The Essence of Ireland & ScotlandJuly 1 to July 13, 2020

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The Essence of Ireland & Scotland

July 1 to July 13, 2020

Itinerary

Join VETS for an adventure focused on touring Ireland and Scotland.  Our itinerary will allow you to see some of the “Best Of” these two amazing nations while experiencing the unique History, People and Places.  You will be earning up to 12 units of RACE-approved continuing education credit (see the very bottom of this page) while traveling with fellow veterinarians, their families and friends.  This itinerary may be modified slightly during our trip in order to pursue opportunities that could enhance our experience!

Day 0— July 1, 2020, Wednesday — Depart the USA for a July 2 (Thursday) arrival in Dublin

Day 1— July 2, 2020, Thursday — Arrive in Dublin, Welcome Banquet

Many pubs have nightly entertainment from local talent!

Depart from North America on July 1st, arriving in Dublin, Ireland on July 2nd! 

Morning arrival from North America to Dublin, a busy city founded in the 9th century on the River Liffy.  At the most recent census, about 2 million of Ireland’s total population of 4.7 million live in the immediate area of Dublin.  

You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to The Green Hotel, a luxury hotel in the center of Dublin and easy walking distance to the most interesting areas (e.g. one idea of where to go . . . there are > 1,000 pubs in Dublin!) 

A light lunch will be provided at the hotel, afternoon on your own.

Afternoon Check-in.

Late Afternoon: Depart for Book of Kells & Trinity College.

This evening you’ll be our guest at Trinity College (founded in 1592) for a visit to the Book of Kells, their historical library known as The Long Room and a Welcome Banquet in ‘Great Hall.’   

Historic Trinity College

The Illuminated Manuscript of The Book of Kells

After Dinner, we’ll provide transportation back to The Green Hotel.

Day 2— July 3, Friday — CE Lectures, Old Jameson’s Distillery, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The Guinness Storehouse, Literary Pub Crawl (optional)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning departure for University College Dublin (the home of the Ireland’s national veterinary college.) We will participate in two RACE approved lectures, the first on “How Diseases are Transmitted” (think measles, Foot and Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, etc) and a second on “How Medieval Folk Remedies Evolve to Become Modern Pharmaceuticals.”

Lunch provided after the CE Event.

Afternoon: Dublin city tour to the Old Jameson’s Distillery, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse.  

Old Jameson’s Distillery

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The Guinness Storehouse.

Evening on your own or sign up for an optional guided Literary Pub Crawl and dinner. $120 per person includes Tour, Dinner & Drinks.

Overnight at the Green Hotel.

Day 3— July 4, Saturday — Newgrange & Trim Castle Visit

Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Bus to Boyne Valley about 2 hours north of Dublin. Visit a historical area called Newgrange built before the pyramids in Egypt.  Lunch will provided as part of the Newgrange trip.

We will also visit a Trim Castle.

Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, was constructed over a thirty-year period by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter. Hugh de Lacy was granted the Liberty of Meath by King Henry II in 1172 in an attempt to curb the expansionist policies of Richard de Clare, (Strongbow). Construction of the massive three storied Keep, the central stronghold of the castle, was begun c. 1176 on the site of an earlier wooden fortress. This massive twenty-sided tower, which is cruciform in shape, was protected by a ditch, curtain wall and moat.

Return to Dublin.

Evening at leisure.

Overnight at the Green Hotel.

Day 4— July 5, Sunday — County Clare, Bunratty Castle, Cliffs of Moher, Dinner Banquet with Irish Entertainment

Breakfast at hotel

Morning: Depart to bus to County Clare, with a visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, a residential castle built ~1425 as a defensive fortress for a family (there are other castles such as Dublin Castle that were built to protect governments/kings/etc.).  The Folk Park is part of the castle grounds and has reconstructed typical housing with period furniture representing how the Irish lived. 

Lunch provided.

We’ll drive to the Cliffs of Moher, famous sea cliffs that are as high as 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and look out over the Aran Islands and Galway Bay.    

Next we’ll drive through The Burren, about 200 square miles of land dominated by limestone formations and what was home to many early civilizations.  This area was hit especially hard by the Great Famine and Black Death in the early 1300’s.

Limestone formations of The Burren

We’ll continue to the Inn at Dromoland, our hotel adjacent to Dromoland castle and on the original castle grounds.  

This evening we’ll host a dinner at Durty Nellys, an authentic pub close to Bunratty Castle and enjoy some fine pub food as well as Irish entertainment.  

Overnight at the Inn at Dromoland Castle.

Day 5— July 6, Monday — Connemara Peninsula, Kylemore Abbey, Town of Ennis

Breakfast at the Inn at Dromoland.

