The last week

Hello WMSI friends,

It's been a quick week! I apologize for no posts this week, it's been a wonderful week with spotty wifi. Last Sunday, Miss Crumrine and I drove to Shannon airport to pick up Miss Hayes' mom and brother. It's been a quick week with stops in Clifden, Doolin and the Aran islands, Dingle, and Cork.  We have hiked Connemara national park, biked one of the Aran islands, drove the ring of dingle, and explored Blarney castle..and of course kissed the Blarney Stone!

We are heading home today.  It's been a great family vacation and I'm thankful to have enjoyed such a beautiful place. Thank you for reading the blog and keeping up with our adventures.  Can't wait to see all of you in August! 

Blarney Castle

Blarney Gardens

Fair well from Ireland!

Edinburgh, SCOTLAND

We made it!! Today has been our first full day in Scotland.  Yesterday we took a ferry from Larne, Northern Ireland to Cairnyran, Scotland.  What's a ferry? Glad you asked! A ferry is a very large boat that holds cars and people to cross different bodies of water.

After our two hour ferry ride we drove a couple hours to Scotland's capital, Edinburgh.  Edinburgh is another world heritage site. Miss Crumrine and I immediately loved the city with its old and new towns fused together. 

We began our morning with a short sightseeing cruise on the Firth of Forth, on the North side of the city.  This cruise enables you to see the sky line of the city, the two bridges (connecting the north and south parts of the city) and some wildlife.  Miss Crumrine and I had a great time, saw some penguins, seals. oil wells, and got a little sunburned!

After we got off the boat, we were able to take watch a lifeguard demonstration.  The Scottish lifeguard at the Firth are kind of like the coast guard.  Their  job is to keep everybody safe in the water.  The lifeguards were out at the docks today encouraging everybody to stay safe and showing them how they could be rescued.  They have helicopters, lifeboats, and rescue dogs.  Our favorite were the Newfindland rescue dogs.  They were extremely large and friendly.  We got to watch them practice rescuing people.  

Look closely for the seal!

This afternoon we explored the "old town" of Edinburgh.  We visited the castle and walked the Royal mile.  Miss Crumrine made a short video for you explaining the Royal Mile and the Castle.  We lucked out and happened to chance on a bagpipe player while making the video.  Welcome to Scotland!

  

Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-rede

Today was an exciting day, specifically for me! Miss Crumrine and I spent our day hiking, walking, and exploring the Coastal Causeway of Ireland.  It is one of their treasured nature areas. Our first stop was Giants Causeway.  This area of the coast is famous for its hexagonal shaped basalt rocks.  These rocks have been formed by volcanic activity, but I will let our guide tell you more about it in the video!

We took a short walking tour to Learn a little more about the causeway. 

We also filmed a short video from inside the information center to help you understand a little better about where all these rocks are located.  As we walked, our guide Frank old us the local legend stories of Finn McCool.  He is the giant that lives at the causeway and has helped create the shape of the rock formations with his shenanigans.   Enjoy the pictures and videos!

After leaving Giants Causeway we went a couple kilometers down the road to take a look at a historic rope bridge.  The small village of Carrick-a-rete survives on salmon fishing.  One of the best places to catch the salmon was on the edge of a small island nearby.  The local fishermen would cross a rope bridge to get to the island.  It's now safe, but it used to be quite dangerous before it became a tourist attraction. 

It was an eventful day! We have enjoyed Northern Ireland but we are excited because tomorrow we leave for Scotland.  A whole new adventure awaits! 

Frank explaining how Giant's Causeway was createdFormation of Causeway#1Formation of Causeway #2

Last day in Derry and One of Northern Ireland's most famous landmarks

Yesterday we spent some time exploring more of Derry. After a couple of wrong turns, we finally arrived at St. Columb's Cathedral.  It is the first Catholic cathedral built in the city walls of Derry after the Reformation.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  I wish we could include some pictures of the inside, but photography wasn't allowed. Miss Crumrine was able to get some pictures of the outside though! 

