I was surprised yet delighted to see yarn bombing next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin…
Purple doors shout out happy!
Tag Archives: Photography
Dancing in Scotland
My friend Teresa and I, having arrived from Dublin, Ireland to Edinburgh, Scotland in the late afternoon, decided to check out a local pub right down the street from our Airbnb, called “The Grapes”. When we first walked in, it was apparent we were outnumbered by the males, only seeing a couple of other females. We bought a glass of beer because that’s what you do in Ireland and proceeded to talk to a few of the friendly looking men standing around also with beer in hand (well not in this photo).
As you can see they were quite friendly, posing with Teresa! The DJ, who looked to be of Latin descent, was playing American 70’s music, so we decided to get the party started by dancing in the small area in front of him. It was so much fun! When the bartender saw me taking photos, she asked me what I was there for and I replied, “To have fun!”
I asked this gentleman to pose for a photo in front of the lady’s room and I swear he looks just like Popeye!
We only stayed an hour or two, but danced most of the time! It was a great way to start our four-day adventure in Scotland!
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Edinburgh’s Architecture
One of the best ways to explore any city’s architecture is by walking through its streets and Edinburgh has such a diverse and interesting mix of architecture, you’ll forget your feet are beginning to hurt!
I’m definitely not an expert on architecture, but I know what pleases my eye and camera. The following are some photos from Old and New Town Edinburgh, which were made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.
This cute little house is situated in Princes Street Gardens, which lies between the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh. A lovely place to take a stroll!
I encountered this colorful scene while walking downhill from our visit to Edinburgh Castle.
There is nothing particularly “special” about this shot, but the blue definitely pops and I find it visually appealing.
Row of buildings in Old Town Edinburgh as seen from the divide between the Old and New Towns.
Climbing Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh
Climbing Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh was high on my list of things to do while in Scotland and early in the morning on our last day there, my friend and I walked 10 minutes from our Airbnb to do just that! Located a mile from the Edinburgh Castle and standing 822 feet above the City, the views are breathtaking! This is the highest we got because it had drizzled and was a bit slippery and the route we chose to hike was a bit more like rock climbing. But the view of the city was spectacular!
My friend Teresa took a photo of me with her camera navigating my way up the steep hill and she remarked that she wasn’t as worried about going up as she was with coming back down.
I saw the Loch Ness Monster
For day three of our four-day stay in Scotland, I scheduled a day trip (12 hours round-trip) from Edinburgh through Rabbie’s Tours for a journey to Loch Ness, Glencoe, and the Highlands in Scotland. They take smaller groups (16 and under) on their tours which provides a more intimate experience. Here I am on the boat ride (an additional cost) on Loch Ness. I purchased a new rain coat that was both functional and stylish for the trip and it came in handy a number of times, although we had wonderful weather for the most part!
Our first stop was at one of the many “lochs” (lakes) along the way before reaching our final destination of Loch Ness.
Traveling North over the flat fertile plains of the lowlands eventually gave way to shimmering lochs, rugged mountain tops and forest-filled glens.
The knobby hills (the Scots call them mountains) rose dramatically over the lush green glens in the most famous of them all, Glencoe. The area is very popular with hikers and rock climbers. Glencoe was the home of Hagrid from Harry Potter and was also the backdrop for a James Bond film.
Upon arrival to Loch Ness we were greeted with beautiful blue skies! The larger boat on the right is the one my friend and I took a ride on for spotting Nessie.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is Scotland‘s most visited paid tourist attraction and sits upon an extinct volcano. The castle has undergone so many attacks during it’s 1100 years of history, it is the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world!
I captured these photos after touring the Castle and walking down toward Princes Street Gardens.
As you approach the castle to enter, this is your view…
The Royal Mile
Having researched The Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland before my trip, and checked out some photos of it, I have to say it’s even more beautiful in person! It stretches from the Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, hence the name. A little known fact, at least to those who don’t live in Scotland, it’s actually a bit longer (.12) than a normal mile, because it’s a Scot’s mile. After spending four nights in Dublin, my friend and I flew on Ryan Air to Edinburgh to explore for four days. The architecture can only be described as being Grand and the City is filled with so much history! Compared to Dublin, the City of Edinburgh is much hillier and to me more interesting.