Morning: We’ll depart for the Connemara peninsula and visit Kylemore Abbey.  This is one of the most photographed abbey’s in the world and we’ll take a tour!

Lunch provided.

Return to our hotel at The Inn at Dromoland.

Afternoon at leisure.

Evening at leisure with bus service to the little town of Ennis, that we fell in love with on our last trip. It’s not too far away and plan on heading there to walk around, visit an ancient Friary, and eat in at local pub (hopefully with music).  

Dinner on your own in Ennis or it will also available at the Inn or make reservations at Dromoland Castle (5 star restaurant-we recommend you make dinner reservations before you leave to go to Ireland).  

Day 6— July 7, Tuesday — The Mini-Ring of Kerry, Killarney, Dinner Banquet with Irish Entertainment

Breakfast at the Inn at Dromoland.

The region of Kenmare is part of the “Mini-Ring of Kerry”

Morning: We’ll continue our adventure by heading south, crossing from County Clare to County Kerry by ferry boat, and head to the small city of Kenmare as part of “The Mini Ring of Kerry.”  We’ll enjoy lunch in Kenmare, then continue up through Moll’s Gap and Ladies View with a stop at Muckross house (a 2018 “Traveler’s Choice on TripAdvisor), a restored home and gardens  just east of Killarney.

The Muckross house

We’ll head to our hotel, Europe Hotel.

The Europe Hotel with views of the Lakes of Killarney

Killarney is so popular because of its location but also because the town itself is so stereotypically Irish. Plan to walk through downtown to see the storefronts.

We will host a Dinner Banquet with Entertainment at the Europe Hotel.

Overnight at the Europe Hotel.

Day 7— July 8, Wednesday — Choose Your Own Adventure!

(Choose ONLY ONE of five options below)

Breakfast at The Europe Hotel

Your free day to do what you want to do!  

Options include:  (You Choose ONE, please)

1)    Experience a jaunting cart with a pony ride up and over the Gap of Dunloe, then have some refreshments at Lord Byron’s historical cottage on the lake, just across an ancient stone bridge from where the cart will let you off.  After some refreshment you’ll get on a boat with about 10 people and make your way through three connecting lakes to Ross Fort.  You’ll be picked up there and returned to the hotel.  Dinner on your own. This tour costs $195 per person.

The Gap of Dunloe

or

2) Choose the incredibly beautiful tour of the Dingle Peninsula.  Lunch in the town of Dingle. Dinner on your own. This tour costs $130 per person.

The Dingle Peninsula

or

3) Golf at the Killarney Golf Club. You’ll be transported there and picked up.  Reservations a must before arriving in Ireland and we’ll need the information to coordinate your transport! Lunch on your own. Dinner on your own. Golf fees are $290 per person.

The Killarney Golf & Fishing Club

or

4) Choose to make use of the AMAZING Spa at The Europe Hotel.  Beautiful facilities in a beautiful location. Lunch on your own. Dinner on your own.

The Spa at the Europe Hotel, Killarney

or

5)    Relax, walk around Killarney town, and enjoy the Europe Hotel’s grounds. Lunch on your own. Dinner on your own.

The Europe Hotel Grounds, with Breathtaking Views

Killarney— a great place to walk & shop

Day 8— July 9, Thursday — From Ireland to Scotland, Group Dinner

Breakfast at The Europe Hotel.

Early morning: Transfer to Shannon Airport (~2 hours) to catch our late morning ~90 minute flight to Edinburgh, Scotland. Flight leaves at 10:55 am and arrives at 12:30 pm.

12:30 pm: Arrive in Edinburgh. Panoramic orientation to Edinburgh.

Afternoon: Lunch at restaurant Otro.

Late Afternoon: Check into the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, perfectly positioned for our exploration.

Afternoon at leisure.

Group dinner at Howies Waterloo within walking distance from hotel.

Overnight Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.

Day 9— July 10, Friday — VIP Edinburgh Castle Tour, Royal Mile & Old Town, Holyrood House

Breakfast at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.

Morning: Depart hotel and arrive in time for a VIP pre-opening admission and Private Tour of Edinburgh Castle.

Late Morning: Guided tour of the Royal Mile and Old Town. Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: Visit to Holyrood House, the ceremonial home of Queen Elizabeth II. According to medieval legend, the Abbey was founded around 900 years ago in 1128 by David I of Scotland. While out hunting, the king had a vision of a stag with a glowing cross between its antlers. Seeing this as a message from God, he had an abbey built on the very same spot. 'Holy Rood', the name of the Abbey, and subsequently the Palace, means ‘Holy Cross’.

