The Latest: June 2016

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

5 Places to Visit in Ireland

A pub located in Temple Bar in Dublin.

1- Cliffs of Moher are the most visited natural attraction in Ireland. With incredible views, the cliffs tower 214 meters over the Atlantic Ocean on the western coast. The best walk runs from Doolin village to Hags Head, which is 8 kilometers.

2- Looking out from the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands are seen in the distance. These islands are the place to experience a traditional Irish Village, and Gaelic is the first language in these small farming communities.

3- Blarney Castle is the medieval castle, which contains the Stone of Eloquence, or the Blarney Stone. Tourists visiting Blarney Castle may kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence. The grounds of the castle contain extensive gardens.
Website: http://www.blarneycastle.ie/

4- The village of Killarney is home to the St. Mary's Cathedral, the Ross Castle, the Lakes of Killarney, and Torc Waterfall. It's location on the Ring of Kerry makes Killarney a favorite tourist stop.

5- The Giant’s Causeway is a natural wonder in Northern Coast of Ireland. It has over 40,000 polygonal basalt rock columns formed by an ancient volcano.

Garden of Rememberance, Dublin, Ireland

5 Things to do while in Dublin:

1- Cliff Walk is from Bray to Greystones. The walk has less than 7 kilometers and takes about two hours to finish. Take the DART to the Bray Station and rejoin at the Greystone Station.
Website: thecliffwalk.ie

2- Powerscort is a hotel that has one the most beautiful gardens and is a must on places to visit.
Website: powerscourt.com

3- Dundrum Town Centre is a main shopping center in Ireland. They also have plenty of coffee shops and restaurants.

4-Temple Bar is area known for it's traditional buildings and food. It's a great place for a pint and meet other travelers.

5-Garden of Rememberance is dedicated to all the Irish who lost their lives for freedom.

Garden of Rememberance, Dublin, Ireland

More stories and photos: bloggergirlapril.com and thelatesttoday.blogspot.com/

Florida Beach Fun Photos

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All photos are by April K. Riley. Please ask permission before use.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Fun at Jacksonville Beach

A hot day lingers at Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

An unknown rider slides down the beach.

Riding the bull.

Falling off the bull.

An unknown surfer takes the wave.

A kite surfer rocks the waves on Sunday, June 19, 2016.

A surfer enjoys a wave on Monday, June 20, 2016.

A T Rex stares down a bungee jumper at the Salt Life Festival.

More stories and photos:

bloggergirlapril.com and thelatesttoday.blogspot.com/

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All photos are property of April Kooy Riley.
For more information email AK_images@aol.com.

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Traveling Solo

The past two weeks I have been on my own as I traveled through the Midwest United States. I have never been to Kansas, Nebraska or Iowa, so I went on a journey to see the countryside. I stayed on a cattle ranch, so I could experience a rural lifestyle.

During the weeks before I left town, I didn't even bother telling my friends that I was planning a solo trip. As soon I mention the idea, they start to protest the idea. Otherwise, they look at me as if I'm crazy. Many women travel for business, and that's not a big deal. For years, I worked as a photojournalist and traveled throughout the southeast without any problems. Traveling alone for enjoyment is still taboo for women. Sure, there's the chance that my car might breakdown in an unsafe neighborhood, but that could happen at home in Georgia. Crime can happen anywhere, so a person must pay attention to their surroundings.

For emergencies, I carry a phone and a AAA card. I keep in contact with friends and family. I let them know of my route in advance, so everyone has an idea of my schedule and my location. I leave notes or emails if I do go hiking stating where I'm going and when I should be back, so people can figure out there's a problem if I get lost or injured.

I love to getaway and see the world, and it so hard to find someone that wants to do the exact same things and find the time to get away. Many friends have families with important responsibilities, so it's impossible for them to getaway for a few days. Over the years, I got tired of the rejection when I asked people to join me, so now I go on my own about once a year.

The first trip I took was to Boston for a Pablo Picasso exhibit, and then I went onto Cape Cod for a few nights. While in Boston, I visited Harvard Yard and walked around the campus. I stayed at a my first bed and breakfast while visiting the cape. It was one of the best trips that I ever took, and I did it solo.

A few months later I met my husband, and we traveled together. My husband is very persnickety regarding his destinations, and I soon found out there were many places he didn't want to visit. Some of those places I desperately wanted to visit. For years, I didn't travel by myself, but then my need to roam the earth became too strong. Finally, I went off on my own, and I don't regret a minute of it.

More stories and photos:

bloggergirlapril.com and thelatesttoday.blogspot.com/

All photos are property of April Kooy Riley.
For more information email AK_images@aol.com.

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Monday, June 13, 2016

Mattresses

If you wake up in the morning with back pain or have constant insomnia, it might be time to replace your mattress. Sleeping on a bad mattress can cause lower back pain due to the lack of support, which strains back muscles.

A good sign that it's time to find a new mattress is that your current mattress sags in the places where you sleep. Below has background information if the time is right to purchase a new mattress.

At night some people like to watch television from bed. From the sleeping position, this is uncomfortable for the cervical neck and can cause problems with spinal alignment. Tempur-Pedic has adjustable bases that allow a person to sit up in bed starting at 700 dollars and go up to 5,000 dollars depending on comfort.

Types of mattress:

Innerspring mattress have a spring support system. There are many different types of steel coil systems, including units with springs connected into a single unit or individually wrapped pocketed coils. Spring shapes, designs, coil gauge, and number of coils in a mattress can vary.
* On Consumer Reports, they recommended 600-1000 coils and not to worry about coil variations since none really stood out when compared.

Hybrid mattress has both a spring support system and one or more types of foam, such as polyurethane foam, memory foam, or latex or gel foam.
* On Consumer Reports, memory foam that was several inches thick got great reviews.
* There's no guarantee that lumber-supported mattresses have any difference in improving back issues according to Consumer Reports.

Adjustable Air beds use an adjustable air chamber as the support system. Unlike the type of air mattresses, the air chamber of a residential air bed is surrounded by padding and coverings.

A box spring mattress is basically a wood frame, and if yours is intact, you may not need to spend more money to get one. Although certain brand require you to buy a box spring to get full warranty coverage.

Whatever you decide, try to test the bed by relaxing on it in the store for ten to fifteen minutes. Spending time with a mattress will give you a better idea if bed is not too soft or hard.

More stories and photos:

bloggergirlapril.com and thelatesttoday.blogspot.com/

All photos are property of April Kooy Riley.
For more information email AK_images@aol.com.

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