Monthly Archives: August 2010

My friend Tracia & I met on our first choir tour, which was of Estonia, Helsinki and the USSR twenty years ago! I’ve been on several choir tours since then, but not her. Now she has started her own choir in Davis called the Vocal Art Ensemble and is taking them on a short tour in Ireland, so I’m tagging along as another singer. I joined 2 rehearsals each month all summer to blend with them, memorized my music as requested, and we had our bon voyage concert last weekend that went really well, so I’m looking forward to touring with another group of singers.

But that’s not all! My friend Cyd & I have been wanting to travel together for awhile since we have similar high energy levels, leaving other travel partners behind, so this is the perfect trip for the Guinness Girl to come with me! Cyd & I are going 2 days early, joining the tour, staying in Ireland 4 more days, then over to Doncaster in Yorkshire to stay with Cyd’s longtime friend Janet for the rest of that week. Almost 3 weeks of traveling, and since my last visit to Ireland was only 3 days, I really want some hiking this time!

Below is our itinerary, and since at least for the first half of the trip we have wifi or broadband every night, I intend to blog as is now tradition for my global explorations. I’m also helping out with the VAE blog, so I’ll note that here too.

Next update most likely from Dingle!

Tuesday, Aug 31st
United Airlines depart San Francisco International (SFO) 12:59

Wednesday Sep 1st
United Airlines arrive United Heathrow (LHR) 07:30
Aer Lingus London to Cork 14:00 – 15:20
pick up rental car in Cork & drive to Dingle
Dingle Benners Hotel in time for a pint & good rest

Thursday Sep 2nd
in Dingle for gorgeous Irish western coast, then Glin overnight on the River Shannon
O’Driscoll’s Bed & Breakfast

Friday Sep 3rd
11:30am arrival at Shannon Airport to meet the rest of the Vocal Art Ensemble
Let the Irish Melody tour begin!
Visit Cliffs of Moher & the Burren
Menlo Park Hotel Galway

Saturday Sep 4th
Tour of Connemara, some of the most rugged scenery in Ireland
11:30 visit Kylemore Abbey
12:00 lunchtime concert at Kylemore Abbey
3:15 Irish High Tea at Ashford Castle
5pm Cruise on Lough Corrib. This lake is one of the cleanest, most unspoilt and most scenic in all of Europe.
overnight Menlo Park Hotel Galway again

Sunday Sep 5th
12:00 sing at Mass in Charleville, Killarney for Sunday morning service
4:00 visit Muckross House & Gardens or hike Killarney National Park
Killarney Towers Hotel

Monday Sep 6th
Ring of Kerry
8:00 evening concert at St Mary’s Killarney
dinner on our own
overnight Killarney Towers Hotel again

Tuesday Sep 7th
10:30am Blarney Castle
Tour Old Middleston Distillery home of Jameson Whiskey
8:00 joint evening concert in St Peter’s Church in Bandon with local choir
Gresham Metropole Hotel

Wednesday Sep 8th
Rock of Cashel
Kilkenny Castle
evening concert in St Canic’s Cathedral
New Park Hotel Kilkenny

Thursday Sep 9th
Wicklow Mountains and St Kevin’s Monastery at Glendalough
afternoon arrive in Dublin, evening & dinner on our own
Gresham Hotel Dublin

Friday Sep 10th
9am Dublin city tour, Trinity College, Book of Kells
12:45 lunchtime concert in St Patrick’s Cathedral
optional Guinness Brewery tour
overnight Gresham Hotel Dublin again

Saturday Sep 11th
catch ride to airport with VAE after breakfast
pick up rental car at the airport and drive! 😀

Sep 11th – Sep 14th
driving around Ireland – an adventure!
Where exactly is still a mystery, but a required stop at Brittas Bay south of Dublin on the eastern coast.

Tuesday Sep 14th
Dublin afternoon & overnight

Wednesday Sep 15th
RyanAir Dublin to Leeds 07:40 – 08:40

Sep 15th – Sep 21st
Janet’s hospitality in Leeds, Whitby (location of Dracula novel!) & environs
Yorkshire & eastern coast of northern England

Tuesday Sep 21st
train from Doncaster to Kings Cross – tube to Paddington Station – Heathrow Express to airport
home in time to stay awake for the Glee premiere! LOL…