Since we were not invited in for tea, or to meet the Queen or play with a royal baby, we settled for just stopping by and taking a few pictures.

Somehow it seems small yet massive at the same time.

Then there is the history that is associated with this one place - quite amazing.

Maybe next time we will take a tour, but with so many other places to visit that is way down the list.

I have always heard of Trafalgar Square and it has been the center of so many movie scenes and novels but until now we never visited it.

The square was updated in 2003 and tied to The National Gallery.

One very important improvement was public toilets.

I love Europe, but public toilets are a rarity. An important fact, but I digress.

The square is always busy either with tourists, demonstrations, celebrations or protests.

How many times have we seen it in movies, news stories, documentaries? Historically there are few places to match it.

Some type of house of worship has been on this site since the 7th century.

The interior is quite lovely, but you can not take any pictures. Not just flash pictures, but no pictures at all, so needless to say this will be a short gallery.

We stood in line for about 30 minutes before we got in.

I wonder how Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou managed to get in without waiting?

Yes it is that Dover.

Famous for White Cliffs, facing France, ferry to Calais, ancient artifacts and the front line against a Nazi invasion - which we all know did not happen thankfully.

We took a train - another wonderful thing about Great Britain are the trains which are numerous and inexpensive.

We planned to see the Castle and the underground bunkers, but we could easily stay a couple days to really enjoy it. Guess that will be on the list for next time.

There is a very nice trail that goes up to the cliffs then along them for several miles.

Normally we would have done the entire length but since we spent so much time in the Castle and it is actually quite hot today, we opted for only a couple miles before turning back.

The views all along are spectacular.

You go through part of the town to reach the path, and along the way you glimpse the Castle, the port, part of the Tunnel complex, and of course, the beautiful white cliffs.

After strolling around London it was on to St. Paul's Cathedral and then The Monument to the Great Fire of London.

St. Pauls - like most of the places in London - does not permit photography inside so again not much to see on the page.

It does have a lot of stairs! There are 3 levels.

257 steps to the Whispering Gallery. Then 119 to the Stone Gallery. Then the last 152 to the Golden Gallery and some great views. Total about 528.

Then you have to go back down.

But the views are worth it.

The Monument to the Great Fire is a huge obelisk that commemorates the fire of 1666 that wiped out so much of London.

You can climb to the top - more winding stairs.

When you come down you get handed a certificate that says you climbed the 311 steps to the top.

Between walking miles, climbing small mountains, and more walking we could easily process the ales we had with lunch!

We always enjoy touring naval vessels.

HMS Belfast is a part of the Imperial War Museum, moored on Queens Walk just up from The London Bridge.

It has been restored and is cared for by a dedicated group who want to pass on the history and lessons from the past.

There are multiple levels, and much of the ship open for viewing.

The crew slept in hammocks strung anywhere there was space.

Can you imagine how noisy it must have been, but then the crew was young and so very busy they probably adapted quickly.

It was an interesting self-guided couple of hours which we really enjoyed.

Since these did not really fit anywhere in particular I'm putting them on one page of "stuff".

Yes, I am probably oversharing but at least I'm not adding what I had for breakfast, what George had for lunch, and all that Facebook stuff.

Be glad it's just pics

This is truly an historic site. Some form of building has been here since the 2nd Century AD.

A royal castle has been here since the reign of David 1st in the 12th century.

Since then it has been the center of many battles.

Research done in 2014 found it has been besieged 26 times in it's 1100 years making it the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked places in the world.

Welcome to Edinburgh!

Thankfully no one has attacked it in quite some time, and some very caring people have taken the time and energy to maintain it so people like us can enjoy it.

After spending several fun hours in Edinburgh Castle we meandered down The Royal Mile to Holyrood, the other palace of Edinburgh.

Holyrood Palace is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth in Scotland and as with most places no photography inside. So once again only a few outside shots.

Outside it is beautifully symmetrical. Inside quite lavish and very formal. Nice to visit but would not want to live here.

The monument to Sir Walter Scott. Also called "the gothic rocket" for obvious reasons.

Sir Scott was more than just a writer, he is a national hero who kept the old Scots history and tales alive.

Due to his fame he was asked to help choreograph the visit of King George IV to Scotland - the first visit of a British monarch to Scotland.

So when he died in 1832 a competition was held for a monument.

Even if you do not do the 288 steps to the top you can spend an hour just looking at all the figures on the monument.

We took a train north to the town of St. Andrews. Yes, the golf place.

There is evidence that people inhabited this area 5,000 to 10,000 years ago.

Around the mid 8th century the Pictish king Oengus I built a monastery here housing the bones of St. Andrew.

The town, more or less as we know it, really started around 1149 to 1160 and continues to grow to this day.

To us this means great winding streets to meander, old buildings to admire, and lots of history to explore.

As with so many sites in Scotland this has had a violent history.