After visiting the cathedral we decided to be spontaneous. We hopped in the car and drove an hour to Donegal, Ireland.  We crossed the border from the U.K. To Ireland.  We explored Donegal castle and the Abbey that was close to it.  One of the legends about the castle is there is an underground tunnel that connects the castle and the Abbey, but no evidence has ever been found. 

Round staircases like this one often have uneven steps to trip intruders. 

Dining hall

Ceiling above dining hall

After making it back to Derry last evening we were able to find a place to listen to some traditional Irish music. Definitely one of our favorite things so far!

Our adventures tomorrow: 

Miss Hayes has been excited about visiting this site for months!!!  This is one of Northern Ireland's most famous landmarks.  It is the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Northern Ireland and is a place that has inspired legends (folk tales).  Thousands of tourists go to visit the site each year to hike and explore. Which leads us to...

Brainiac Question - What site are we visiting tomorrow based on the clues above?

Brainiac Question - What are some of the stories (myths) about how this landmark was created?

** Use the links below to help you research

Landmark information
UNESCO information

Science Sleuth Question:  What kind of rock is the Giants causeway made of?  Describe this rock!

Rock Research Links:
Information on the kind of rock
Easy to read information about rocks


Pictures of this landmark will be posted soon.

Portrush, North Ireland

Welcome back! Today had us packing up and moving on. We left Derry and drove the short way to Portrush. Before checking in to our hotel we stopped and explored Dunluce Castle. We were very excited to see the castle but decided to stop at the visitors center and learn a little bit about it first.

A short video about Dunluce Castle!

Clothes that kids your age would have worn in the 1600's. 

See learning doesn't have to be boring! 

This is one of Ireland's most unique castles because it is built on a cliff. It has had several families that have owned it through the years starting in the 1500's. Each family that owned it added a small piece of the castle. The castle estate spanned over 300,000 acres and probably looked something like this!

It hosted many Scottish travelers because it was easier for them to travel the short distance across the Irish Sea than to travel great distances on land. 

Those of you who are fans of the Chronicles of Narnia may be interested to know that the author, C.S. Lewis, grew up in Northern Ireland. He travelled Ireland writing the books. Use the website below to find out what part of the Chronicles of Narnia the castle inspired.

Dunluce Castle

Short Video with Tour Guide

Here is a brief history of Derry from our tour guide, John. Listen to hear his Irish accent! John is standing in front of the answer to the brainiac question from the previous post.

http://youtu.be/lu5aqv5PvSY

Derry, Northern Ireland: First drive of the trip!

It's been such a great day! This morning we said goodbye to Belfast and headed across Northern Ireland to Derry.  It was a gorgeous drive!! One of the best things about being in Ireland is the scenery! I love the driving time.

While we drive to Derry, you can read a little about Derry:

- First founded as a settlement around 1400 years ago, the name Derry has its roots in the Irish word Doire which translates as Oak Grove. In 1613 the name was changed by Royal Charter to Londonderry to reflect the London Guilds involvement in establishing the planned city and Cathedral.
- In the 19th century Derry became a major port for those leaving for North America, especially those fleeing the famine. Those emigrants included the founders of Derry and Londonderry in New Hampshire (yep, they decided to have 2 towns).
- In WW2 Derry was the most westerly Allied Naval Port, played host to American troops and witnessed the surrender of the 19 U-boats (scuttled off the north coast of Donegal).
- From the 1830’s until relatively recently shirt making was the one of the city’s main industries – making Derry, at it’s peak, the shirt making capital of the world.

Your turn!! Learn a little about Derry:

Brainiac question
This is the only remaining intact city of its kind in Ireland, and the first city like it in Europe. This famous part of Derry was built between 1613-1619.  What is the famous part of Derry that makes the city unique?
**( Use the research websites below or find the link on the main page)

Wikipedia- Derry
Information about Derry


Do you have any questions for us? We would love to hear from you!!!

