Author Archives: Elaine-iaK's Travels

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About Elaine-iaK's Travels

As a graduate of Recreation Administration, from San Diego State University, I have made recreation and travels my career and life’s passion. After graduation, I traveled solo for one year throughout the South Pacific, doing travel photography in a wide variety of settings. Upon my return, many of my photographs became the subjects of my newly created line of handcrafted photographic greeting cards, "Exquisite! By, Elaine", a business I have had since 1986. Check them out at: http://ExquisiteCards.fototime.com . In 1983, I began teaming up with my mom, Goldie, teaching arts & crafts to cruise ship passengers, aboard Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. In addition, I lectured on travel photography, as well as Australia and New Zealand history, aboard Princess Cruises. In 2004, I formed a new teaching team with my recently retired husband, Bruce, who serves as my "humble assistant" until 2010 when the cruise lines shifted the arts and crafts program to mostly being taught by their own staff. Currently, our favorite mode of travel is by river boat. Along the way, we enjoy poking around small European towns, meeting the people, seeking out interesting photo subjects, and always stopping at every chocolatier to make a purchase. Adding to my chocolate label and wrapper collection is a bonus! And, as a U.S. Masters swimmer, if I can find a pool to get in a swim with the locals, all the better! Cheers! Elaine-iaK ~ Believing in your dreams can be far more rewarding than living by your limitations~ -Karla Peterson

SICILY & THE AMALFI COAST #1: Palermo’s Capo Market

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Last fall, Bruce and I did back-to-back tours with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), and we were back at it again.  This time, our first small group tour was to Sicily, with a post-extension to Amalfi Coast and Naples.  We connected this with a small group OAT tour to Turkiye.  It was all fabulous!

As usual, we chose to arrive early to allow ourselves to adjust to the time change.  Although we knew the tour would include a visit to Capo Market, Bruce and I decided to go on our own after settling into our hotel room upon arrival. 

We love visiting markets; it’s one of our favorite things to do when we travel.  Markets always present wonderful photo opportunities, they’re a great place to grab some fresh and tasty food, and it’s fun to watch the locals doing transactions with the vendors.  Never a dull moment.

Although I had Euros left over from our previous trip, we took advantage of having access to the ATM along the way and picked up some more Euros.  Before we leave the country, I always look up my bank’s website to see if it has a partner bank in the country I’m visiting.  It does have a partner in Italy, so using their ATM saved us some money on fees.

Since we were going to walk to the ATM, followed by the market, and possibly some other stops on the way back to the hotel, Google Maps came in handy.  I was thankful to have an Airalo e-SIMM for my phone, so I could switch it on when I was away from the hotel’s WIFI, and use the step-by-step route instructions for our walk.

Now, for a shameless promo: If you decide to try Airalo, you will receive $3 off and I will receive $3 off my next order if you use my referral code: ELAINE7474.  I spent $66 to get 20 GB of data, and it’s good for one year. Since purchasing it last July, I have used it in Peru, England, Ireland, Sicily, and Turkiye.  It was well worth the $66 just for using Google Maps for walking routes!  Besides, you can set it up at home before you leave town, so you won’t have the same hassles some of our Turkiye group members had when they purchased an E-SIMM at the airport in Istanbul.  They paid A LOT more, it didn’t work, and it was a nightmare for them—long story.

Airalo switched on, and more Euros tucked away, we continued to the market.  Capo Street Market (Mercato del Capo), has been in existence for many years and was historically famous for its meat trade. Currently, fresh fish, produce, Sicilian products, and tourist souvenirs are sold at the market. We enjoyed scoping out the various street food options we looked forward to tasting while traveling throughout Sicily!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

During our visit, it started to rain hard, leaving us looking like drowned rats by the time we returned to our hotel.  Thankfully (gratefully!), that was the last of any significant rain during the entire tour.  Although it rained a couple of other times, it never impacted us; we were either indoors or on a bus.  We were fortunate to have beautiful weather!

