Melissa, Andy and the kids' Blog

As we flew in to Southampton we were watching out the windows and commented on the big church shaped like a cross.  A gentleman on the flight told us it was Winchester Cathedral, the one with the flooded crypt.  We had to know more. He explained that the crypt flooded and the water was threatening the structure until a scuba diver drained it.  We all talked it through and decided to add a stop at Winchester during our drive to London. Luckily Melissa knew the secret knock. I guess it is pretty tall, not as tall as some skyscrapers back in the US, but pretty tall. The building is amazing!  Everything is ornate and detailed. Right down to the dead guys on the outside of the coffins, they are all so well carved. The birth of Christ. Joseph and Mary holding the child, surrounded by 6 saints. Diving helmet, on display in the cathedral, to commemorate William Walker (diver who saved the cathedral). The foundations were failing and the high ...

Goodbye Avalon House. It was pretty, clean and had modern hot and cold showers. The beds were uncomfortable, but the staff and breakfast were nice. No pictures, but a story.  Avalon house is in Glenties, Co. Donegal (northwest Ireland) and we needed to get back to Dublin to fly to Southampton, England.  Dublin was a 3.5 hour drive, so we gave ourselves 5-6 hours. We thought we got to the airport with plenty of time to drop off the rental cars and catch our flight.  Bob and I waited to turn the cars in and sent the girls ahead to the airport.  Well, it took forever to check in the cars, the girls refused to check in for the flight without us, and we ended up having to "run" through the airport to catch our flight. They held the plane ~9 minutes for us.   After the most disappointing Italian food ever in Bournemouth, we walked the boardwalk and went down to the water. Then we saw this sign and decided it was time to get back to the hotel. 5/28/...