"If I could live in London, I absolutely would"

GREAT BRITAIN

London is my all time favorite city. If I could, I would live in London. I have been to London and Great Britain more than a dozen times since 1969. I have seen many changes and urban development. I love the energy, the theater, the museums, historical and architectural sights, the antique markets, stores and restaurants. You will never be bored of things to do in London . London has many neighborhoods, all with different personalities. There is "the City" or financial district which is where London began. It is rich in historical and architectural sights. Visiting Westminster Abbey is a must. Rent an audio guide which will explain what you are looking at and the history. Many important figures in English history have left their mark in Westminster Abbey... Poet's corner is one of my favorite parts of the Abbey. Many famous poets and authors are buried here. The War Cabinet Rooms are very interesting and the Churchill Museum opened in February 2005. The museum did an excellent job with the exhibit and photographs of both Churchill's private and public life as a world leader. Visit St. Paul 's Cathedral which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It was built between 1675 and 1710. St. Paul 's is Wren's masterpiece. The West End includes Buckingham Palace , the British Museum and the many theaters of London . Theater is great in London and less expensive than New York . You can also buy half price tickets. The National Gallery is a must for art lovers. While visiting the museum, take a break and walk next door to St. Martin-in -the- Fields Church and take in a lunch time concert on Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 1. This is a real treat! On the other side of the Thames is the development of the Docklands, the South Bank Arts Center and the new Globe Theater that puts on Shakespeare plays. The Tate Modern is located in a transformed Backside Power Station. It opened in 2000 and has a great collection of 20 th century art. Their museum restaurant is good with great views. You can walk from the Tate Modern across the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul 's Cathedral. Portobello Market is a must for antique lovers on Saturday. It is best to get there early before it becomes really crowded. This is quite a fun time to be had. My other favorite antique market is Grey's. On the outskirts of London is Greenwich . It is very interesting to visit the National Maritime Museum and the Old Royal Observatory. I also love Kew Botanical Gardens which is about nine miles from central London . Take the tube and spend a relaxing morning or afternoon. There are also some excellent restaurants outside the gardens. London restaurants are great. There is wonderful English food and many different Ethnic restaurants. Don't let anyone tell you the food is not good because that is absolutely not true!

However, London is not the only place to visit in Great Britain . There are many interesting things to see and do. There is Bath, a World Heritage City , which is a beautiful Georgian town. You must visit the Roman Baths and the museum. The Cotswolds is an area of charming villages with thatched stone cottages and pretty gardens as well as medieval churches. Stratford upon Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Lake District is quite popular and beautiful. This area inspired William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.

Scotland is really quite beautiful with its hillsides and sparkling lochs. You must visit some of the castles scattered throughout Scotland . Edinburgh is a fun city with many store, restaurants and pubs. St. Andrews is Scotland 's oldest university and one of the most famous golf courses in the world. I played at Carnoustie and loved the course. It is wild and beautiful. I visited the Isle of Skye, the largest of the Inner Hebrides Islands , and spent a few days relaxing and hiking. Isle of Skye is a special place.

Wales is also a country of outstanding beauty. Along with scenery, Wales has castles, lovely towns with welsh names that are hard to pronounce, great hiking and golf and a distinct Celtic culture. Ride the Snowdonia Mountain Cog Railway to the highest point in Wales .

Great Britain is a great vacation place for all. You can visit cities, beaches, lakes and mountains. You can see historical and architectural buildings, visit museums, take in theater, play golf, hike or cycle. Great Britain is a vacation for people of all ages.

"A wealth of cultural-theatrical productions to historic country house"

IRELAND

I visited Ireland in 2003. Ireland is the third largest island in Europe . It is divided into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Island which is part of the United Kingdom . Ireland is not as built up as other European countries. There are only a few highways. Most of the roads are single lanes. There is still a lot of rural charm. The people are extremely warm and friendly. This was a very special trip for me.

I started in Dublin, the city of James Joyce and the Guinness Brewery. Dublin is a small Georgian city but what a gem! There is so much to see and do in Dublin . Dublin 's history goes back about 2000 years. During those years, it has seen famine, war, and cultural and social changes. The best way to see Dublin is to walk. I visited Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells in the Old library. The book of Kells is an ornately illustrated manuscript inscribed by the Celtic monks around 800 AD. The book was illustrated in the medieval period and contains the four gospels of the Bible in Latin. I also saw the old Parliament House, City Hall, Dublin Castle , Christ Church , and the museum at the Old Synagogue. One of my favorite things to do in Dublin was to visit the Dublin Writer's Museum. The writers presented in the museum have all made an important contribution to Irish Literature. Some of the writers included are James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, and J.M. Syringe. I loved this museum and was intrigued by the different letters and newspaper articles regarding different authors. Glasnevin Cemetery is a must. There are free 1 ½ hour walking tours of the cemetery. By taking this tour, you will learn an enormous amount about the people who fought for Ireland 's Independence . Some of the graves included Daniel O'Connell, Charles Steward Parnell, and Michael Collins. Another must is to see a play at the Abbey Theater. The Theater puts on Irish and sometimes European plays. I saw the Plough and the Stars by Sean O'Casey. It was an extremely moving play about Nationalism. Dublin should be your first stop in Ireland because you will learn the history of the country before seeing the country itself. There are many great restaurants in Dublin and music galore.

After Dublin, I went to Kilkenny Castle . This is a 12th century castle remodeled in Victorian style in a beautiful park. Then I drove to Cashel and saw The Rock of Cashel. On the limestone mound, the Rock is home to the ruins of a cathedral, a castle and a round tower. The structure dates back to the 5th century and is connected to Christianity as well as the home of the Eoghanacht clan. At night, the castle is lit up and what a site! When you are in Cashel, you must and this is a must, go see the Bra Bora Dance Company. They play traditional Irish Music, sing and dance. After the performance, everyone is invited to participate in Irish dancing. This is really a wonderful treat for all. Then continue on to Dingle Peninsula , the Cliffs of Mohr and the Aran Islands . I stayed on Inis Mor. There are weathered monuments on cliffs overlooking the sea, great labryinths of limestone, continuous stonewalls and beautiful beaches. You can ride a bike or walk the island. I walked about 12 miles to the other side of the island and back. After the day tourists leave, the island is very quiet. I loved the ruggedness and calmness of the Aran Islands . In the mid 17th century, many Catholics escaped to the Aran Islands . Life on the islands was difficult and electricity came late. You can continue up north to Northern Ireland and Belfast . Northern Ireland is just as beautiful. There are many golf courses to play on in Ireland and you can hike, horseback ride and fish. You can stay in castles and charming hotels. There are gourmet restaurants and great culinary schools. I can not wait to return one day and to enjoy this special country.