I’ve Booked Something!!!!

Hops, , 53 Comments

YES … for the first time in months and months and months I’ve received a confirmation email….. such a thrill!!!

NO -not a flight – I’m not going far anytime soon …

BUT…..

Last August I was in Kerry – looking across at Skellig Michael …

Just in case you haven’t been hanging on to absolutely every word I write, this is from my Ring of Kerry piece:

The Skelligs

The larger of the two islands, Skellig Michael, is the site of an old Irish monastery. Monks occupied this isolated place from the 6th century. Situated about 12km from shore, conditions must have been harsh – especially in winter. Their days would have been filled with prayer and physical work. Their diet probably consisted of fish and bird eggs. By the 12th/13th century, the monks had relocated to the priory at Ballinskelligs but its thought that they continued use the island as a place of pilgrimage during the summer months.

It is a testament to the skills of those monks that so much can still be seen today in its original form. The monastery is accessed by over 600 steps and is made up of churches, the famous bee hive huts (where the monks slept) the cemetery and garden. There is a hermitage on the other island peak.

Visiting the UNESCO listed island is a challenge I’ve yet to face – but its a must-do! Boat sailings in the summer months are weather and tidal dependent and numbers are restricted – and that was before Covid!!! This is something that needs to be planned and booked well in advance – but the opportunity can be lost at the last minute if the weather is bad. If you ever do make it, the boat trip takes 45 minutes and you’ve about 2 hours on the island.

Of course, Star Wars fans will recognise the location from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

So I’ve booked the trip for August. I may travel far and wide whenever I can but this is a bit outside my comfort zone!

  • Sea-sickness …..mmm – I’m so bad on boats (even massive car ferries).
  • Head of Heights – No comment!
  • 600 Steps – I hate steps…..

Sure, it’ll be grand….

This will be us in August – calm seas, blue skies (I’m definitely due some good weather!), looking trim and fit (if we don’t eat anything between now and then), perfect hair, all loved up after climbing those 600 steps!!!

May the Force be with us!

Photo Attribute:

Luke Skywalker

Skellig Micheal

53 thoughts on “I’ve Booked Something!!!!”

  1. You lucky, lucky person. Am I jealous?
    Had my first jab this morning. Onwards and upwards.
    We’ll be back to the Emerald Isle soon enough. Looked across to Skellig when we drove Ring of Kerry in 2018.
    Have a super time.

    Marilyn X

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  5. You’re a glutton for punishment. Rather you than me because a) steps b) vertigo and c)sea-sickness. But I can see where you’re coming from and at the moment I’d go almost anywhere if it were permitted and if I wasn’t so fearful.

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    1. I’m hoping that the excitement of the occasion will override everything else!!! A big ask I know.. but it mightn’t be too bad… XXXMarie

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  6. Good for you! I look forward to reading all about your new adventure! You can take medication for your seasickness and those bands work for me too! I don’t know HOW they work, but they do for me! Probably more psychological than anything else! The pills are effective, but start taking them a day or two before you get on that boat for them to really do their work! That is the start of your notebook this year too! A Twofor!

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    1. The bands don’t work for me although I have taken medication. Years ago when we went camping, we’d get the ferry from Dun Laoghaire which is just a few kms from us to Holyhead, drive through England and another ferry across the Channel to France. I refused to take the direct ferry from Ireland to the Continent because the trip was too long. I used to start feeling ill when we were queuing in Dun Laoghaire for the boat!!! So definitely psychological!! 😅

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    1. I DID get a kick out of booking something. Of course Covid or weather will probably scupper the plan anyway but sure we might get lucky…. XXXMarie

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  9. Something to look forward to is definitely worth celebrating! I booked our 40th wedding anniversary trip to Jasper for October. Doubt we will have had our vaccines by then but it’s a cabin so social distancing is possible. Not so much so on a boat! Or the stairs I guess. Considering all the things you aren’t keen on the views must be a big draw for you to consider it.

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    1. It’ll be a big, big push for us to have been vaccinated by then. But we’ll know well before that how Covid is going…. I’d really hope that you should be ok for October – as you say, something to look forward to….
      Yes – I’d rather land on the top in a helicopter – but that’s never going to happen!!!

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  11. That’s so exciting, Marie, I am absolutely delighted for you! 🙂 I was just reading a few articles about how places and accommodation around Ireland are filing up at a super speed with Aran Islands and Achill Islands being the most sought out locations! Fingers crossed you get to take a boat to Skellig Michael, it’s one of the most amazing places in Ireland. Aiva 🙂 xxx

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    1. Yes – I’m not going to make lots of plans yet but I did book accommodation for a few nights in Caherciveen so that we wouldn’t be stuck. Actually Tom mentioned the other day that we should go to Aran…. we’ve never been… it mightn’t be too bad in June before schools finish up and June can be nice.. XXXMarie

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  14. Something to look forward to! I used those wrist bands, that do something to your pressure points, when we were went on our Alaska cruise. I normally get so seasick but I was fine even when we had rough seas on the last couple of days crossing the Gulf of Alaska. I was even able to carry on eating a substantial dinner in the restaurant when many people weren’t so I would now swear by them. I got them at the pharmacy. Not sure about the heights though!

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    1. Its absolutely years since I tried them … maybe I’ll give them another go… An Alaskan cruise must be beautiful…. Alaska is on our list – but land not sea!!! XXXMarie

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      2. That sounds exactly like our thing – we love road trips….. I’m going to save the link. Thanks a mil – XXXMarie

    1. If you’d told me this time last year that I’d be spending not one but two summers here I wouldn’t have believed you!!!.. And here I am, actually hoping against hope that I get to travel around Ireland soon! This pandemic has rewired me in so many ways….. XXXMarie

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    1. Absolutely! But I’m going to forget all about it now for the next few months. It books up quickly so I just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss it if travel opens up again… XXXMarie

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  22. I love the sense of excitement in your title for this post! I share it – we’ve gone further and actually booked a trip abroad 😆 Not until 2022 however, and we know we may have to postpone (we can do so at no cost) but it felt wonderful to be discussing plans and putting something in the diary 🙂

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    1. Ah lucky you! I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to plan a trip!! Hoping here also for 2022 but don’t know whether we will be looking at Europe or manage to venture further afield. Right now I’d settle for anywhere beyond my 5km limit which looks as though its going to be extended for another 5 weeks!!! 😖

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