It was held, captured, lost, recaptured, lost and recaptured many times.

After the Reformation it fell into disrepair and about 1656 it was in such bad shape that the burgh council ordered its stones be used to repair the pier.

Today there are some walls, the hideous prison, the mine and counter mine, and a tower or so.

St. Andrews is full of history. Another ruin is St. Andrews Cathedral.

Completed in 1318 it was the largest cathedral in Scotland.

As large and sturdy as it may have been it did not survive the Protestant Reformation.

In 1559 John Knox incited a mob and they ransacked the Cathedral and destroyed the interior. From then it fell into disuse and ruin.

Most of it was used for other buildings and no care was taken to preserve it until 1826.

As you stroll through the ruins you can just imagine how grand it must have looked back in the 1400s.

Even if you do not play golf you should have heard of St. Andrews. Among golfers it is the premier place to play.

This is where golf started around the mid 15th century and gained in popularity.

Now some interesting facts.

In 1457 James II of Scotland banned golf because he felt that young men were playing too much golf instead of practicing their archery. The ban was upheld by subsequent kings until 1502 when James IV became a golfer.

The course is public, so anyone can play. However I think all the club houses are members only.

There is a small restaurant open to the public, and of course, a gift shop.

Once again we have shots that just don't fit in any catagory so another "stuff" page.

Mostly these are just different streets, buildings and closes unique to Edinburgh.

Not too far from Holyrood and visible from just about everywhere in Edinburgh are the monuments on Calton Hill.

As with most things around Edinburgh it has a very interesting and long history.

At one point it was owned by Lord Balmerino, family name Elphinstone. I love this because the name sounds right out of a Tolkien book.

Anyway, over the years many monuments have been built here honoring many people. There is also an observatory.

We really enjoyed the mix of styles, history and the amazing views of Edinburgh

Across the street from Calton Hill and all the memorials is old Calton cemetery, final resting place for many famous Scots.

Wandering through here you see the names of so many men who had a hand in bringing Scotland out of the dark ages and into a modern, enlightened future. Walking here is like reading Scottish history,

We took a short flight from Edinburgh to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Our goal is The Giant's Causeway which is on the N.I.coast. We did not do any sightseeing in Belfast since we landed late and had to rise early to catch our tour bus. Yes, a dreaded tour bus. More like "drive-by photo-ops" Never again.

This is Game of Thrones territory. The guys who make the series are from here and many scenes are filmed in Northern Ireland. Naturally there are Game of Throne tours which are very popular.

Anyway, along the way to Giant's Causeway we made a few quick stops and took a few quick pics - quick because it was literally get off and get back on 20 minutes later. But the area is lovely and you get some idea of how nice the drive can be.

If you have watched any travel shows you have probably seen this bridge.

Fishermen built a bridge to the island to they could catch salmon, and it may have been reconstructed each salmon season for several hundred years.

However, the salmon fishing is gone but tourists are spawning in huge numbers.

We hoped to cross to the island, but as you can see a few hundred others were there as well, and sometimes folks froze in mid-bridge holding up lines.

Since we had to be back on our bus at a specific time we did not get the opportunity. If we ever go back we hire our own driver and do it on our schedule.

George has wanted to go here for decades. Heck, even Harry and Hermione came here.

True, they were hiding from Death Eaters but nevertheless they came.

Huge basalt pillars, some worn down to steps, some still towering above, add the crashing waves and you just can't beat it as a place to explore.

Thankfully the rain had passed although the temps were chilly and the wind was blowing, but we would have enjoyed it regardless of weather.

We left Northern Ireland and took a train to Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland; or Southern Ireland, or "real" Ireland. Whatever you want to call it, we are in Dublin.

A must is Dublin Castle. Originally a Viking settlement, it's prominence grew and eventually became the seat of government - first for Britain then for Ireland after she won her independence.

We were in Trinity College and did the Book of Kells tour. Unfortunately you can not take pictures in the Kells area, The Book is believed to be around circa 800AD and is a manuscript Gospel in Latin.

There are several other gospels on exhibit, and enlarged sections to help you look for various pieces of artwork on the pages. It is very well presented, just wish there were less people

From there we walked to Guinness Storehouse. We felt it was obligatory, although I will say if you never go you are not missing much.

Today we decided to head up the coast a bit to the small town of Howth.

Getting anywhere in Europe is so easy. There's either a bus or a train. So a short 30 minute ride on the commuter and we arrived at Howth.

The name may be Norse in origin since the Vikings colonized the east coast of Ireland.

As with any place here there is a lot of history, but we came for the nice vistas, walking the pier, and enjoying the views.

Kilmainham Goal is the famous, or infamous, prison in Dublin.

This one was built in 1796 to replace the "old" goal and was considered better. Better being a relative term..

Cells were 28 square feet and held about 6 people - men, women and children.