Next up: SICILY & THE AMALFI COAST #2: POKING AROUND PALERMO

NO KINGS PROTEST IN GRIFFIN, GEORGIA

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In my little town of Griffin, Georgia, 250 people, stretched out over both sides of Taylor Street, showed up this morning for the “No Kings” protest. Bruce and I were proud to be two of them. Thanks to Southern Crescent Indivisible of Georgia for providing these awesome signs and organizing this protest!

(Note: These are unedited quick snapshots taken with my old Tracfone!)

Bruce, holding my sign while I photograph him.

IRISH ADVENTURE # 24: KILLARNEY LAKES & HOUSE

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For our last day in Ireland, we went on a horse drawn carriage tour from town, through Killarney National Park, to Killarney Lakes. 

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

It was good timing to go through the park in the morning, because we were able to see dozens of red deer grazing. 

At the lake, we boarded a small boat for a guided tour to Innisfallen Island.  On the island, our group learned about the ruins of the 7th century Innisfallen Abbey.  When we arrived, there were several deer grazing around the ruins.  They didn’t seem too bothered by us; they have become used to the tourists coming to their island on a regular basis.

Following our boat tour, we visited Killarney House and Gardens, which are also part of Killarney National Park.  Originally, the house was the stable block of the Kenmare House, a French chateau style mansion, built by Valentine Browne in 1726. 

The morning had been quite gloomy, but the skies cleared for our final afternoon in Ireland.

Well, folks, that about wraps up this Irish adventure—finally!  (We returned home from our six weeks in the U.K. in early October!)

Later this year, we will be traveling to Sicily and Turkey, and then Spain and Portugal.  In between, I will be competing in swimming at the National Senior Games, in Des Moines, Iowa.  Stay tuned!

IRISH ADVENTURE #23: THE RUGGED RING OF KERRY

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This is such a beautiful, green region of Ireland!  The Ring of Kerry, in the southwest area of the country, is a 111-mile long circular scenic route popular with tourists.  The roads are windy, the cliffs along the coast are rugged, and the sloping valleys and rolling hills are dotted with sheep. 

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

This man was making and selling St. Bridget’s Crosses (see below). Set one over your doorway or window, and it will protect your home from any harm (or so they say…)

Along the route are small villages, considered some of the most traditional in Ireland. 

One of the villages we stopped at had the funniest name: Sneem.  It’s small; there are less than 400 people who call Sneem home.  We enjoyed walking around, though, and taking a few photos.

In the afternoon, we visited Torc Waterfall, in Killarney National Park, before returning to Killarney to enjoy free time.

Next up: IRISH ADVENTURE # 24: KILLARNEY LAKES & HOUSE

IRISH ADVENTURE #22: CHARMING KILLARNEY

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While exploring Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, we had a convenient base for three nights at the Killarney Towers Hotel.  Located in the heart of charming Killarney, it was easy to pop in and out of the hotel and go for a stroll around town.

Killarney, a town of 14,412 people in southwest Ireland, is located on the popular Ring of Kerry (the subject of my next post), so it is a tourist hub.  Still, even though there are some tourist gift shops in the town center, they are quite nice to walk through, the town is very pleasant, and it was an enjoyable base for us.  As a matter of fact, Killarney is so pleasant that it was named Ireland’s tidiest town and the cleanest town in the country by Irish Business Against Litter, in 2011.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

This bar and restaurant was something to see inside! There were several different rooms, each full of memorabilia and loaded with charm. We wandered throughout the entire meandering place, taking a lot of photos along the way. The staff was very nice and welcomed us! The next seven photos are of the interior and back patio.

Coming up next: IRISH ADVENTURE #23: THE RUGGED RING OF KERRY

IRISH ADVENTURE #21: INCHING ALONG INCH BEACH, KERRY CREAMERY, & MUCKROSS GARDENS

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On our way to Inch Beach, we made a stop between Tralee and Dingle, at the Tom Crean Memorial Garden.  Here, we learned about this adventurous Irish Antarctic explorer who died in 1938 at the age of 61.  He had made three expeditions to Antarctica: 1901 – 1904, 1910 – 1913, and 1914 – 1917.

