Location: Isles of Scilly, England
Site Locations: Tresco Abby Gardens
King Charles Castle 1537 AD
Cromwell Castle 1651 AD
I am a published author on a National Geographic/Linblad expedition travel site, feeling pretty proud. See below:
https://www.expeditions.com/daily-expedition-reports/177633/british-and-irish-isles/
Eric came to us later in the day and asked us to compose the day’s blog. Well really he asked us earlier in the week if we’d like to write one. We said yes, no problem. It would be a great opportunity for both of us. Paola really wanted to do it on the Staffa islands, and as for me, I didn’t have a preference. I figured I had taken notes on the day’s activities and took lots of pictures. I knew we could pull it off. Secretly I was a little worried, I needed to study up on the history of the place since Paola and I agreed she’d take the morning, and I the afternoon portion of the blog. It worked out well.
Well truth is it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be, writing it, well that wasn’t until we hit bad weather. Eric informed us we had until the next day to complete it and I figured we had more than enough time. After listening to the nightly recap we headed to dinner. Somehow the mood on the boat shifted as the swells on the boat began to steadily rise. We were only 30 minutes into our meal, but fore some reason I started to feel dizzy, then queasy, and finally nauseous. In fact, up until yesterday you could have asked me if I experienced sea sickness, and I would have proudly told you no. Well I was wrong. The waiter brought out my steak and Caesar salad. I didn’t feel up to a potato or steak for that matter. I took four bites of both and called it quits. Trust me, I was not the only one leaving dinner. There were many. When I say it was bad, it was bad. Rope was tied throughout the cabin to help guests navigate around the ship. You had no choice but to hold onto it, or you were liable to fall, and several did. So here was my lesson to bring back to students: open water = rough seas. Be ready for the unexpected. I also learned the best part of the boat to be in is in the center. One of the physic professors (guest on board) showed me a demonstration of how it works with our dinner spoon. It made perfect sense. The center of the boat is the safest, and so is the bottom of the ship-less movement. The higher up the more rotation, which means more sea sickness. Another lesson I will take back and share. Secretly we are learning so much from the guests as well. They come from all walks of life and are eager to share their knowlege too.
So back to writing, I started on the blog that evening, but could not finish it because I was so extremely seasick. I had composed several paragraphs but in the end decided to wait until the next morning. The boat rocking was horrible. We were going everywhere, up and down. Too much to bear.
My Morning Adventure:
Abby Tresco Gadens
During the day I went on a tour with Mr. Mike in gardens, they are quite fascinating. The garden was mixed with plants from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Apparently the fauna is this region can withstand temperatures like this in the isles. He did mention that on the main island, which is just 30 miles away, that these very same plants cannot be grown. Of course I came up with ideas of how to present this information to my students. I will say I am learning much about plant vegetation and what it takes to cultivate their growth and development. The garden held so many different plant species. Of course I don’t recall them all, but there were a few that I was taken to, one being the tree cabbage. This is a beautiful flower that grows down the side of tree. How it does this, well that question needs further study.
In addition, Mike shared that princess Diana used to bring the boys there when they were little, and in fact, his daughters used to play with the boys when they were all young. He spoke about how they simply enjoyed the relaxed feel of the island, this one the one place where they could be and not feel the pressure that being a part of the royal family brings. He stated that the Duke of Cornwall is the same as Prince Charles and that the “duke” owns the islands. In fact, Charles & Camilla still comes to visit the island every once in a while.
He said that Charles has given the family “ownership” over the property and island. I don't recall the family name, but they have been serving as trustees of the islands for many decades, since the time of Queen Mother-well during her younger years. The family has used the property to really highlight the garden and the types of plants that can be grown and cultivated within the region/temperate climate.
Mike also shared that the islands spearheaded compulsory educational systems. The governor would charge families a pence a week for the child to be able to attend school. However, if families choose not to send their children, they were fined, two pence to be exact. Brilliant strategy I thought. As a result, families had no choice but to send their child to school. Apparently the system was quite effective, as many great thinkers/scholars came out of this region Mike explained.
The Afternoon:
So I decided to go on the afternoon hike to King Charles and the Cromwell castle. Though I wrote extensively about it, without question, it was a hike to remember. What is not mentioned in my write up is that it was a long hike…I don’t know the exact mileage but there seed to be at least three phases of the walk. A walk through the hills of the village. A second hike through the grassy fields and flowers (the Irish call Whin) it is a bright yellow flower, and a third walk through fields of this spongy moss. We literally encountered three different terrains on our walk there. It was the road that never ended.
The first castle was just comprised of ruins, but it was a very neat structure to visit. The second however was in tact. It was dark and cold inside, but overall a very cool experience to enter a castle from the medieval time period. I can’t wait to show these pictures to my students who will be amazed that I had a chance to visit one. The hike back was very scary, we actually took a different route, one along the coastline. The path was very narrow and at times close to the cliff, a little one, but still grand enough to cause injury if you fell from it, if not death. We made it back safely to the beach where Mike came to pick us up. I didn’t realize I left my rain pants at the Abby until we arrived at the zodiac landing. Berit worked to get them back for me, I am so glad she did because I don’t know what I have done the past two days without them-it’s that cold.
