My last full day of vacation (don’t worry… I plan to squeeze in a few hours of beach time before I leave tomorrow!) started with another long sunrise beach walk. I decided to give Shay Cafe another try for breakfast, and I’m glad I did. The breakfast sandwich was served on a huge, flaky croissant. Together with the iced coffee, it managed to tide me over ‘til dinner.
Another perfect, albeit hot, day at the beach. I started the day with an hour-long walk along Grace Bay. I love being up and out for sunrise even when I can’t actually see the sunrise. The beach is always so much quieter at that hour…
Today may be the “pick of the week”… sunny skies almost all day, reasonably calm water, and temperatures in the low 80s. What better way to spend it than visiting three beaches?
Paradise isn’t quite as paradise-y when it’s windy and rainy. Fortunately, while the wind was persistent all day, the rain was mostly showers off and on breaking up the “monotony” of the sunshine.
Paradise. That’s the only word that comes to mind to describe Turks and Caicos. Warm weather, sun, and sand. Exactly what this trip is all about. This is my third visit to TCI, and a week of relaxation, sun, and reading is just what I need. I have thought about visiting other islands (Grand Cayman was a top contender for this trip), but in the end, I love Grace Bay Beach (the main “resort” beach in Providenciales) and the familiarity of visiting a place I love.
Can you believe that after almost 20 years of living in the Boston area, today was the first time I visited the Boston Harbor Islands? Sure, I’d heard of them, and I know plenty of people who have visited, but today was the first time I explored them myself.
Having spent a good amount of time in the White Mountains of New Hampshire growing up, I enjoy returning to the area whenever I get a chance. While many people opt for the shopping mecca of North Conway, I prefer to visit the “quiet side” of the mountains in the area around Franconia Notch.
2,317 kilometers (1,439 miles) driven, 1,849 pictures taken, 15 days of traveling, and 1 happy-to-be-home traveler.
The “going home day”. I’ll admit I’ve been thinking about home for several days now, wanting to be in familiar surroundings, but at the same time not wanting vacation to end. I woke up this morning to sun in Ireland, and felt a little sad to be leaving. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for two weeks. Things I did on my first couple of days feel like a distant memory already. But I’m also very ready to be home. I repacked my suitcase last night, which was no small feat. Zipping it closed this morning was a small miracle!
Well, the weather miraculously cleared up for one last day in Ireland. My plan today was to visit Connemara, an area west of Galway known for it’s more rugged beauty. Connemara is also one of the areas of Ireland which retains the Irish language; all road signs are in Irish only. I set off relatively early from Galway along the coastal route and stopped first at the Spiddal Craft Village. The village is several individual vendors set up in little shops around a small common area. I didn’t end up buying anything, but it was fun to browse the jewelry, artwork, and other local handcrafts.
Traveling with Laura 