My tour of England, Wales ,Ireland and Scotland

By John Tauro

Here is a travel experience that I have penned down which I would like to share it with you all.

1st Day

A group of senior citizens from Mumbai, arranged by Veena World Tours, joined and met at Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai last month. Regina, my wife, and I joined the group at Mumbai. As the scheduled flight of Jet Airways from Mumbai to London Heathrow Airport readied, our tour manager gave our tickets and asked us to proceed to the airline counter, followed by security check and immigration. All went as planned and then the time was to wait for the airline to be announced for boarding.

Accordingly, our boarding time was 12.45 am. We were all eager to fly to London safely. After boarding, the pilot announced the take off at 1.15 am. After a safe flying we reached at 6.40 am (local time) at London Heathrow airport. All of us wished and handshaked for the safe landing. Our tour manager guided us to proceed to the immigration counter and after that we collected our luggage and waited for  instructions.

The tour manager asked us to change the currency into pounds. We did that in the airport and waited for the coach pilot. After he arrived we loaded our luggage in the coach.

We were all in the world’s most visited city. We enjoyed the city orientation tour. This included Tower Bridge, Big Ben, River Thames, Trafalgar Square, Parliament House and Hyde Park. We also enjoyed the panoramic view of the city, including Buckingam Palace / London Eye ,Hyde Park. Later we drove to our hotel, Heston Hyde, North Hyde Lane and had our Indian delicious dinner and went for rest.

2nd Day

After the breakfast in our hotel, we packed our bags and proceeded to Stonehenge. On our arrival we discover Stonehenge is an ancient temple aligned on the movement of the sun.  The stones were raised 4500 years ago by the people of those days. Later we visited Bath City dating from Roman times. Beautiful Roman architecture with its graceful terraces are still well maintained. Then we proceeded to Cardiff, capital of Wales .Cardiff is a modern city in U.K. and what makes Cardiff so exciting is that it is one of Europe’s youngest capital cities which keeps constantly evolving. Rich culture has a diverse range of influences from the Romans, where the industrial revolution and  the coal industry are the two great entities that transformed Cardiff from a small town into a thriving international city.

3ed Day

Today we enjoy the city orientation tour later we crossed the historic castle and saw the Millennium Stadium of Cardiff and Arms Park. Then we enjoyed the ferry ride from Pembroke to Rosslare harbour. After reaching Pembroke we boarded the ferry. After 3 ½ -hour ferry ride, which is very enjoyable, also did over shopping on board.

4th Day

After breakfast we all boarded our coach and drove to Waterford Crystal Factory making crystals. Then we visited the old city and the church and bishops palace. Later we drove to country-side enjoying scenic beauty, cows and sheep, farms. This is the country Carlow, the hidden Ireland a green Ireland of country roads and winding lanes of towpath water ways of mountain trails and forest tracks which lead the visitor through neat friendly villages and well ordered small towns to ancient Monastic sites and archaeological wonders from anther age.

After lunch we drove to Kildare, the beating heart of Ireland thoroughbred industry. Visited Irish National Stud. Through the nation’s stud every lrish citizen has a stake in the multi-million euro bloodstock business. But while the stud belongs to the Irish people, it is there to be enjoyed by visitors from all parts of the world. Established in 1900 by Colonel Willian Hall Walker, who believed a horse’s birth date could determine its ability on the racetrack, the stud quickly gained a prominence and prestige that it maintains till this day. Horses born and bred here have won some of the world’s greatest races and thanks to the stud’s magnificent resident stallions, not to mention support from the government and Irish people, whose influence and importance remains as great as ever.

5th Day

After the breakfast, we headed for Country called the Kilkenny, driving through the Irish country roads we visited its medieval Kilkenny Ancient Castle.

Later we drove to Dublin, capital city of Ireland. Dublin city is built on traditional Irish style. We enjoyed the city orientation tour which include Trinity University, Bank of Ireland which used to be Ireland’s House of Parliament, St Patrick Cathedral, Phoenix Park, which is largest park in Europe -1,700 acre land which includes several playgrounds. Later in the evening, we went for shopping and Irish dance show followed by dinner.

6th Day

We proceeded to Belfast, administrative capital of Northern Ireland and on our way we visited village Walsh in Dublin. Then we enjoyed city orientation tour which include Queens University and heard the stories of making of Titanic ship .

7th day

We drove  along the causeway coastal route is to experience one of the world’s longest road journeys to visit a giant causeway. It was a long half hours enjoying beautiful northern Ireland country side variety of firms is famous in Europe reaching this place only world heritage site in northern Ireland a geological wonder with over 40,000 inter looking basalt columns the giantess causeway is the result of intense volcanic activity. Visitors can explore way marked trails and enjoy spectacular coastal scenery accompanied by an innovative outdoor audio-guide. Also visited Carrick- a-ride, rope bridge.

 

8th day

We board the ferry, along with bus, to Glasgow - largest city in Scotland. On board we enjoyed our continental lunch/shopping. Ferry has a capacity of 1.250 passengers, 100 crew members and it can carry 660 cars and 110 bus and trailer vehicles on board. After disembarkation from the ferry we drove along the rugged Ayrshire coast with its many seals and wild birds. 9th day

We proceeded to Edinburgh, capital city of Scotland.  Before that we visited Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery plant. While driving we enjoyed some of the finest scenery from the mountain to the low land. Later on arrival in Edinburgh, we explored the city through orientation tour which included Princes Street, Royal Mile, new Scottish Parliament and Edinburgh Castle from inside.

10th day

After the night rest we boarded our coach and started our journey from Glasgow to Lake District. We enjoy the beautiful countryside drive through the Yorkshire dales, national park and lake district. On arrival we had our lunch and preceded to Lake Windermere. This lake in the valleys of Yorkshire dales mountains has a length of 10.30 miles and width 1 mile and 40 feet deep. On arrival we visited Viking York walking tour, which takes us through the historic streets of the most hunted city  in Briton to the cobbled shambles around the city walls to petergate and stone gate and to the magnificent minister church.

11th day

We preceded Stratford and visited the house where Shakespeare was born. Then we drove through Oxfordshire countryside to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Later we proceeded to Stratford which will and shake pear to quit county said tots of ant give shops and tea houses then we drive through Oxfordshire to start ford spots- 4von from here we travel to Heathrow airport 95kms drive. And now it’s time to wish and say good bye to our tour city and team members from whom we are taking back a lot of memories that we will be cherishing in the future.