Can you believe this was our stop?!? Of course we had to tender as the dock just wasn’t big enough for the ship! By the time all 1200 passengers were on the island it was really crowded and it seemed like the whole island might sink.

If you believed all that – you are crazier than this writer;-) Although – this was a pretty fun(ny) port. Douglas was the city name and it is the capital of the Isle of Man. Its harbor is a gateway for ferries traveling between the UK and Ireland and is complemented by a very pretty promenade stretching along the Irish Sea. For the motorcycle enthusiast out there, there is an annual Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motorcycle race each June and July, which overtakes the town. Ever heard of the Manx cat? Well it comes from here. People who come from the island are Manx. Thus, everything in the town contains the name ‘Manx’.

One of the big attractions in the area is the Lady Isabella. She is the largest surviving original working waterwheel in the world. The wheel has a 72′ 6″ diameter, is 6′ wide and revolves 3 times per minute. It is one BIG waterwheel. Originally built in 1854 to pump water out of the great Laxey Mines it serves today as an attraction for visitors to Douglas. Go on and climb up that tiny winding stairway to the top for wonderful views of the surrounding area. Just be sure to mind the one VERY low beam;-)

All of this climbing stairs and beautiful views can build up an appetite. Wandering around the village one might come upon signs for the Laxey Glen. You do have to ‘follow breadcrumbs’ to find the place, but once there it is quite cute and the cheese toastie is fabulous.

Its time to get back to port and a really fun way to do that is to ride the electric train with its open-air cars. At the end of this ride, one can also ride a horse drawn tram back to the port – or walk the 2 miles along the promenade;-)

All kinds of sights can be found walking along the promenade – –

An interesting stop – this Isle of Man where the Manx live. But must move on to the Scottish Highlands.

E & G – enjoying funny little places and learning where that funny Manx cat came from