Following his last expedition, Crean returned to his home village of Anascaulin, on the Dingle Peninsula, and opened a pub, The South Pole Inn.  The pub, located across the street from the memorial garden, is still in operation by different owners and is filled with Tom Crean memorabilia.  It was closed while we were there, but we did enjoy a lovely walk along the river next to the pub.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Inch Beach, a four-mile-long wide, sandy beach, was our next stop.  Home to one of Ireland’s most popular surf schools, it is a terrific beach for surfing, walking, bird watching, and collecting seashells. And, the day we were there, it was awesome for photography!

Next, we visited the Kerry Creamery for a guided tour and lunch.  It was interesting to learn how creameries operated years ago, before the rise of modern technology in Ireland.

By the time we arrived at Muckross House and Gardens, in Killarney National Park, the skies had cleared, and we enjoyed yet another gorgeous rain-free day in Ireland! 

Built in 1843, the house was given to Ireland in 1932, the first National Park in the Republic of Ireland. The gardens were so beautiful, though, we opted to spend our time outdoors during our visit, rather than touring the house.

The backside of the house.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening was spent exploring the charming town center of Killarney, the subject of my next post: IRISH ADVENTURE #22: CHARMING KILLARNEY

IRISH ADVENTURE #20: DRIVING THE DINGLE PENINSULA

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While researching Ireland, the Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry kept coming up as a favorite destination for natural beauty and photography; so, it was a no-brainer to book the post-trip extension.  The town of Dingle, which I wrote about in my previous post, alone made it worthwhile, but this day on the Dingle Peninsula was spectacular!

The morning weather was quite dynamic, beginning with a tumultuous sky that threatened to ruin our day.  Although it rained for a short period, it was drop-dead gorgeous for the remainder of the day. 

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Our morning began in Slea Head, the westernmost point in Ireland, to see ancient beehive-shaped dry-stone huts located on what is now a small sheep farm.  It was amazing to see how meticulously these huts were constructed, by stacking the rings of stone so that each layer went further inward until a pointed roof was formed to cap the structure.  Nobody knows just how old these huts are, because this method of construction was used in Ireland for thousands of years.

In addition to our guided tour of the huts, we had the opportunity to bottle-feed the adorable baby sheep.

We continued along Slea Head Drive, one of Ireland’s most scenic routes, stopping at Radharc na mBlascaodai to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Blasket Islands. 

Our next stop, The Blasket Centre, was a wonderful surprise!  Not only did the exhibits capture my interest, but the views behind the museum were spectacular!  To be quite honest, we didn’t even go into the museum at first.  The skies were amazingly photogenic, and we wanted to take in the views of the sea and Blasket Islands first, just in case the weather changed again.  We figured that if another storm blew in, we would stay dry inside the museum.

This is why we made a beeline for the cliffs:

We could have stayed out there the entire time, but I am so glad we didn’t, because the museum was fabulous.

If you go, this is what you will see when you first walk in:

The Blasket Centre details the heritage and culture of the strongest remaining Irish speaking communities, the Gaelic-speaking Blaskets.  They inhabited one of the islands until their forced evacuation in 1953.  Approximately 180 people lived on Great Blasket at its height in 1920, but emigration, mainly to the USA, was common.  Between 1916 and 1926, a fifth of the community had emigrated.  The decline in inshore fishing after World War I was one factor, and the exodus of young women from the island was another.  America was a big draw for those who wanted to help their families by sending home money, and many settled in Springfield, Massachusetts.  When one went, they would send the fare for the next sibling to cross the Atlantic, so the exodus continued for several more years.

Following a series of official studies and reports into the plight of the islanders, the decision was made to evacuate the island in 1953 and rehouse the population on the mainland. There was one family who held out until the following year, but once the O’Sullivans left, it was sadly the end of the Blasket community.

After the impactful Blasket Centre visit, our group continued driving along the Dingle Peninsula, stopping to see the remains of Kilmalkedar Church, built in the 12th century. 

