Given the intensity of the past two days, today started nice and slow. We all got to sleep in a bit, then a big breakfast was made for everyone before we headed out to sightsee.
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| On top of the wheel! |
Our first stop today was in Laxey to see the Laxey Wheel. Laxey is home to both the biggest and second largest water wheels in the world. The large wheel was used to pump water out of the mines when they were mining for lead and ore. We were able to make our way up to the top of that large wheel and back down again. The view was great! We also headed into one of the mines. It wasn’t a long trip in, but it was fun for the kids to wear the hard hat and get dripped on. |
| Our ride awaits! |
After plenty of goofing around the Laxey wheel, we headed over to a pub for a quick drink before taking the Manx Electric Railway. Our family and Anya joined us on a trip from Laxey to Ballajora. The trip was beautiful along the upper cliffs overlooking the sea. As we rode, the Jagi passed our train a few times honking and stalking us. At Ballajora, they were there waiting for us as we hopped off.
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| Emily chasing sheep |
We walked into the small town and into a church graveyard where Emily finally got to see authentic Celtic crosses (dating between the 6th and 13th centuries) ! All the Celtic crosses we’ve seen before now were replicas. She was thrilled. We then walked through the graveyard, and the kids chased sheep next door, because why wouldn’t you? The church and surrounding gardens were beautiful, with amazing views (although I think the views were wasted on the cemetery dwellers.)
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| Dinner spot! |
After Ballajora, we headed into Ramsey which is the largest, closest town to the Jagi. We walked around the street, ordered fish and chips, and sat alongside the shipyard eating dinner. This shipyard is where they built the Star of India, an Iron-hulled ship that is the oldest ship that regularly is put out to sea. We visited it last year on our San Diego trip! (see http://jennifersvacations.blogspot.com/2010/07/day-9-day-off.html) What a fun reference to last year’s vacation.
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| The biggest theater on the Isle of Man |
After dinner, we headed back home, dropped the two little ones off with a babysitter, and headed into Douglas to finally see Harry Potter! The cinema was quite nice. They only have one showing a day, and Nicola was thrilled to get 8 seats last week when she tried. For popular shows like that one, you need to really plan in advance!
Anyway, the show was wonderful, and our trip back home was through some impressive fog. We spent the evening laughing and playing cards. Tomorrow we are going to do laundry and some sightseeing. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be an early day because tonight ended pretty late!
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