Late Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure.

Evening: Dinner and evening at Ghillie Dhu Burly Ceilidh. (Walking distance from hotel.)

Overnight Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel

Day 10— July 11, Saturday— Inverness region, Blair Castle, Loch Ness cruise

Breakfast at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel

Morning: Check out and travel toward Inverness

Late Morning: Blair Castle has been the home of the Atholl family for over seven centuries. The castle has had a diverse history, witnessing both turbulent and peaceful times, enlarged and adapted over 700 years to suit the needs of the family and style of the day. Home to politicians, soldiers, agriculturalists and entrepreneurs, the family history is brought to life against a backdrop of fine 18th century interiors and Scottish baronial architecture, in 30 rooms. 

Afternoon: Lunch at Blair Castle.

Inverness Castle and the River Ness

Late Afternoon: Panoramic Orientation to Inverness. Inverness is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Inverness lies near two important battle sites: the 11th-century battle of Blàr nam Fèinne against Norway which took place on the Aird and the 18th century Battle of Culloden which took place on Culloden Moor.

Late Afternoon: Check into the Kingsmills Hotel.

Cocktails and appetizers on a Loch Ness cruise (“Here Nessie, Nessie, Nessie.”)

Dinner on your own.

Overnight at the Kingsmills Hotel.

Day 11— July 12, Sunday— Culloden Battlefield, Group Dinner at Achnagairn Castle

Breakfast at the Kingsmills Hotel.

Visit the Culloden battlefield. The Culloden Battlefield is the historic site of the last battle to take place on British soil in 1746. This battle is frequently referred to as one of the most important for Scotland, as it marked the end of the clan system in the highlands.

Lunch and Afternoon at Leisure.

Group dinner Finale at Achnagairn Castle, a five star resort with stunning views. Embrace your inner Scot and dress the part for our final banquet— Kilt Rental for Men is $175 , Sash & Brooch Rental for Women is $50.

Overnight at the Kingsmills Hotel.

Day 12— July 13, Monday — Depart Scotland

Breakfast at the Palace Hotel.

Depart for Inverness airport to start your journey home.

Flights to London Heathrow or Amsterdam Schiphol International Airports to connect with flights home.

Trip Prices

$7250* per person (based on Double Occupancy.)

$9750* for Single Occupancy (solo traveler not sharing a room.)

$5050* for Third Person (under age 18 & traveling with ‘double occupancy’ as above)

*Prices DO NOT include airfare

About Our RACE-Approved CE—

You will earn up to 12 units of RACE approved CE credit for veterinarians attending the Essence of Ireland/Scotland trip (based on lectures, case studies and passing an open-book quiz) and have more fun than a litter of kittens.

QUESTIONS? CLICK HERE TO EMAIL US!

ABOUT CE & RACE APPROVAL

The Kohala Zip Line on the Big Island

At first, I was very nervous.

When the idea first came up about zipping between trees (at speeds up to 40 mph) while being suspended 100 feet above the ground— well, for some reason that sounded a little crazy.

Leisl– “Teller of Bad Jokes”, Excellent Guide

Our two guides, Liesl and Peter put us at ease— sort of. They were very focused as we geared up with a full harness, hard hat and prayer book of our choice (just kidding about the prayer book.)

It was a fifteen minute drive up the hill to get to the canopy. Along the way, we passed grazing cattle, beautiful green countryside, and the location of an epic battle between King Kamehameha and invaders from another island. As we ascended the hill, our guides entertained us with historical facts (some of which were true), bad jokes (I’ll just blame Leisl for those) and an enthusiasm that was contagious!

Peter- beneath that calm, competent exterior is a mad man.

One guide would zip to the end of the line and wait for us, while the other would attach all of the equipment to the cables and make certain that all was connected before we each took our turn.

The first two lines were short and helped us to get comfortable with the harness and the very important concept of braking!  At that point, we had the opportunity to chicken out if we wanted to, but I was already hooked.  This was going to be a blast.

The platforms were large (they can accomodate 10 people safely) and built with minimal disruption to the trees. At all times, we were either tethered to the zip line or to a cable around the tree— so that we couldn’t plummet 100 feet down into the lush, green growth below.  (Not that I was worried about that😉 )

At first, all I could focus on was the next platform. But after a while, I started to look around. Below us was untouched forest. There was a babbling brook that meandered back and forth, large ferns and even evidence of ancient hawaiian raised gardens— the rock borders are still in place.  This was really cool!

The zip lines became longer and faster, and when that wasn’t enough adrenaline, then came the suspension bridges.  Nothing like looking down between your feet and seeing . . . . that “down” was a long way down there!!!

