Alpha Voyages Travel Agency

09/14/2024

I’m about ready to make another transition: Dublin to London. This time by air. 90 minutes.

Last night. I took an adventure all my myself. I booked a dinner & show outting. I used the show’s app. Made confirmation taxis reservations, used my phone to show my reservation for the Celtic Night

Here’s the broom dance. I had bacon and cabbage as my meal. Didn’t purchase whiskey. Kept my mind clear!

09/14/2024

I choose this feeling because I was not prepared for the coldness and windiness of Tourism Ireland trips. At RCCG - Power Court and then over Sally’s Gap back to Dublin from
Powercourt , I had to add a woolen cover and scarf to my attire. Wasn’t that terrible?

09/14/2024

This post is just a sample of pictures from Dublin inner city Ireland.
The jail, Trinity College & the Book of Kells, and a mansion viewed from within the park. Designer also designed our White House. Does it look familiar?

09/14/2024

London to Dublin: most people fly between theses two cities. Flights are 80 minutes. Price is cheap! I don’t do what most people do. In doing my research for this trip, I discovered that an alternate method was by rail and Ferry. Using Railbookers I was able to create by dream. In the minutes before the journey, I still didn’t know if the train confirmation sent by Railbookers included the ferry ticket. It did. Michael from dewi’s own tour company both gave a sigh of relief. 12 hours of travel vs 90 minutes. 12 r

09/13/2024

Jacobite Train. Harry Potter fans stand beside the roadsides to watch the Jacobite train pass. I was lucky enough to be on the 2 two hour train adventure. People line the roads and fields to wave and watch it past twice a day. Towns people know to the minute when it will come into view. Being a passenger who wants to get a picture of the train on the viaduct is challenging. It’s over before it starts.

09/13/2024

This post was saved from Scotland travel days.

Eilean Donan castle was destroyed and then rebuilt. It’s fully furnished and restored to its original status.

Everyone enters one door, winds their way up and down narrow stairs and exits another way . Once you enter, there’s no changing your mind if you find the path impossible.

The guards decided I should not enter. So, Roberta and Robert gave me my own memory. I entered the exit door and became the guard who decided who could enter the castle. Just like in the Wizard of Oz. at Munchkin Land.

My walker and I had inched up the long path to the castle. Loose gravel walkways are a challenge. Afterwards, Robert lent me an umbrella to rest under before I began my descent. The rain had arrived once again.

09/10/2024

Enjoy a video of Wi******er Cathedral in Wi******er England.

09/10/2024

One of my goals had been to visit Wi******er England. Mission accomplished thanks to Dewi Evans of .com

Below are pictures of Wi******er Cathedral. Older than Westminster Abby. The depth feels as long as Westminster Abby. A place of reverence.

Wi******er England was the first capital of England before it was moved to London.

Kings and Queens lived in Wi******er England before London became England’s capital. At which point, royalty moved to London.

Wi******er England is much like Wi******er Virginia. There’s a college, other small churches, homes with thatched roofs, a downtown closed street mall area, very old homes and newer homes. Allies and many one way narrow streets. One could wander the town for days to visit all the quaint shops and pubs.

Wi******er is a small town about 2 1/2 hours to the north of London. It’s about 30 minutes from Highcleve Castle and 90 minutes from Stonehenge.

I will hopefully post additional pictures and a video

09/10/2024

Attending a service at Westminster Abbey was a highlight of my adventures in Great Britain. The Que kept growing. No pictures were allowed in the Abby before or during a service. The service was held in the choir loft area. The organ area was above the division between the forward and aft parts of the Abby.

My seat was next to a minister covered in a red gown. He motioned to me that I didn’t need to stand during the various parts of the service. I motioned standing was my goal.

Later as I exited the service area there were 6 steps. He lowered my frame so I could use the rail.

A moment I will remember.

09/08/2024

If ever in London, schedule time for borough market. It’s a huge food court with long queues of people waiting to purchase the latest fad or a quick meal. However, seats are stadium style. My recommendation is to enjoy the smells and then find a pub.

