When despair grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
— Wendell Berry, The Peace of Wild Things
When Mary and I first considered taking this trip, we noticed that the cheapest flight we could find had an 18-hour layover in Iceland. Most people would see an 18-hour layover and think, Heck no, but we saw it and thought, Heck yes. Iceland? Without much extra planning at all? How could this get any cooler?
Read MoreOur time in Scotland began with a flight from Dublin to Edinburgh at 7:30 p.m. We cobbled together a dinner at the airport before we left (okay, if I'm being honest, I wasn't feeling particularly healthy that day and mostly ate Wotsits and Kinder Buenos). The city bus was easy to catch, though I wasn't really overjoyed by my first impression of Edinburgh: the route from the nearest stop to the hostel was completely uphill, and by the end, I thought my calves were going to give out.
Read MoreIf you're looking for a short day trip that doesn't require extensive planning while you're in Dublin, I would highly recommend Malahide and Howth. Both are a short train ride away and offer a different take on Irish culture than the metropolitan area of Dublin—plus, Howth is right on the sea, and you can't beat the cliffside views!
Read MoreThe day started with another early morning trek to the Molly Malone statue to meet our tour guide and the rest of the crew. Irish Day Tours seems to be a bit smaller of a company than Paddywagon, so it was fairly simple to locate our white tour bus with the blue swirl on the side.
Read MoreWe arrived at the Molly Malone statue in downtown Dublin around 7:30 a.m, early for our 8 a.m. pick up time for the tour. It was a little overcast that day, and Mary had warned me that it can get windy and chilly on the cliffs, so I'd packed both my raincoat and my jean jacket. As we were standing and waiting, a fellow American overheard us talking and approached us, asking where we were from. When we told her Kentucky, she exclaimed, "Really? I'm from Louisville!" (I honestly don't understand how the world is so small.) It was her birthday, and we ended up sitting behind her on the bus and sharing stories of traveling and a mutual love for Please and Thank You cookies.
Read MoreThis was our last day of the first "leg" of our trip, when we would finally have a chance to have a proper look around our base city. Despite having lived in Oxford for four months last spring, I'm sad to say that I spent more time studying than being a tourist. But this did mean that there were so many choices for things to do! I decided to mix nostalgia and adventure by revisiting some favorite sites from my time there and seeing some new ones as well.
Read MoreStratford-upon-Avon was another easy ride by train from Oxford, and it was by far one of my favorite cities we visited. While I was studying at Oxford, Shakespeare was my research emphasis, and I've always had a liking for the bard, so the city in which he spent his childhood and adolescence, as well as where he raised a family, was a must-see.
Read MoreThe journey from Oxford to Bath is short and enjoyable through the train service that links the two cities. Upon arrival, Mary and I were energized from our free hot breakfast at the hotel. I loved Bath the last time I went, and I could see even more of its appeal in the summer, with the shops bustling and quirky displays of art and street performers out.
Read MoreWe arrived at Brighton at around 10:30 a.m, greeted by the salty smell of the sea and the wind whipping our faces. It was in the 70's and perfect: sky bright blue, water beautifully aquamarine, tourists not yet outside. We took our time walking along the Brighton Pier as the workers were dashing about in preparation for its opening, appreciating how much the sea made this day feel like an actual vacation. Then, we made our way down to the pebbled beach, walking along the line of cute shops and restaurants, reaching the skeletal remains of the old pier washed out to sea.
Read MoreHello, all! It's been awhile! My best friend Mary and I just arrived back from our last stop, NYC, on Friday, and I'm excited to share our three week journey across the pond and back with you. Since there is a lot to cover, these entries will be posted throughout this week and next week, so keep checking in to find the newest installment! Let's get started with our first stop along the journey: Boston, MA.
Read MoreA couple of hours later, on the steps of Asbury University's student center, our creative director spoke the words I'd been dreading. "Basically, we might have to drive to Minnesota if we want to have it here on time."
Read MoreIt feels only fitting that on the one year anniversary of my last day in England I should be planning a trip that my best friend, Mary, and I have been dreaming of since freshman year of high school: a two-week backpacking trip through the United Kingdom (with a surprise layover in Iceland). A year later, I will be traveling back across the pond to my home away from home, ready to hand over copious amounts of money to the first crêpe cart I see. But both Mary and I will have just graduated from college, which means—you got it—we're broke. This means I've got to get creative if I want to be able to afford all those sidewalk snacks (not to mention airfare).
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