Grandma Lois hasn’t done much traveling. In her 90s, she’s of a different generation (i.e., she never learned to drive a car, her husband worked for the same company for 50 years), and her mobility is very limited. However, what she lacks in physical strength, she more than makes up for with a strong mind and loving heart.

GUINNESS: It’s a no brainer, so I figured I’d just get it out of the way. It’s stout and, as Oscar said, “a meal.” It may seem like you’re eating a loaf of bread, but it’s not that bad at all. A pint stacks on a measly 180 calories, which is way fewer calories than that grande Caramel Macchiato (225 cal with 2 percent milk).

Old buildings! I love 'em. They're what separate the United States from other countries.Our nation's just too young to boast about ancient edifices.

Take Dallas. John Neely Bryan's cabin in Founders Plaza is just a replica. And Reunion Arena didn't even come close to lasting 50 years!

Anne and I checked out the Tower of London (massive ravens protect it), Dublin Castle and these two incredible castles in Edinburgh, Scotland:

You don’t expect to see familiar faces traveling in a foreign land. When you do, it’s kinda weird -- sorta like seeing your teacher or pastor at the grocery store. Sure, they’ve gotta buy coffee and green beans, too; but, it’s just unexpected and out of context. Bizzare. This kind of chance encounter happened twice during the trip.

Travelling opens eyes and taste buds to new experiences. Here are some thoughts on some across-the-pond grub.

∙ When in Ireland … You absolutely must have a pint of Guinness while listening to traditional folk music at a pub. It didn’t take me and my sister 24 hours to mark that off our list. We settled on Oliver St John Gogarty, one of about 100 pubs in Dublin’s Temple Bar. This cool/funky/touristy section of the city is what Greenville Avenue wishes it was like: window after window of carefree people enjoying good drinks, good music and good times.

My sister, Anne, and I departed July 7 for our trip covering Dublin, Edinburgh and London. We are seasoned international travelers who actually get along quite well together on our trips (a fact that our adolescent selves would find impossible to believe).

First, some background information about this recent journey. This trip is not just a holiday for us. It’s a realization of a life-long dream for our grandma, Lois Tracy. Our 93-year-old family matriarch has always wanted to visit Ireland. Unfortunately, her travels have rarely taken her outside of Iowa, and a big international tour just isn’t in the cards for her. But, her generosity and interest in the Tracy heritage are as spry as her mind; and because of her, Anne and I spent 10 days in three incredible cities, capturing and documenting our surroundings, which we will share with Grandma through a scrapbook and video.

In the coming days, I’ll drop some nuggets from the vacation, so check back regularly. Also, if you’re going on a trip, are on one, or just returned, share your adventure at neighborsgo.com.