09/08/2024

Operation Mincemeat brought 400 ticket holders to their feet yesterday afternoon at Fortune Theatre. When I was planning by bucket list trip to the United Kingdom, I had told Dewi, Toursbylocals, I wanted to see a play. Being a theatre professor as well as tour guide, he recommended “Operation Mincemeat “. A relative new play in West End theatre section of London. I immediately brought two tickets. Now, 9 months later it’s headed to New York…... Not officially announced but gotten on good authority. It won 3 2024 awards.

09/06/2024

The original steps to the main castle date back to the 11th century. A wall surrounding the castle has a front and back entrance allowing the citizens of Cardiff Wales to have a walking short cut in and out of downtown Cardiff. Wales.

09/06/2024

A day trip to the capital of Wales. Cardiff is just about 90 minutes from London. A high speed electrical train departures about every 30 minutes from Paddington station.

The BBC has brand new headquarters in Cardiff which centers on Drama. It is part of the square that greets you as you step off the train.

The castle was renovated by one very rich gentleman. As the front wall was 1/2 way completed, the discovery of the original Roman wall resulted in a change in style for the second half of the entrance wall.

Let Dewi Evans from Toursbylocals share with you a 3 minute History lesson.

09/05/2024

A day in London. Viator Travel Agent Program is where I purchased the tickets for the Hop on Hop off bus as well as tickets for the fast lane for the London Eye. My recommendation is that the extra $$ for the fast lane is well worth it especially when it’s raining cats and dogs.

Then, over to Harrods for Fish and Chips and a bathroom break.

The catch of the day option was the crispiest fish to date. The chips were very thick 4D squares. Service tops as was the bill!

09/05/2024

The story of Big Ben in London as told by Dewi Evans, my personal tour guide from Toursbylocals. Learn about from black to blue.

09/04/2024

London like a queen! I’m glad I’m a Marriott Hotels Bonvoy member. I give thanks to the Residence Inn London Bridge for an unexpected upgrade. My next six nights in London will be very special.

Look for my adventures with Toursbylocals private tour guide Dewi E.

09/03/2024

On today’s 11 hour tour from London to experience the filming of Downton Abbey, we stopped at Bampton. Walking around in the small community was just like walking in location. The town is back to normal. However, by using a little imagination, I went back in time .

09/03/2024

My 4 minutes video was trimmed by facebook to 60 seconds. What a flash back to Downton Abbey. The tour operator was playing the soundtrack as we drive down the ride to the castle.

09/03/2024

Highcleve Castle is located 3 hours outside London. Therefore, an eleven hour day. Today was the last day Highcleve was to be opened this season. The doors closed at 4 on the nose.

No pictures are allowed to be taken inside the castle. However, it’s exactly as seen on Downton Abbey. We walked on the orient rugs.

The current owners are now making a gin from the herbs grown on the grounds. It makes your lips pucker.

PS: Highcleve is not a walk from the church. The castle is about 20 minutes away.

If the WiFi allows, I have a video driving into the castle grounds. Separate posts.

09/02/2024

The Caledonia sleeper train from Edinburgh to London was a challenge. We were a challenge for the train station staff. Too many walkers, wheelchair, and two much luggage. Who wouldn’t shake their heads.

As a travel agent I learned a great deal on the does and don’ts. Train stations are not well equipped to assist mobility challenged guests. The adventure is like entering a corn maze .

The train employees did their best to accommodate us. The private driver’s company , arranged by Railbookers , will hear from me. Even the train assistants were shaking their heads in disbelief.

We’re here at our hotel. Our room was available at 8AM. A miracle!

08/30/2024

Touching base from the United Kingdom. I know I promised my followers I would be posting my 40 day bucket list adventure, however, Facebook shutdown my account. Thanks to my IT expert back home, Shared Knowledge Technical Solutions, I’m up. Here’s my first post. Dinner entertainment in Edinburgh Scotland.

08/03/2024

08/03/2024

Ready to go to the beach