Well, my two month vacation is over. My companions and I landed in Shannon, Ireland and the first thing we encountered was a death in the family where we were to stay. That took us to Fern Hill in Lisdoonvarna. We asked our hostess where there was step-dancing and so we went to Kilenora. I ended up crying at how beautiful the dancing was. I was so moved by the elderly gentlemen who danced so well. We then drove from Clifden to Sligo and visited the Glencare Waterfall and the Yeats grave, which is enscribed, "Cast a cold eye on Life, on Death, Horseman pass by." Then we drove to Limerick, that most ancient of Irish towns and put up at a Youth Hostel.

On to England, landing in Holyshead, Wales, where we picked up the car to drive through England and Wales. We often stayed in Travelodges and ate at Little Chefs. We visited with Don and Maureen Knies (he is former Modesto Junior College dean of International Students); they were very good hosts. Don took us to a museum where we saw the desk and books of Thomas Hardy, and visited the home where he was born.

When touring Edinburgh Castle we rented tapes that told us about the castle and its bloody history. So many attempts to take it over! We traveled all the way up to Inverness, where there is a Bronze Age cairn surrounded by a circle of eleven stones with one small earth-fast stone on the north. It is remarkable that the stones are still there. Bronze Age! Another adventure was going through Canterbury Cathedral.

We traveled to Dover, staying in a waterfront hotel, taking the ferry the next morning to Calais, France.

We went to Amsterdam and to the Anne Frank huis. It was so amazing to learn that this fourteen year old girl wrote a journal, and was killed a month before the war ended. Such a waste of talent, such a tragedy. The house was so secretive and hidden from the Nazis.

Next we went to Brussels, but got on the wrong train and ended up in Paris. We traveled with too much baggage. We stayed in the Hotel Little Regina, a few blocks from the Garde du Nord. Of course we took a tour of the Louvre, covering everything in two days.

There is a new museum in Paris called the Musee D'Orsay which houses impressionist paintings. I particularly liked those by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Pizzaro, and Van Gogh.

Then it was off to Lourdes, France where I had been before. This was a healthy journey. I took a bath in the waters that were blessed by the Virgin Mary. Saint Bernadette had a vision here that drew her to the water. Many people have been cured of their diseases here. I spotted many discarded crutches and wheelchairs. (I remind my readers that I have Lou Gehrig's disease.)

One thing that I noticed during ALL of my travels was that everybody talks on the cell phone, especially on trains. So-called important people make and receive calls at all times of the day and night. It is very annoying to listen to this.