Peace Bridge and Guild hall 

A black taxi tour and the Titanic (Belfast day 2)

Today was a busy day! We started our morning off with a black taxi tour of Belfast. We met a new friend at the hostel and went on the tour with them. Our tour guide, Joel, made the tour very enjoyable. The black taxi tour helps you learn about "the troubles" and conflict in Belfast and most of Northern Ireland:
- A majority (most) of Belfast neighborhoods are still segregated into 2 different types of neighborhoods, Catholics (Irish supporters) and Protestants (united kingdom supporters).
- These neighborhoods are divided by the peace wall which is 45 feet tall.  Although violence hasn't happened in years, the wall remains intact to prevent any new violence.
- Murals are painted in each neighborhood to remind everyone of what has happened in the past.


After our taxi tour we walked to the Titanic quarter of the city (we walked over 5 miles today)!  We participated in a walking tour of the area with an awesome guide, Ashley. This was a really fun tour and we learned so much.
- Belfast was known for being a world leader in building ships because they had the largest dry dock in the world.
- H & W ship building company partnered with White star Line to build a ship that would rival the British built ship, Lusitania.  They knew they couldn't make the ship faster than the Lusitania, so they decided to make it bigger. And they built 3 of them.
- The three identical ships were 882 feet long and 92 feet wide.
- for some more interesting facts that we learned on our tour today, check out Facts about the Titanic

Brainiac question: 
What were the names of the Titanic's sister ships?
Use this link to help you find your information...Names of sister ships

This is the dry dock the Titanic sat in while being constructed. The dock is 40 feet deep and the picture doesn't truly show how large the dock really is! 

Our next adventure starts tomorrow, we leave Belfast and go to Derry! 

Dingle, Ireland

Dingle Peninsula is one of the most beautiful drives in Ireland.  Today, we drove from the Cliffs of Moher to Dingle and had the best drive ever! Here's a few pictures to help you understand why its amazing!

We will be spending a couple days here in Dingle to hike and explore. 

Some interesting things about the Dingle Peninsula:

- While most of Ireland speaks English, the Dingle Peninsula is known for the common use of the Irish language in everyday life. 
- There are special schools open only during the summer where children come from all over Ireland and spend the summer in Dingle to learn the Irish language.
- The Dingle Peninsula is known for being one of the best places to hear and enjoy traditional Irish music.
- Most of the villages on the Dingle Peninsula are fishing villages.
- Dingle is also known for its hiking and walking trails.  Each year there are several "festivals" where hundreds of people gather and walk or hike on these trails together.

The drive around this Ring of Dingle was beautiful. The photos are a little blurry from driving by so quickly.

We're leaving on a Jet plane

Dia dhuit!

   Summer is here and its time for some rest and relaxation, and adventure! School may be out, but its time for learning of the best kind--exploring new places and things!

Miss Crumrine and I are off on another adventure in a few short days! We are very excited to be returning to Ireland and experiencing Scotland for the first time.  Traveling is one of our favorite things and we want to share the experience with you!

   Our trip starts soon and we would love to hear from you before we go! There are several different kinds of communities we will be visiting: large metropolises (big cities) and rural areas (small towns).  We have included a list of the communities we will visit.  As we post about each place, we will include some websites that will help you in your research. As you look at pictures of these cities and read about them, write your questions down. There are some websites listed on the main page under research links for you to start learning about Ireland and Scotland. If you want us to visit a certain place or go see something that you are interested in, let us know!  

Communities we will visit in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland:
- Belfast
-Edinburgh
-Derry
-Dingle
-Clifden
- And several others!!



Have you ever wondered where the Titanic was built? We are going to investigate the answer to this question!
 

Edinburgh University is one of the oldest universities in Scotland. Learning is one of the most important parts of life, so we are going to visit and explore what this university is all about!

Why are the stones all the same perfect shape? How were they formed? We aren't sure why, but we are going to learn as much as we can!



Are you up for the Challenge??

  As we travel from place to place and post new blogs, we will include Braniac questions, Picture Clues, and Videos to help you learn.  Work with your parents, siblings, friends, or family to research and read to find the answer! The first 2 students that answer our particular questions on each post will receive a post card from us! Don't forget to let us know your address so we can send the postcard!  

We are packing and researching to get ready to go, we hope you will start getting ready to help us in our journey too!  
 

