The History of the World

There are very few people (and virtually no Americans) who can track their family history back 200 years or so without finding an ancestor (or multiple ancestors, or ALL their ancestors) who moved from one place to settle in another. We are almost all of us immigrants.

Why do we move? Scarcity of resources, lack of economic opportunity, political dissent and conflict, religious or cultural persecution, forced deportation and sometimes just plain ol’ wanderlust. As true today as it has ever been….even in prehistoric times.

Ireland’s history exemplifies this flux of people over the ages. Some of the earliest and most influential invaders were the Vikings….. who went in many directions, but whose first large permanent settlement was Dublin on the eastern shore of Ireland in about 795 CE. The Vikings or Norsemen went on from there to establish communities in present-day France, England, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.

This summer we will follow some of their travels in reverse – starting from our US home, then a few weeks in Ireland; cruising from there to England, Wales, France and Copenhagen, then some weeks venturing through Denmark, Norway and Sweden (and maybe Finland).

Joining us for the cruise part of the journey will be Henry’s daughter Holly, her husband Matt and their grown children Caleb and Lily.

Along the way, we hope to learn a lot more of the history of these movements of people, culture and ideas. There will also no doubt be photos of us enjoying food and drink, purchasing cheap trinkets, making new friends and examining fresh landscapes.

We leave behind and will miss our faithful companions Sally O’Malley and Boudreaux, who will be capably cared for by some wonderful house sitters.

Here’s a quick photo as we approach Dublin from the air… another of Henry’s great airplane-window photos…..

Will be back soon with our first report from the Auld Sod…..