Ireland Adventures Movies

It is now 5 years after our trip to Ireland.  The original site where we posted our movies is no longer working, but thankfully the videos were not lots.  Looking back on the pictures (though the technology has certainly changed), it is amazing how just a brief glimpse reminds me of our wonderful adventure.

Ireland Adventures: 

Includes a tribute to all of our driving.  Thanks to T for her patience with my driving. 

Kiss Me I'm Irish
Consider this the highlight reel from our trip with the soundtrack from one of our favorite bands Gaelic Storm.

A Tribute to the Road Signs
What would a road trip be without road signs?

Home Again

I write to you again from the Newark airport. After a successful trip back across the pond I have a few hours to reflect on the trip before truly heading home to Milwaukee. T has collected her luggage and was able to make the early flight they put her on, so hopefully she will be home tonight as well.

We were lucky enough again to get our favorite exit row seat and the gentleman next to us was able to move up front providing us once again with an open seat inbetween. The airplane felt luxurious compared to our compact car. I could actually stretch my feet out completely in front of me. The plane was a nice upgrade as well with individual screens in front of each person to watch their preferred movie, tv or play games. The down side, it was not nearly a social as our flight too Dublin, but in a way it was nice to have some time to relax.

The past 10 days are like most of my vacation. I can hardly believe it is over, and yet I feel like I have been gone a lot longer than 10 days. As I sorted through the pictures on the way home to organize them I realized all we had done.

Here are my personal highlights.

1. Driving: I have a love/hate relationship with driving in Ireland. I am glad we did it, but I am ready for a break from the narrow roads filled with trucks, stone walls and of course sheep.

2. The scenery. There are not words to describe the experience of standing on a cliff at sunset with the wind blowing on your face, and a sense of peace and stillness that can not be matched. I give credit to the authors throughout history who have attempted to describe what can only be felt.

3. The people. The majority of people we met in Ireland were not just kind or gracious, they welcomed us openly inviting us to share in their lives, and seemed to truly want to get to know us. It was unlike any experience I have ever had.

4. The Pub (largely due to number 3). While I have know it is the center piece of Irish culture, it is something completely different to experience this.

5. The sense of history in juxtaposition with a modern world. From the ancient wall enclosed in a shopping mall in Galway to the new construction built next to a fort from the 12th century. It was humbling to stand in structures that had survived the test of time.

As with many things in Ireland, what you plan for and what you get are often two very different things. Take for example or stay in the castles. The idea sounds, well to quote the irish, lovely and perhaps brillant. Unfortunately, it was a bit more like being the only young people on a cruise devoted to the over 60 age group. Not exactly the fairtale adventure we had planned.

So after seeing a menu that appeared costly we settled on a trip to the local pub, and were treated to an evening of Irish music and the conversation of two ladies who will conjur memories of the Ireland we intended to visit. Brita and Maureen were old friend (one from Kerry and one from Conemara) who put American drinking to shame. The were as thrilled to talk about their trip to the states (well actually that was only Brita) as we have been to talk about our adventures in Ireland. And when we were ready to leave the pub they willing took us to another. Needless to say it was much better than an everning with the crowd at the castle.

So today we make our final drive across Ireland. Sun is predicted all day (we will believe it when we see it). We turn in our car tonight, and then have one last night inDublin before our trip home tomorrow.

Driving and More Castles

It was another day of winding roads, rain followed by bright blue skies, and then back to storms. Beauty around every bend, and then the panic of more trucks racing at you.
Our hotel last night more acurately described as a manor house was beautiful, and the post reveals the fun we had in the bar. The new picture on the blog is complement of the ring of Dingle. We drove around this large peninsula and managed to catch the sun setting from the farthest western point in Ireland. The views were beyond stunning. Even the video function on the camera's can not capture the magnitude of what we were able to see. I can only tell you that it was one of those moments which will not soon be forgotten.

Today we drove up the shore/coast of the Shannon River seeing a continued mix of the old and the new Ireland. Our destination was the city of Bunratty and teh Bunratty castle, folk park, and later tonight the Bunratty castle Medieval Banquet.

Thanks to our Lovely host at the bed and breakfast we have some access to the internet, and that means we can update you on all of our adventure.

