After the long overnight flight and our first night at Rose Castle, we woke up eager to explore.

Our hosts, Sarah and John, spent the day showing us around the castle and sharing the remarkable story of its restoration. Rose Castle has stood for centuries, and while much of it has been beautifully renovated, one tower remains untouched. Walking through that section felt like stepping back in time. The contrast between the restored spaces and the unfinished tower gave us a glimpse into what the castle must have looked like before all the hard work began.

One of the most memorable moments was descending into the dungeon. Standing in the cold stone room where prisoners were once held made history feel very real. It’s one thing to read about medieval castles in a book; it’s another thing entirely to stand in the actual place where those events occurred.

Throughout the day, I was continually impressed by the vision, effort, and resources that have gone into bringing Rose Castle back to life. Sarah and John have done a tremendous job preserving its history while creating a place that serves people today.

The highlight of the day, however, was dinner. Well, at least it was for most of us. Max managed to fall asleep before dinner began. We tried everything we could think of to wake him up. We called his name, shook him gently, and repeatedly informed him that an incredible meal was waiting downstairs. Nothing worked. The combination of jet lag and the previous night’s red-eye flight proved too much.

The funniest part is that the next morning he barely remembered any of our attempts to wake him. As far as Max was concerned, he simply went to sleep and woke up the next day. The rest of us, meanwhile, enjoyed a wonderful meal and collected a family story that will probably be told for years.

By the end of the evening, we were all running on fumes. We headed to bed fairly early, knowing that the next stage of our adventure was about to begin. The alarm was set for 6:00 a.m., and we had an ocean liner waiting for us.
Tomorrow: All aboard the Queen Mary 2.