Look Ma, I’m at the top of the trees!!

Finally, we reached the last platform and it was time to return to solid ground.  We had a great time in the canopy and, as you can see, our guides took some great pictures during the expedition.

If you’re on the Big Island, I definitely recommend the Kohala Zipline! In fact, I think you should go to the Big Island just for the the Kohala Zipline— it’s worth it!

Kim Klingborg, Zipline Addict

An Abbreviated History of Australia

(Shamelessly plagiarized from a number of sources by Don Klingborg)

     The continent went “walkabout” 65 million years ago, separating from the supercontinent Gondwanaland and slowly migrating into the Pacific and Indian oceans.  While the highest point on the continent is just over 7,000 ft. (Mount Kosciuszko), Australia is the flattest of all continents having been worn down by rain over millions of years.  It is one of the world’s most stable landmasses in regard to seismic activity, and is considered “a finished product” by geologists.

     The first Australians are thought to have arrived between 50,000 and 120,000 years ago.  This was during the ice age and the frozen ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere consumed so much water that the world’s sea levels were 400 feet lower than they are currently, making it possible to walk across many areas that are under water today (e.g., you could walk between the Australian mainland and Tasmania and New Guinea, and only a short boat ride to some of the Islands in Indonesia).

     Two types of people were early immigrants to Australia:  a heavy framed group referred to as “Robust” people (who didn’t survive to modern times) and a slender race named “Gracile”.  Today’s Aborigines are descendants of the gracile people. 

     About 8,000 years ago the earth began to warm and sea levels began to rise, isolating Australia.  Little happened to change the landscape during the earliest visits from European explorers predominantly in the 16th century, including the Dutch, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and the English.   They found a continent with many strange animals and plants along with a widely dispersed population of Aborigines.  The distribution of water created huge desert areas and resulted in the continent being largely unpeopled.  With the exception of the fertile area along the eastern coast and a small green area in the southwestern corner, the continent is arid with inhospitable scrub and outright desert. 

     Eighteen year’s after Captain James Cook “discovered” Australia in 1770 the English sent eleven ships carrying 778 convicts (men, women and children as young as nine) to Cook’s landing spot, Botany Bay (about 20 km from Sydney) to create a colony.  These ships are called the “First Fleet” and are considered as their equivalent of our “Mayflower”.  The first recorded words spoken by the Aborigines and directed to these “invaders” were “Warra Warra”, meaning, “Go away”.   They didn’t.

     The 1788 shipment of convicts from England to Australia was in part as a consequence of the successful American Revolution, thereby eliminating the ability for England to continue to ship her convicts to Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas (which was a common practice).  A backlog of prisoners in English jails resulted, growing at a rate of about 1,000 per year.  At the same time French ambitions in the Pacific spurred the English to secure a position in the region and they adopted a policy of exporting their backlog of prisoners “down under”. 

      When Cook landed in Botany Bay in 1770 it was the rainy season, however when the First Fleet arrived in 1778 it was the dry season and the fresh water and green grasses Cook described were nowhere to be found. The fleet sailed about 19 km north and discovered a great harbor with fresh water and settled there, naming it after Lord Sydney, and the colonization era began. 

     The first years were very difficult and the success of the colony was in jeopardy until 1791 when a second fleet arrived with supplies and more convict labor.  Most of the convicts were petty criminals charged with minor offenses such as stealing food for their kids.  Some were political prisoners, and about half of all those transported had received a seven-year sentence and could return to England at the end of their term if they could pay their way. Those with skills or wealth might be freed early and were able to establish small businesses around Sydney.  The distance and cost of securing passage back to England meant most who were transported to Australia were there for life.  With the exception of South Australia all other Australian territories were founded with convict labor.  Transportation of convicts to Australia ended in 1868 at which time about 160,000 people had been exiled there from England.

      Captain William Bligh, of “Mutiny on the Bounty” fame, became the second governor of the colony in the early 1800’s but was unable to break the power of the “Rum Corps”, a gang of ex-army individuals from the first voyage who controlled all aspects of the colony and used rum as their currency. I think most of us will be surprised to learn that Captain Bligh suffered a second mutiny as governor and lost power to the “Rum Corps” who remained in power until a third governor arrived.  The “third time was a charm” as Mr. Lachlan Macquarie from Scotland was successful in wrestling power from the Rum Corps, organizing and stabilizing the colony and eventually was pivotal in Australia officially being so named. 