I reserved an Airbnb, located within 15 minutes walking distance from The Royal Mile, and was very pleased with the Apartment. It’s a three-bedroom and we had to share it with other people. The first couple that stayed for one night of our stay weren’t very friendly, but the next couple were very talkative and nice. Cute living/dining/kitchen area…
Breakfast was included with the rental and the owners made sure to keep it stocked with yogurt, cereal, milk, fruit, bread, etc.
Here’s my friend Teresa taking a photo of her bedroom…
which looks just like my bedroom…
The weather was overcast much of the time, and rained for part of one day, and drizzled a bit another day, but nice the remainder. The umbrellas are nice for photographing!
Ireland’s Medieval City of Kilkenny and its Castle
Kilkenny’s rich medieval heritage is evident in the city’s treasure trove of historical buildings and landmarks, especially the magnificent Kilkenny Castle. Kilkenny is Ireland’s most beautiful medieval city. My day trip from Dublin through Collins Day Tours included this majestic city. I walked around the castle looking for a variety of perspectives.
The back “yard” goes forever, with its lush and green manicured lawn!
Who doesn’t love fountains!
A couple of young lads enjoying the day! Nice to see them phone-less.
The city of Kilkenny through my eyes and lens…
Dublin in a Day
Arriving to Dublin in late afternoon, I settled into the Airbnb I had reserved, located in the Temple Bar area, within walking distance to all of the major attractions. My friend and I went to a nearby grocery store for some breakfast and snack items (along with some local wine) and went out to dinner. We had Irish excursions planned for the following two days, so we didn’t really explore Dublin until our last day in the City. We had wonderful weather and I was so excited to be in Ireland! Dublin is a very walk-able city. I asked these two beautiful lassies for their photo…
A typical Dublin street…
The famous Ha’ Penny Bridge.
Trinity College’s “Book of Kells” was amazing! The Book of Kells, created in 800 AD, is composed of four gospels of the New Testament. The room itself is magnificent!
Day trip from Dublin to Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains
Glendalough, or the Glen of two lakes, is one of the most important sites of monastic ruins in Ireland. It is also known as the city of the seven Churches. Fourteen centuries have passed since the death of its founder, St. Kevin, when the valley was part of Ireland’s Golden age. For my second full day in Ireland, I booked another day trip, this time through a company called Collins Day Tours. My friend Teresa was my beautiful model…
These trees were kinda trippy!
I’ve began collecting photographs of people taking selfies!
The moody skies were the perfect backdrop for the 6th Century monastic settlement, providing just the right atmospheric setting!
Ireland’s Treasure at Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher, located 3 hours from Dublin on the West coast of Ireland, rising over 750 feet at their highest point, are one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights! As a day trip from Dublin, it makes for a long day (12 hours round-trip with stops), but an unforgettable one! We were fortunate to have beautiful weather, a bit windy with temperatures near 70 degrees. The rugged and stunning scenery was simply gorgeous!
Walking from one end to the other along the paths was invigorating after the bus ride…
I booked the trip through a company called Irish Day Tours and the guide’s accent was charming! He warned against standing on the edges because tourists have either fallen or the cliff has given way.
My friend Teresa looking lovely as usual!
The Man Who Built a Castle
At the bottom of a steep yet very narrow and winding road in the town of Loveland, Ohio, stands a medieval castle named Chateau Laroche (aka Loveland Castle & Museum). Built by Harry Andrews, a former World War I army veteran, who acquired the land in 1927 and began construction in 1929, it was a labor of love.
Andrews carried tons of stones in an estimated 56,000 five-gallon pails from the Little Miami Riverbed upon which the Castle sits and made bricks by pouring concrete into old milk cartons.
It was during his tour of duty in Europe that Andrews fell in love with castles. Upon his return, he formed the Knights of the Golden Trail (KOGT), a group he said would be dedicated to helping save civilization, which he felt had seriously eroded. Their code of conduct is simply to follow the Ten Commandments.
Working on the castle every weekend until he retired in 1955 at the age of 65, and then full-time, the castle was Andrews’ life work.
