Latresa Phillips
Even though the distance between the United Kingdom and Robbinsville is 3,915 miles, it feels like home.
I have been blessed to travel the world. Seeing the iconic sights of countries and observing their culture gives me such a feeling of wonder and kinship.
Earlier this month, I joined a group of 12 for a trip to the British Isles of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It was a trip of a lifetime.
Nine of the travelers currently claim residence in Graham County. The other two may have moved away, but still have roots planted deep in our soil. The group was made up of all ages – male and female – all with several things in common: a love of travel, adventure and Graham County. Some of them were old friends; some became new.
While in England, we toured the grounds of Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. Some visited the Tower of London, while others roamed the Sunken Garden – visiting the statue of Princess Diana and the seasonal displays of the garden. A couple of the travelers also visited Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. That evening, everyone shared a meal dining on braised beef and ale short crust – while sharing their thoughts and adventures of the day.
Our next stop was Bonnie Scotland, a land known for kilts, bagpipes and hairy coos. We spent two days in Edinburgh: the historic, cultural and political capital of Scotland. It is a city known for its dramatic setting on volcanic hills, its stunning architecture and vibrant cultural scene.
We happened to be there for the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which is the biggest art festival in the world. Others (myself included) enjoyed tea time and a tour of The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the residence of the His Majesty, the King of Scotland. We also traveled up the Royal Mile to visit Edinburgh Castle, which sits majestically on Castle Rock – a volcanic plug which overlooks the entire city.
A highlight of our time in Scotland was a trip to the village of Torphichen and dinner and a show at the Torphichen Inn. Our host at the inn, Kenny Craig, welcomed us with stories of Scotland’s history, Scottish songs and poetry, and an authentic Scottish meal – with the best haggis in Scotland. We enjoyed a presentation of the haggis and wonderful hospitality that made for an amazing evening. We entered the inn as tourists and left as a part of the family.
As we traveled from Scotland to Ireland, we took a trip to Liverpool, England and visited the hometown of the Beatles. We took a tour down Penny Lane and dropped by Strawberry Fields. We also stopped by the homes where Paul McCartney and John Lennon grew up. Liverpool was a lovely city with lots of history and a beautiful waterfront. The younger travelers spent their evening in Liverpool at the Cavern Club where the Beatles played as young dreamers hoping to be discovered. The older members of the group opted for an evening meal on the waterfront.
It was a four-hour ferry ride across the Irish Sea to reach Ireland and arrive in the city of Dublin. After such a wonderful Scottish Dinner and show, we were anxious to visit “The Merry Ploughboys Pub,” for a traditional Irish meal of angus beef stew, mashed potatoes and puffed pastry. The food was amazing, and the entertainment included folk songs and sing-along songs and traditional Irish dance by The Merry Ploughboys and their dancers. The evening was a perfect way to end our time in Dublin.
We drove to Kerry, passing across the beautiful landscapes of Ireland. We traveled the peninsula known as the "Ring of Kerry," which is a 111-mile scenic circular driving in County Kerry. It showcases the rugged coastal landscapes, historical towns, waterfalls and natural beauty. We traveled down to Rock of Cashel, making our way to Tralee for a couple of nights stay.
Stops along the way included such beautiful and popular areas as Cork City, where we took jaunting cars and carriages pulled by horses around Blarney, before visiting the Blarney Castle and kissing the Blarney stone.
Yes, I believe everyone in our group kissed the stone.
This was an experience I wasn’t prepared for at all. I had heard of it, but I never dreamed I would be 90 feet from the ground, climbing over 100 narrow stone steps just to reach the stone, then lying on my back and leaning over the wall while holding onto iron bars for support and being held by staff members who lowered me to kiss the stone upside down.
All of this for the “gift of gab."
We made stops along the Dingle Peninsula and made our way to the Cliffs of Moher. The views from the cliffs were amazing, stretching along the Atlantic Ocean. We even made a stop along the way to stick our feet on the other side of the Atlantic.
As our trip came to an end, we had all shared so many adventures together. We had risked life and limb to kiss the Blarney Stone. We had stood reverently in some of the world’s oldest and most famous cathedrals, feeling the presence of our risen Lord so far away from our home. We had been to the other end of the Atlantic, and rode horse and buggy through castles and lakes seeing deer and birds along the way.
Some of us reminisced about old times and shared stories of Graham County with the younger travelers, giving them a sense of where they began and what our tradition and culture are about. We laughed, we cried, we shared and we all felt at home realizing that home isn’t always a structure, but a feeling: a feeling of love and acceptance with a family of people who truly enjoy being in your world.
Latresa Phillips is the contributing writer for The Graham Star. She can be reached via email, latresaphillips@yahoo.com.