When planning to travel it’s hard to determine how long you need to spend in each location. I depended on Rick Steves’ guides when Keith and I traveled to Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2017. He is an expert on traveling in Europe. Not wanting to lug a book around for our month of travel, I researched by taking out his guides from the library and watched some of his travel videos on Prime. His website has a forum to ask questions and I learned there that we wouldn’t have time to drive the three islands ourselves so I booked a boat and bus tour.
Iona
After seeing the Book of Kells in Dublin and learning that it was written by monks on Iona, at least that’s what some scholars believe, I wanted to visit the Abbey. The book is one of the earliest illuminated manuscripts of western calligraphy, a masterpiece of art and significant as most people didn’t know how to write at the time. It contains the four gospels of the new testament written around 800 AD. Fearing Viking attack and pillage, 68 monks on Iona had been killed by the Vikings, the book was taken to Ireland in or around AD 806. I was surprised how close in distance Ireland is to Iona. Nevertheless, out on the open seas must have been treacherous. We saw depictions of the large, open boats the monks rowed to Ireland.
Replica of a cross that tells the story of life on Iona around 550 AD.
Iona is known as the birthplace of western Christianity which spread around Scotland. The Abbey, was rebuilt many times over the centuries, and in the 1500s operated as a Nunnery. The final construction was completed in 1938.
The Cloisters
A table in the church with pins for various causes including LGBTQ2S and HIV AIDs. The church is active as an ecumenical place of workshop with a focus on community. Apparently, they have written a book of songs that is used by churches all over the world including my neighbour’s congregation.
The altar.
Stepping off the Edge 
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