Next up:  IRISH ADVENTURE #21: INCHING ALONG INCH BEACH, KERRY CREAMERY, & MUCKROSS GARDENS

IRISH ADVENTURE #19: DELIGHTFUL DINGLE

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Dingle is delightful!  This little town of less than 1,700 people is so colorful and charming; it brought a smile to my face the moment we arrived.  Located in southwest Ireland, Dingle is on the coast of County Kerry and the only town on the Dingle Peninsula.  A popular tourist destination, Dingle’s other main industries are fishing and agriculture. 

As soon as we stepped into the lobby of the Dingle Benners Hotel, it was like stepping back in time.  Dating back to the early 1800’s, the boutique hotel was filled with antiques, old photographs, and a beautiful bar.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

On the wall surrounding the courtyard

Although we went on an orientation walk with our tour leader, it’s impossible to get lost in this little town that lines the harbor.  It was such a beautiful day (although, as you will see in my photos, the sky looked quite threatening off in the distance), we continued exploring on our own.  I couldn’t stop taking photos, and it was a tough edit for this post!  So, happy scrolling!

The view across the street from our hotel
The flag of Dingle
A bar, hardware store, and bicycle shop all wrapped into one funky joint; see below!

Below is a window display of adorable knitted people and animals.

Make sure click on the next one to see it full screen. Isn’t Dingle delightful?

Located across the street from our hotel, it was a convenient place to grab dinner and listen to some trad. music!
A heart in the sky!

Coming up next: IRISH ADVENTURE #20: DRIVING THE DINGLE PENINSULA

IRISH ADVENTURE #18: ALONG THE RIVER SHANNON: ADARE & LISTOWEL

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This was a travel day, departing Ennis and driving along the River Shannon with Dingle as our destination.  The traditional Irish village of Adare was our first stop, a quaint little town in County Limerick. 

Designated a heritage town by the Irish government, Adare is a tourist destination, but it was just a rest stop for us to stretch our legs and see the thatched cottages along the main street.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

We continued our drive west to Listowel, in County Kerry, where we visited the Kerry Writers Museum for a guided tour and lunch.  It was raining, so the timing for an indoor activity couldn’t have been better! 

This museum was a little gem, not only for the way it so cleverly highlighted each of the best Irish writers, but our guide was such an entertaining storyteller!  We learned about the lives of Maurice Walsh, Brendan Kennelly, George Fitzmaurice, and two writers from Listowel, John B. Keane and Bryan MacMahon.

Brendan Kennelly
John B. Keane
The view from the bus on the way to Dingle.

Later in the afternoon, we arrived in Dingle, the subject of my next post:

IRISH ADVENTURE #19: DELIGHTFUL DINGLE

IRISH ADVENTURE #17: THE CAPTIVATING CLIFFS OF MOHER

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What a majestic sight!  Rising 702 feet at their highest point from the Atlantic Ocean, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most iconic landscapes and tourist destinations.  These nine-mile-long cliffs, estimated to be 300 million years old, are listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark and are visited by 1.5 million people a year.

The key to avoiding the crowds is to get to the cliffs early, so that we did.  Our bus was the second to arrive, so it was a pleasure to have wide open vista points, especially for photography. 

The weather at the cliffs can be quite fickle and rainy, so we felt fortunate to have just one short period of sprinkles.  Off in the distance, it was raining over Galway Bay and Aran Islands.  We felt fortunate those clouds never made it our way!

I was mesmerized by the shapes of the cliffs and rock formations carved by the wave action over the years.  Erosion has formed caves, sea stacks, sea stumps, and arches—the reason the cliffs have become not only a draw for tourists, but also for film crews for movies, including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009).

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

We also visited Caherconnell Fort, a well-preserved stone fort that was inhabited up to the 16th century.

This was the last day of the main tour, so our group met for a farewell dinner and drinks, which in my case was a local cider.

Next up:  IRISH ADVENTURE #18: ALONG THE RIVER SHANNON: ADARE & LISTOWEL