We got to travel through Europe both during and after HUF. In March we spent a few days snowboarding in majestic Chamonix, France. After saying goodbye to the HUF group in Cinque Terre, we flew North with Katie's parents to spend a few days in Iceland and London. Kin and Ann then flew back to the States (after taking the Tube to the airport) and we spent five days driving through the Irish countryside and staying at Bed and Breakfasts.
Chamonix, France
The French, Swiss, and Italian Alps meet near Chamonix. We came to ride the fresh powder for a few days, though we were amazed to see so many on the cable car with us with ice-axes, ropes, and harnesses. Next time, Chamonix. Next time we'll be just a bit more daring.
Iceland
When we stepped off the plane in Iceland it was as if we were on another planet. Not only did the Icelandic place-names throw us for a loop, the rock formations and vegetation were other-worldly. It's a land of waterfalls, geysers, unexpected snowstorms, rogue waves, wind, sun, and sheep. On this first visit, we tackled Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, and the southern coast, as far as Glacier Lagoon (or, should I say, Jökulsárlón).
London
You can't do justice to London with just a couple days (especially when Jeremy is cooped up in our rented flat finishing up his M. Div. studies), but you can get a sense of how different epochs collide as the brand new coexists with the centuries-old. We loved exploring London by day and by night, one tube at a time.
Ireland
And so we came to Ireland. We spent a day in Dublin, after which we made our way South and then West, exploring the Irish countryside one Bed and Breakfast at a time. Kilkenny, Killarney, the Dingle Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher, and Galway: 1000 kilometers of never-ending green. And Dingle was our favorite—by far. Dingle and puffins.