      Australia has one large and navigable river, the Murray-Darling that flows for over 1,500 miles from the Victorian mountains west and south to the cost of South Australia.  This river irrigates the majority of the prime farmland.  Many of the ranches today, especially those outside of Victoria or South Australia, encompass hundreds of thousands of acres.  There is abundant water that can be harvested with wells, but most of the land requires about 50 acres to produce enough feed to sustain one cow for one year.  With as many as 160 million sheep in the country a ranch needs to be pretty darn big to feed all those mouths.

      Gold rushes in the 1850’s attracted tens of thousands of miners and are thought by some to be the major force that made Australia into a prosperous colony.  Additional strikes followed in Western Australia and Queensland, attracting about 90K prospectors per year.  Today Australia produces more than 200 tons of gold per year.   Much of this production comes from huge open-pit mines in Western Australia, northern Queensland and the Northern Territory.

      Other minerals found in Australia include silver, lead, zinc, copper, uranium, opals (85% of the world’s known supply), diamonds (>1/3 of the world’s supply), coal and petroleum.

      Australia grew as independent territories reflected in the map below.  They apparently didn’t agree on much (for example every railroad had a unique gauge and it was not possible to take one train across territorial borders). In 1901 the politicians came together and formed a commonwealth.  As part of that agreement the new capital could not be in any existing territory so some land was given by New South Wales to create an independent area (the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra)(sounds like what we did in Washington DC)).

      Following World War II Australia set on a policy of inviting immigrants under the banner of “populate or perish”.  The population grew rapidly with immigrants from all over the world throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. 

      In 1788 when the First Fleet landed it is estimated there were about 300,000 Aborigines on the continent.  These people were scattered among over 400 tribes all with distinct languages and customs.  The history of Australia and their aborigines in many ways paralleled our history with America’s native populations.  

     In the 1960’s Australia experienced civil disobedience associated with Aborigine rights.  In 1967 Aborigines received full citizenship and voting rights.  Subsequently, two major court decisions provided the Aborigines with legal title to their lands (in 1992) and with title allowing for mining and pastoral leases while still retaining ownership (in 1996).  While land issues remain politically contentious and continue to play out in Australian society, the Aborigine population has made inroads to more equitable treatment.

     Aborigines today continue to suffer from three times the rate of infant mortality compared to the rest of the population, have a life expectancy that’s more than 15 years less than average, and suffer higher rates of alcoholism, tuberculosis, heart disease, diabetes, and hepatitis.

     On the animal scene about 17 species of kangaroos have gone extinct since the Frist Fleet’s arrival, but there are more kangaroos today than 200 years ago (now about 50 million, approximately three times the number of humans).  There are 150 marsupial species and more than 750 species of birds.

     Merino sheep were imported in 1795 and currently there are an estimated 120 to 160 million sheep in Australia.  Merino provides the fine wool (very thin) that makes up the best in clothing.  Today Australia produces about 70% of the world’s supply of premium wool.

     If you’ve never sheared a sheep you’re really missing something quite special.  Everyone should do it, but only once, as it’s backbreaking and exhausting work.  Big Jackie Howe holds the world record for hand shearing, having done 321 sheep in the standard shearer’s workday of 7 hours and 40 minutes with a hand shear in 1892.  His record stood until 1950 however the new record was accomplished with mechanical shears rather than hand shears.  The record with electric shears is 805 sheep in a day set by Alan MacDonald in 1990.  We had sheep when the kids were growing up and I regularly sheared them, and then sutured them up as I was not a gifted shearer (but pretty darn good at suturing).

     There are a number of experiences with people importing animals to the continent that have had major impacts.  In 1859 Thomas Austin was missing his foxhunts and brought in a couple of dozen rabbits as an alternative sporting animal.  Six years later they were shooting about 20,000 a year and still losing ground to the rapidly growing population.  By 1930 it was estimated there were 1 billion rabbits there and in 1950 they imported and released a myxomatosis virus that killed most but not all of the rabbits.  By 1990 the population was back up to 350 million and in 1996 they imported another virus, this time a calicivirus that killed about 98% of the population.  That surviving two percent is growing the population again.

     Foxes, trout, the cane toad, domestic cats and domestic dogs (the dingo is native), pigs, horses, sheep, donkeys and camels have all been imported and there are problems with each of these species impacting native species. 

     You’ll find a vibrant and varied restaurant scene.  Their immigration policies resulted in more than 160 different nationalities represented by significant numbers of people.  While Sydney and Cairns are known for their seafood, you’ll find Asian, Indian, Italian, Greek and Lebanese eateries abundantly available.

     You may even want to try a traditional staple, the Aussie BBQ, consisting of burned lamb chops and sausages with potato salad.  Goes great with a Foster’s lager.

     You’ll find Australia to be filled with wonderful and happy people, amazing scenery and quite a mixture of animals.