Island dreams – a weekend away in the Isle of Man COMPLETED 7/15 - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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We had a wonderful first day yesterday, seeing Castle Rushen, which had some stunning views over Castletown, then we went to the Sound of Man in the south of the island, and the scenery there was just breath taking. I really cannot wait to share those with you.
We then went to Cregneash village and explored that, before heading to Douglas, spending some time there and meeting Carole for dinner.
It really is a beautiful place, and a weekend is definitely not going to be long enough here, so we're already talking about a return trip one day...
I would have had to buy another camera, too. I can't imagine you visiting anywhere without one. Can't wait to see the scenery at the south of the island. So glad you got to reunite with Carole for a time.
Well, we are home after a truly wonderful weekend away. The Isle of Man is absolutely stunning, more beautiful than we imagined and we're very keen to return again, we loved it that much.
Today we went to see the Laxey Wheel, which was just beautiful, and the sky was clear blue. We then headed to the north of the island, before going to Peel, where we had a lovely lunch and visited a couple of places before heading to the airport for our flight.
The flight was a bit delayed and we ended up home about an hour later than I expected but it was well worth it. Now - when can we go again?
Glad you had a wonderful time there and looking forward to the TR! You probably feel you just got there yet, it's over already!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Right, I was able to get some instalments done over the weekend, so let's get this show on the road, especially as I now have less than three weeks before we head off on our Med cruise/road trip around Italy...
Saturday 14 June – part one: no checked luggage?
I really did not have a good night’s sleep. I kept having nightmares, mainly around us missing our flight. That always seems to happen to me whenever we have a morning flight, so at least I was prepared for it, although I could’ve done without it. I guess the one good thing was that when the alarm went off at 5:30am, I was pretty much already awake, so got going quickly…
We grabbed breakfast and I had enough time to briefly log on to the boards before we headed out, and even water the plants at the front of the house, which I’d been meaning to do for a few days. Thankfully, they seemed absolutely fine, and weren’t too dry.
I was planning on leaving around 6:20am, but it didn’t happen, and we headed out just as the 6:30am news was on. It was a beautiful morning…
… although the further we went, and the closer we got to Gatwick, the wetter the roads became, although it wasn’t actually raining.
Thankfully there were no problems on the roads, and I even saw some of my boys, although at least another two fields’ worth were lying down far away from the road, so I couldn’t get them.
Look at the guy on the right – for him, the grass is literally greener on the other side!
We called the meet and greet people, and told them we were 10 minutes away from the airport, and got our directions.
When we got there, there was no sign of them, but fortunately we only had to wait about five minutes for them to arrive. We took our carry on luggage, and off we went.
Now, at this point, a little bit of background. I’d been convinced that I’d paid for us to take hold luggage as well, but I discovered when I printed out the boarding pass a couple of nights ago that it said “no checked luggage.” Ok then… At the end of the day, that was my choice (even if I had forgotten about it! ) and we were only away for one night. I managed to fit everything fine into my carry-on luggage with space to spare, so that was good. Of course, the only issue is liquids, and it was luck I was at my opticians the day before, as I was able to get a small pack of solution for my contact lenses, as that was all I was lacking.
Back to the story… as we headed up the moving walkway into the North Terminal, I couldn’t help but think this is the way to travel, as we watched two older people with large pieces of hold luggage. I got some photos when we got to the departure area…
He looks so happy, doesn’t he?
We got a real shock when we walked in, as the place was pretty much deserted. Where was everyone? I was expecting a lot of people, as I’d had various texts from EasyJet over the last couple of days, telling us to allow enough time for bag drop (not us! ) and then this morning saying there had been “minor systems failures” at Gatwick and to be sure to allow enough time to get to your flight. I suspect they must have a lot of people turning up late, so they send these messages, as we found no issues.
We walked straight pass the bag drop area, which was again pretty quiet…
… then we showed our boarding passes at security, and headed through. We had two stupid women in front of us, who obviously hadn’t flown recently or had ignored all the information available about what to do. They took forever getting themselves ready, holding everyone else up, emptying their pockets, being told to take off their large gold hoop earrings (one of them) and their large gold bracelets (the other one), as they might set off the machine. Really? I never would’ve guessed that! Then they had to take their liquids out from their bags, and had to be given a clear bag to get them through. You get the idea.
Mark and I sailed through with no issues, but the last we saw of the two women, one of their bags had been tugged for an extra special search and they were there with two security people…
We headed into the shopping area, and I headed first for the restrooms, but when I saw a line, I figured I could wait. We instead went to get a paper, and Mark got a book as well, and I got a magazine I’d been trying to find.
Now it was upstairs for the restrooms, with no line at all. However, these were the restrooms from out of the dark, as only some of the lights were working, and not the ones in the cubicles… that was interesting!
As we headed downstairs, Mark said the immortal words to me “did you pack the toothpaste?” Er, no, that’s why I asked you last night if you had room to take it in your plastic bag, as mine was quite full. Ok, so we’d better go and get some. Unsurprisingly, the shops here have an amazing supply of travel goodies, and I would’ve bought a lot more, but I was conscious about needing to get them all back in our two clear plastic bags.
Then we settled down to wait for our flight, as the gate wouldn’t be announced for another half hour or so, so I caught up on some trip report writing.
I went to go and buy some water, as we were both desperate for something to drink. I knew what would happen the second I did – our gate would be called. Usually I go to use the restrooms and that happens, but they must wait for me to get up and do something and think “now’s the perfect time for us to put that gate number up…”
It wasn’t a big deal, as we knew where we’d be leaving from, one of the number 55 gates, as that’s where all the UK flights depart from and return to, and sure enough, that’s where we were.
We set off there…
… and grabbed some seats when we got there. It wasn’t the greatest organisation, as our flight was going at 9:00am, and the gate next door had the Glasgow flight that was meant to be leaving at 8:55am. Let’s just say it didn’t. Theirs was still deplaning while we were boarding, and I felt so sorry for the people coming off the plane, as they were trying to get through, with everyone lining up for both flights.
Fortunately we joined the line near the beginning, so we were quickly heading down to the plane. As Mark said, had it been raining, we’d have got very wet with this arrangement…
WOW that is a huge airport. You know I thought we were the only one's that while in security check some people just have no idea how to move through quickly. I did not think airports had the gates that you must walk to plane with no covers!!!
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Can't wait to see the scenery at the south of the island. So glad you got to reunite with Carole for a time. 
but it was well worth it. Now - when can we go again? 
I kept having nightmares, mainly around us missing our flight. 
That always seems to happen to me whenever we have a morning flight, so at least I was prepared for it, although I could’ve done without it. 
I guess the one good thing was that when the alarm went off at 5:30am, I was pretty much already awake, so got going quickly… 
) and we were only away for one night. I managed to fit everything fine into my carry-on luggage with space to spare, so that was good. Of course, the only issue is liquids, and it was luck I was at my opticians the day before, as I was able to get a small pack of solution for my contact lenses, as that was all I was lacking. 
Then they had to take their liquids out from their bags, and had to be given a clear bag to get them through. You get the idea. 
and they were there with two security people… 
I did not think airports had the gates that you must walk to plane with no covers!!!
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