Update Dublin Airport

Delivered our ‘baby’ to Southampton for shipping home and hired a car for the drive to Kent.  It was quite late in the day so we drove far as Winchester where we visited their famous Cathedral.  Very Impressive.  Stayed the night in a great pub B&B.  Yummy food.  (I know always thinking of my stomach – jeans definitely getting tighter as exercise not equalling the intake of said food! 

Next day- a leisurely drive through Sussex and Kent (garden of England).  Very scenic, as trees often overhung the road forming an arch of beautiful autumn hues.  We don’t have the multitude of deciduous trees that they have here and having been such a wet summer the foliage on the trees is very lush and therefore the autumn display particularly spectacular this year (according to locals). On the way we visited Petworth – a stately home sitting within the grounds of a huge park-like a country estate.  It has the one of the largest collection of paintings and sculptures in Britain.  The interior was very grand.  Highlight for us was a huge room decorated with intricately carved panelled walls by Grinling Gibbons the ‘artist of the time’.  Took our breath away and that’s saying something after all the stately homes we’ve seen.  Also called in to Sissinghurst to check out its famous garden.  Very beautiful even though past its prime.  Spring would be the ideal time.  That night stayed in ‘Borth-y-Gest’ in Herne Bay, another lovely B&B. 

The following morning, after visiting Joy Park School in Kent, we drove north to Banbury to stay with Gail and Darrel.  On the way we again drove through the Cotswolds, stopping to explore the quaint Chipping Camden, take photos and have a bit to eat (the best scones we’ve had in the UK).   Also checked out the gardens at Hidcote.  As the brochure said ‘it doesn’t get any better than this’.  I thought Sissingham’s gardens were spectacular – how wrong could I be.  This garden was exquisite with numerous ‘garden rooms’ each with their own unique character, as well as woodlands and extensive terraced areas.  Quite magical especially with all the autumn colours.   Great night spent catching up with Gail, Darrel, Anne and Peter.  Next morning up early and drove to Hollyhead in Wales and caught a ferry the Dublin. 

Loved Dublin.  Very vibrant night life.  To maximise our time we did a walking tour after visiting Kilmainham Goal.  Had the best pie of the trip – chicken, mushrooms and whiskey in a thin pastry – divine.  Yes I know food again but in my defence I needed to ‘fuel up’ before our two hour walking tour!  Good city to end the European leg of our holiday.  Off to Dubai and new experiences.