The castle boasts a great hall, a banquet hall, an armory, a bedroom for Andrews, a watchtower, and a real dungeon with cells. Some of the rooms are full of memorabilia from the dark ages. Continue reading
Adventures on a Tiny Island in Ohio
Lake Erie has a tiny two by four mile island — “Put-in-Bay“, known as Ohio’s premier summer-time party spot, located only 20 minutes by ferry from mainland. Every year my friends and I organize a long weekend away that usually includes relaxation, hiking, good food, fun, and a hot tub! We enjoyed our trip to Put-in-Bay so much last year, we decided to return for this year’s annual get-away.
This shot was taken early Saturday morning just as the sun was rising…
Friday morning we drove from Cincinnati and caught the 12:30pm Miller Ferry ride (during high season they conveniently leave every 30 minutes) to the island. We left our car parked (it’s free) in their lot and carried our bags on board.
Once on the island, having reserved a golf cart (the preferred method of transport on the island) through Miller Marina, we were able to fit six women and all of our stuff on it! Yes…it was only for the weekend!
Miller Marina in Put-in-Bay offers public transient dockage with a private club atmosphere and family friendly setting. It is located one block West of downtown Put-in-Bay, close to island attractions, yet far enough away from all the distractions. Miller Marina offers grills and picnic area, pavilion, modern restrooms/showers, WiFi and golf carts are available for rental.
We stayed at the Island Club Condos aka Put-in-Bay Condos at a beautiful end unit with a view of the pool and Lake Erie to the left. Our two-bedroom/two-bath condo was perfect!
Put-in-Bay’s split personality ensures that everyone has an unforgettable time…think Gatlinburg and Key West on steroids! While exploring the island with your fun mobile, make frequent stops for shopping, dining at one of the colorful outdoor cafes while listening to live music, and cooling off at a swim-up bar with a frozen tropical beverage in hand. When or if your senses become overloaded from the people watching and intoxicating excitement, hop back on your cart to experience the other side of Put-in-Bay, where you’ll find serene and tranquil spots to gaze at the sailboats gliding by on the glistening blue lake.
When we weren’t out exploring, you could usually find us out on the patio enjoying nature…
Farm Life in Rural Ohio
I arrived to my Cousin Steve’s farm late on Tuesday evening after spending the afternoon exploring the gorgeous Amish countryside in Holmes County, Ohio. His farm is in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, almost 1 1/2 hrs. Southwest of Holmes County, on the way back to Cincinnati. I’ve only visited once before, a few years ago, so I was looking forward to it! As we brought my overnight bag into his home, the setting sun caught my eye, glowing gold behind bottles on his kitchen windowsill…
Steve took me on a tour of his place. His cute bunny rabbits…
His friendly horse…
and inquisitive cow…
Five Hours with the Amish
Monday afternoon I decided last-minute to take a 3 1/2 hr. drive Northeast of Cincinnati to Holmes County, Ohio to visit the Amish countryside. On the road by 11am Tuesday, the drive took me past rolling pastureland, through small Midwestern towns, with names like Utica and Stillwell. Listening to an audiobook on tape, I would alternate my attention from the book to the passing scenery. I was excited to finally have a peek into the somewhat guarded and secretive life of the Amish. I spotted my first Amish horse and buggy in Danville, about 30 minutes from my first stop in Millersburg. When I finally arrived at the Chamber of Commerce in Millersburg to pick up some information, the excitement was building. My route was to travel 7 miles on to Berlin, 4 miles to Walnut Creek, 6 miles to Sugarcreek, 8 miles to Farmerstown, and 4 miles to Charm.
I had read that the Amish don’t like having their photograph taken, so when I saw this gentleman coming down the road in Farmerstown, I jumped out of my car, pointing to my camera as I gestured my question. He shook his head “yes”.
This couple was passing my vehicle on a back country road in Charm. The outside corners of their lips are turned upward in a small smile….
I couldn’t have picked a nicer summer day to be taking my tour. The sky was a brilliant blue with puffy white clouds and a light breeze brought scents of freshly cut grass and wildflowers through my open car windows. A couple of times my eyes pricked with happy tears for the beauty I was bearing witness to.
Everywhere I looked, well-tended farms sat on hillsides or in the valleys surrounded by green and blue. The only sound within these peaceful communities was the clip clop of the horses’ hooves making contact with the road as they transported the Amish to and fro…
Sherry Lachelle Travels 