That number skyrocketed during the famine since stealing food and being poor were reasons to be sent to prision.

In 1850 the east wing was completely replaced. This design reflected the reformed ideas that light would help raise the morals of the inmates.

The circular plan also made it easy to see all cells at once.

During the 1916 uprising, the captured Irish leaders were brought here, summarily tried and sentenced to death by the British.

The executions went on for 10 days - and the Irish public became enraged. The executions morphed a small uprising to a national cause that ended with Southern Ireland gaining independence in 1922.

Now after a prison why not go to a crypt? Especially one with mummified remains for viewing. And a crypt master who is a show unto himself.

Supposedly the first church here was in 1095 and served the few Vikings still in that part of Ireland.

The church as it stands today is from a reconstruction in 1686.

The magnificent organ arrived in 1724 - on which Handel is said to have composed his Messiah.

As macabre as a crypt might sound it was actually fun, and we needed a little levity after reliving the 1916 revolution.

Ah, Irish Whiskey. Yes we like it, and we were pleasantly surprised when a waiter - after an evening of bantering and eating - brought a bottle to our table and along with the bartender suggested we try it.

Good thing is the distillery is in Dublin, so we could take a tour. Now, hold on for some Irish Whiskey history.

In the late 1800s Irish whiskey production was at it's peak with about 30 distilleries and a mass market to export to. Then in the 20th century it began to decline. A few things contributed to it, like the famines, the war of independence, subsequent civil war, Britain prohibiting import of Irish whiskey to Britain or any Commonwealth country, and then the U.S. prohibition put a nail in the coffin. By the 1970s only 2 distilleries were operating in Ireland.

Enter John Teeling, descendant of Walter Teeling who distilled whilskey in the 1870s. In 1985 John took over the Cooley potato alcohol distillery up north in Cooley Peninsula and converted it to a whiskey distillery. It did so well that it was bought out by Beam, Inc. in 2011. However John negotiated keeping 16,000 barrels of aged whiskey.

In 2012, using these casks, John's son Jack started Teeling Whiskey. He was later joined by his brother Stephen. In 2015 the Teelings established a new whiskey distillery in Market Square in Dublin, not far from the location of the original Teeling Distillery. This is the first new distillery in Dublin in 125 years.

Don't you love a success story? I sure do and I'll drink to that. Hail Teeling

Today we are going to look at The Golden Hind, or rather the replica.

Hopefully you all remember your history - Francis Drake, Queen Elizabeth I, war with Spain, Privateer (legal pirate), and circumnavigating the globe.

The original Hind fell into disrepair but an energetic group constructed a new one using original plans, methods and material where possible.

She is a sea-worth vessel and has made many voyages, including circumnavigating the globe.

It is not a luxury ship by any means so those new sailors must have done it for the love of sailing and the adventure. They at least did have modern communications, navigation and did not have whippings, battles and scurvey.

We saw this on a map and just decided to check it out. What a lovely gem.

The church has a long history. First built in 1100 it had several updates until 1631. It survived the Great Fire of 1666 but needed repairs.

Then in 1817 it was discovered to have major stability issues and was completely torn down and rebuilt by 1821.

It continued to host services until 1941 when it was hit by Nazi bombs during the blitz. All that remained was Christopher Wren's tower and steeple and the north and south walls.

In 1967 the city decided to turn it into a public garden. So in between the The London Bridge and Tower of London is this serene, beautiful gem.

So often it is the littlest, unexpected things that make the biggest impression

After the peace and quiet of St. Dunstan-in-the-East we headed to The Household Cavalry Museum. Always good to get in a little bit of war history.

These are the Queen's guards you see in every ceremony. They wear those insane gold helmets (Prince Albert design), carry swords and ride amazing horses.

Serving in this regiment is a high honor that does not come easily. These guys are also active soldiers and serve in conflicts around the globe.

The exhibits are nicely done, and some videos of the recruits learning to ride is quite humorous.

These men are serious about their job, their position, and guarding the Queen

I am sure everyone who saw or read The Da Vinci Code remembers Temple Church.

This sits in a very nice area, up a winding narrow lane, and then you walk into the garden and find the entrance to the church.

Unlike so many other churches you can take photos here.

It was consecrated in 1185. In January of 1215 Lord Marshall (who is buried here) negotiated between the barons and King John (yes, the Robin Hood King John) for what became the Magna Carta. Quite a lot of history in a small place.

Our last day and our last museum in London for this trip. Slowly but surely whittling down our main list.

Now, I am not all that big on seeing lots of guns, ammo, weapons, etc. so this was a very nice surprise. There are all sorts of things to see and learn, and even the weapons are displayed in a rather entertaining way.

There are displays from early wars, to some WWI, WWII, and the Iraqi conflict. I found the display of home related items very interesting - surviving while your being bombed, rationing, all that fun stuff that goes with war.