past the embassies of many countries on the way back to Dublin all trying to out do the other it seemed as each place seemed to be larger than it's neighbour. As to my dorm I'm in Dublin in the Temple Bar where it is all happening. Great dorm with 10 great people from 8 different countries. Everyone seems to gather in a place like the one I'm at which makes no one a stranger. No age, country, religion non existant in this world. Tonight we all went out to eat a cheap meal together and will meet up again at a pub around the corner for some good music. My fellow travellers does this make you want to go again?

Tomorrow I meet up with my friend Anne from Australia later in the day. My phone is finally fixed as well so all you who have my number give me a call. MY UK number. Just topped up so ready to go. Going out to a stud farm (horses) for a few hours in the am & I've booked as well an Irish connection 90 minutes of experiencing rhythm, dance and learning to play the Boohran (the irish drum) think I'll get one and bring it home to drive everyone crazy. REALLY......

Sending everyone blessings from Ireland and remember there is no place called "far away."

Joan doesn't this make you want to go back to Scotland?

Mitch will be talking to you give me a call when you get up.

Darby, Dave M. and Steven, nonething will happen until I get back will be surprised if it does.

Bill & Dale Mary is not doing well talked to Darby today keeping barely will let you know

Ken C. there is not much news on the hurricanes here plus I don't see hardely any tv where you effected? Let me know...... Wally same with you is there another one coming?

Ken R. do you want me to purchase a horse from the farm tomorrow? I'll be your trainer...........

Everyone else stay happy & keep in touch.

ME

So You All Thought I Was...

Greetings from Ireland. Have been here now for almost a week and have been so busy with friends and new ones I haven't been to the internet. When I landed in Dublin went to the bus stop immediately to grab a bus to Galway. As usual it was the slow one and if it not for a quick witted fun Irish lady sitting next to me I would of gone crazy. I had booked into a hostel there for the night as I had made arrangements for Doolin my favourite place because of the music and dancing, singing, drinking ectfor the next week. Just the wayside is unbelievable. Each little town you go through has it's own flavour and you would like to just stop at them all. I've had room mates however but never in the dorm that much to decide whether I liked them all that well or not. I had met some German boys at the hostel who liked to hike and was willing for a long walk along the Burren actually 15 miles. They had a car (all my new best friends have cars) so could get to the beginning of the green road from Fanore about 12 miles from Doolin. The walk up the hill was roadside where we picked up a fantastic 65 year old Irish guy from Cork also on the same track. The German boys had made sandwiches I had boiled eggs not much for the offering and John the Irish guy had fruit. This is a famous walk as it was used during the famine to Ballyvaughn & hasen't been used since than What a feeling to walk this I tell you. The burren which means barren in Irish has been the most focal point and walk I have done here so far. I really got a feel for Ireland as we went over the tops of the burren on a roadway with fences to climb to get across to the next paddock. Yes paddock as there are cows and bulls. One bull in particular decided he was going on the run towards us fortunately the stone walls are not too high to get over quickly. The walls by the way are built so air can blow through. The stones are not stacked tightly as without this these hundred of years old walls certainly would of fallen as the wind becomes quite strong. The sea is off in the distance so views of green fields, wild flowers and of course the roadway which is really green with the original tracks the Irish walked on over 100 years ago Now and than is gets the rocks which are flat are there as well but not too often. We walked for hours over the tops of the burren with beauty more beautiful than before. We ate our lunch sitting on lush green grass with grazing animals nearby. I took many a photo as well as I did bring my video camera with me this time. Every now and than we would pass an old village with only the walls of either end standing where people from that time actually lived. An old church and remains of an old castle. As we neared the end of the top we went down a small narrow and steep pathway which seemed to take forever. If we had contined on the green road it would of been another 12 miles or so ending in ballyvaughn. At bottom the usual narrow Irish road with farms went on and on for another few miles. We came upon a beautiful beach upon the ocean where believe it or not dophins were around some of the rocks. All in all it took about 6 hours for us to do this walk. We got back to the car the Irish guy had his car parked in the same car park went down to the local pub for a pint actually two. There is also a matchmaking festival going on in the next village to Doolin where there is dancing from 10 am on till when I don't know. It is for the month of September. As long as you are straight up that you do not want to match than it is alright. Two girls I met from Austria had a car was going to Lisdoonvarna and dropped me off for the festivities. I just though it would be a dance or two ended up for the entire afternoon and a ride back to Fanore to a pub for more. Of course it is all Irish dancing which I can do (now very well) met some more incrediable people who wanted to take me to Cork where they all lived for a few days of seeing the West of Cork which is also beautiful. I had made commitments however to meet up with some Irish people I already knew at O'Connors pub in Doolin. I have been invited to a big party in Dublin (where I just arrived to thanks to my Irish friend Colm who lives in Wicklow and drives the backpacker bus. This will take place on Sun day, just heard on my Uk mobile my friends from Australia who are now in England are coming over tomorrow and some UK friends we had met in Thailand will be here as well. All sound impossible? Well you have to live on the edge to get all this in as life is too short to worry about things that can't be changed. The expression goes with the backpacker is why go back home and work? Get a job here than move on a get a job there. I'm almost sure now I'm looking into a backpack trip through Africa leaving in November. There are a many overland routes for people like me that are quite affordable and take about three months to complete. If you are looking for comfort you can spend hundreds of dollars more for only a few weeks. I choose the first one.
Nonething ever ends just new beginnings signing off for now unfortunately I do have to leave to go back on the big bird. Irish blessings to you all.

B. Gallagher

Mitch when are you coming across the pond
Helen are you still working and living in Linclon.
Mark have you left for Thailand
To Bob and Marguriete please let me know how you are getting on and when I can come to bother you again.
Jude you missed this trip guess I'll have to show up save up some more money and I'll be on.
Fr. Marc prayers for a safe trip back and will have a few more pints for you
Wally save the couch I'm coming down tell Damien I'll be at the wreck and of course all our favourite other places
David Murphy... I just talked to Darby she told me about aunt Mary doesn't look like I'll be back in time will call you when I get back
Any takers for Africa???????