Site Locations: Tresco Abby Gardens
King Charles Castle 1537 AD
Cromwell Castle 1651 AD
I am a published author on a National Geographic/Linblad expedition travel site, feeling pretty proud. See below:
https://www.expeditions.com/daily-expedition-reports/177633/british-and-irish-isles/
Eric came to us later in the day and asked us to compose the day’s blog. Well really he asked us earlier in the week if we’d like to write one. We said yes, no problem. It would be a great opportunity for both of us. Paola really wanted to do it on the Staffa islands, and as for me, I didn’t have a preference. I figured I had taken notes on the day’s activities and took lots of pictures. I knew we could pull it off. Secretly I was a little worried, I needed to study up on the history of the place since Paola and I agreed she’d take the morning, and I the afternoon portion of the blog. It worked out well.
Well truth is it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be, writing it, well that wasn’t until we hit bad weather. Eric informed us we had until the next day to complete it and I figured we had more than enough time. After listening to the nightly recap we headed to dinner. Somehow the mood on the boat shifted as the swells on the boat began to steadily rise. We were only 30 minutes into our meal, but fore some reason I started to feel dizzy, then queasy, and finally nauseous. In fact, up until yesterday you could have asked me if I experienced sea sickness, and I would have proudly told you no. Well I was wrong. The waiter brought out my steak and Caesar salad. I didn’t feel up to a potato or steak for that matter. I took four bites of both and called it quits. Trust me, I was not the only one leaving dinner. There were many. When I say it was bad, it was bad. Rope was tied throughout the cabin to help guests navigate around the ship. You had no choice but to hold onto it, or you were liable to fall, and several did. So here was my lesson to bring back to students: open water = rough seas. Be ready for the unexpected. I also learned the best part of the boat to be in is in the center. One of the physic professors (guest on board) showed me a demonstration of how it works with our dinner spoon. It made perfect sense. The center of the boat is the safest, and so is the bottom of the ship-less movement. The higher up the more rotation, which means more sea sickness. Another lesson I will take back and share. Secretly we are learning so much from the guests as well. They come from all walks of life and are eager to share their knowlege too.
So back to writing, I started on the blog that evening, but could not finish it because I was so extremely seasick. I had composed several paragraphs but in the end decided to wait until the next morning. The boat rocking was horrible. We were going everywhere, up and down. Too much to bear.
My Morning Adventure:
Abby Tresco Gadens
During the day I went on a tour with Mr. Mike in gardens, they are quite fascinating. The garden was mixed with plants from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Apparently the fauna is this region can withstand temperatures like this in the isles. He did mention that on the main island, which is just 30 miles away, that these very same plants cannot be grown. Of course I came up with ideas of how to present this information to my students. I will say I am learning much about plant vegetation and what it takes to cultivate their growth and development. The garden held so many different plant species. Of course I don’t recall them all, but there were a few that I was taken to, one being the tree cabbage. This is a beautiful flower that grows down the side of tree. How it does this, well that question needs further study.
In addition, Mike shared that princess Diana used to bring the boys there when they were little, and in fact, his daughters used to play with the boys when they were all young. He spoke about how they simply enjoyed the relaxed feel of the island, this one the one place where they could be and not feel the pressure that being a part of the royal family brings. He stated that the Duke of Cornwall is the same as Prince Charles and that the “duke” owns the islands. In fact, Charles & Camilla still comes to visit the island every once in a while.
He said that Charles has given the family “ownership” over the property and island. I don't recall the family name, but they have been serving as trustees of the islands for many decades, since the time of Queen Mother-well during her younger years. The family has used the property to really highlight the garden and the types of plants that can be grown and cultivated within the region/temperate climate.
Mike also shared that the islands spearheaded compulsory educational systems. The governor would charge families a pence a week for the child to be able to attend school. However, if families choose not to send their children, they were fined, two pence to be exact. Brilliant strategy I thought. As a result, families had no choice but to send their child to school. Apparently the system was quite effective, as many great thinkers/scholars came out of this region Mike explained.
The Afternoon:
So I decided to go on the afternoon hike to King Charles and the Cromwell castle. Though I wrote extensively about it, without question, it was a hike to remember. What is not mentioned in my write up is that it was a long hike…I don’t know the exact mileage but there seed to be at least three phases of the walk. A walk through the hills of the village. A second hike through the grassy fields and flowers (the Irish call Whin) it is a bright yellow flower, and a third walk through fields of this spongy moss. We literally encountered three different terrains on our walk there. It was the road that never ended.
The first castle was just comprised of ruins, but it was a very neat structure to visit. The second however was in tact. It was dark and cold inside, but overall a very cool experience to enter a castle from the medieval time period. I can’t wait to show these pictures to my students who will be amazed that I had a chance to visit one. The hike back was very scary, we actually took a different route, one along the coastline. The path was very narrow and at times close to the cliff, a little one, but still grand enough to cause injury if you fell from it, if not death. We made it back safely to the beach where Mike came to pick us up. I didn’t realize I left my rain pants at the Abby until we arrived at the zodiac landing. Berit worked to get them back for me, I am so glad she did because I don’t know what I have done the past two days without them-it’s that cold.
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