 

Belfast - Day 1

We have finally arrived! It was long trip over here and we are ready to start exploring Belfast. Today will be a little bit hard for us because of jet lag.  Have you ever had a night where you didn't sleep very much or didn't feel good? But you still had to get up and go to school anyway? That's how we feel today! We are really tired, but we need to stay awake! To help understand why its going to be hard to stay awake, lets start out by figuring out the time difference between home and Ireland.

Brainiac Question #1 - How many hours ahead of Midland time (central time) is Ireland?
**Use the link below to help you figure out the difference. (look at the Tab, "Time Here, Time There")

Time in Ireland

Now, a little bit about our first city that we are visiting- Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

A few things about Belfast:

- It is North Ireland's largest city

- Belfast has a long history of people disagreeing over religion :which church to attend: Catholic or Protestant.  This disagreement has led to some ugly fights and violence.

- The Titanic was built and launched from the city of Belfast.

-The city was bombed three times during WWII.

-Belfast is the Art and Music center of Northern Ireland.

 

 

Today was our first day here in Belfast and we hit the ground running! We walked a lot today exploring the city centre. We visited the Ulster museum and learned a lot about Irish history.  The people of Ireland have endured some difficult times, but are resilient! We also took a walking tour of Queens university.  Our favorite place was the botanical gardens and the hot houses.  Tomorrow we have a black taxi tour of Belfast planned and hopefully the Titanic museum. 

 

 

 

 

The castle in lots of movies!

Our first experience with Scotland has been absolutely amazing! Edinburgh is so full of history and life, and we are a little sad to leave. However, there are more Scottish adventures that we need to experience!

Today, we are driving from Edinburgh to Dornie.  It's one of our longest drives, and we will be driving through some gorgeous places! Miss Crumrine is now a professional at driving on the other side of the road...she's rockin' it! Some of our views today on the drive were breathtaking. 

Dornie is home to Eilean Donan Castle, the most photographed and famous Castle in Scotland.  This castle has been in several different movies!

Brainiac QuestionWhen was the castle first built?

Research Links:
Castle Research Link

Eilean Donan Castle Information

The castle was rebuilt in the early 1900's by the MacRae clan.  It was rebuilt according to the original castle layout, but they added some modern conveniences for everyday living.  The outside of the castle and the view of the castle sitting on the island is simply amazing.  We are working on getting a better picture! 

Inverness, Scotland

Our last two days in Scotland are being spent in a place full of legends and folk tales.  Miss Crumrine has been excited about this stop for a long time! As we were planning the trip, Miss Crumrine insisted we stop at Inverness, so, that's what we're doing! 

Before we post about our visit and what sites we explored, let me share a little about Inverness with you.

-  Inverness is known as the capital of the Scottish Highlands.

- In the 12th century, King David I made Inverness a royal burgh (town) and it soon developed into a busy town and port, trading in everything from fish and furs to timber and wool. A castle was built here and, later on, a bridge was built over the River Ness.

-  In 1822, the Caledonian Canal was built which helped bring trading business to Inverness.  It connected the small town with Western Scotland by providing a safe passage for ships to sail.

- Loch Ness is the largest lake in Scotland.  It has as much water as all the other lakes in Scotland put together.  It's 23 miles long.  It's so deep and cold that it doesn't allow many different kinds of animals to live there.  

We visited the Loch Ness center to learn a little more About local legends and stories on the monster.  It turned out to be quite the exhibit, explaining a lot about geology and science exhibitions, the food chains in the lake, and local stories about the monster.  The best explanation we understood was- there are many different currents that run through the lake due to it's size.  These currents move different kinds of debris which from a distance can look like a strange creature.  We also found out there were several times a person made a picture look real when it wasn't!  We took some pictures of our own to show you just how easily other things, like kayakers and logs, can make you think you're looking at something different. 

Brainiac Question  What is one story about the Loch Ness monster?

Research Links:
Stories about the Loch Ness Monster
National Geographic Facts


Brainiac Question. What are things that help make the Highlands of Scotland different from the lowlands?

Research Link:
Culture in the Highlands