Deaf Cruise Scotland & Ireland
May 17-26, 2007

Scotland and Ireland are two destinations in Northern Europe that are well know but not yet overrun by tourists. Most of us discover the historic capital of Scotland, Edinburgh from the coach. We traveled through Old Town descending eastwards along the ridge from the castle. We explored the historical area known as the Royal Mile and drove along Castle Hill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate. We saw St. Giles Cathedral, the finest of the city's churches which dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. At the end of the Royal Mile, we arrived at Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the Queen when she visits to Scotland as she did when we visited city. We went to the top of Calton Hill where we enjoyed the view over Edinburgh.
The land around Inverness is the land of the Highland Castles and Loch Ness. We visited the historic Cawdor Castle. It is considered the most romantic in the Highlands. The castle has been the residence of the Cawdor family for over 600 years. This splendid castle was originally the fortress home of the Thanes of Cawdor. The castle feels like a living home rather than a museum. After lunch, we headed towards Loch Ness. The loch is extremely beautiful, long and narrow with a depth of 900 feet in some places. We traveled through the village of Drumnadrochit and on to the famous Urquhart castle for a visit. Romantics say Nessie lives in a subterranean cave below the castle.
Skara Brae at Orkney is a very famous prehistoric village dating from the Stone Age. It is in a remarkable state of preservation.
We discovered Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, by bus. We started the tour in the city center with its grand Opera House, the flamboyant Victorian drinking palace of the Crown Liquor Saloon, and modern Belfast on the banks of the River Lagan. We traveled through the elegant suburbs to Stormont, designed to house the Northern Ireland Parliament. The beautiful Botanic Garden was our next stop. We had great photo opportunities at Cave Hill where the Belfast Castle stands.
Powerscourt Estate	Powerscourt Estate is located in rural countryside. Powerscourt gardens are probably the finest in Ireland with its setting at the foot of Great Sugar Loaf Mountain. Richard Winfield, the 1st Viscount Powerscourt, commissioned the house and grounds in the 1730’s.
Guernsey is a beautiful island. Its belongs to the British Crown. It is situated within sight of the Normandy coast of France. Its French influence is everywhere. The west coast displays a contrast of cliffs and stretches of beautiful sandy beaches. We visited the Little Chapel at the end of our tour. The chapel is set in the quiet countryside and along a tree-lined path, a church in miniature.

Thank you notes from my clients

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