We have some great pictures to share with all of you. Many of them are street signs, as we have enjoyed some laughs at trying to understand what the pictures are telling us. We have learned to read a good number of streets sign in Gaelic.
Go Mall- Slow
Go Mall Aire- we assume to mean very slower or slower.
We found a book at the B&B that gives the actual meaning. I think some of our are better.

The food continues to be superb. T has taken to Jameson and tea, while Rita continues to enjoy pints. The Banquet tonight has wine, and I think we will enjoy that too.

Well, that's it for now. Update you more later.

A day of Castles

Tonight I am writing to you from Balleyseede castle located just outside of Tralee. I apologize now for any mispelled words as we have just finished an evening in the hotel pub, and while I am feeling great, my typing is not the best. To be fair we are actually staying in a castle tonight. Our pictures will have to wait until Galway as we are on a hotel ccomputer and I do not have the ability to upload pictures at the moment.

Today's Highlights.
Blarney Castle - kissed the blarney stone. It was a warm and beautiful day. The castle was a mix between stepping back in time and all of your childhood fanticies about kings, queens and princesses.

Trip from Blarney to Tralee
Stoppped at a road side pottery makers and got some amazing pieces.
Stopped at a local bar.

Balleyseede Castle
Tonight we are sleeping in an actual castle, and according to the staff it comes complete with a ghost named Hilda. Our room is enormous - by Ireland Stands

Ring of Dingle - no not the ring of kerry, but in many ways so much better. We watched the sun set from the farthest wester point in Ireland. Saw a fort that dated back...... well I don't remember how long it dates back to, but at the moment I am not feeling anything so forgive me. It was some of the most breathtaking scenary that I have ever seen. T was amazing with her camera. We have some 700 photos to take off our combinded 3 cameras.

So after our trip out out to the peninsula. Yes a penninsula on an island. We had a few pints at the bar (T had Jameson) and it is time for a much needed rest.

The driving was better today. No trucks

We should be able to post more when we get to Galway in 2 days.

Love you all and miss you.

WE ARE IN IRELAND

Hello to everyone back in the states. Our blog posts have been delayed d/t a lack of internet access and even more than that a lack of time. We are currently sending our greeting from a Pub in Kinsale (The White House).

Live Irish Music playing next to us, just finished watching a futbol game, and lots of drunk irishmen around us.

We are currently writing a story of our travels in iweb and will transfer them over when we have time. For now (sorry only limited access at this point and we are paying for it) we will give you the short list.

1. Plane Ride - wonderful. It was more like an all night party with some great friends than a plane trip. Bad side - no sleep.

2. Dublin with jet lag leads to seeing lots of stuff, but being really tired. Highlights: St. Stephen's park, Guinness, and a wonderful pub that helped us plan the rest of our holiday.

3. Driving in Ireland is...... well an adventure. Small car, wrong side of the car, wrong side of road, small roads, big trucks, crazy drivers.

4. The Tom Tom does really well on roads that are well known. The Tom Tom will send you down a one way road sometimes and then a truck will come at you, and you won't be able to pull off so you will have to back down the road........ need I say more.

5. The food in Ireland is amazing. Fish and Chips tonight that are better than any I have tasted.

6. T likes Jameson.

Well time to get back to singing along, T has a little more whiskey and t to drink.
We will update more when we have time.

Rita

"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." -- Robert Louis Stevenson

Our travels begin, as most do, with an extended trip to the airport. In this case it was known and even planned ahead of time.

We knew we needed a layover, we planned to have a layover, and most of all we planned to enjoy the layover!

And so we ate lunch at the Garden State Diner...a tribute to the 1950’s and reminiscent of our college days at Steak ‘n’ Shake...yes, sometimes it’s good to go back again! We met a cute little four month old girl who was being escorted through the airport by a proud papa...yes, he was traveling with a baby all by himself...wonders never cease!

So, after a brief sojourn through Brookstone and Borders, we ended up at gate C121 (for no other reason than it was a quiet place to rest our weary backs...who packed these backpacks anyway?!?!) programming the TomTom (many thanks to brother Jason for letting us borrow this really cool gadget. We just really need to download Sean, the guy from Ireland, because we’re not listening to Mandy the whole time we’re in Ireland!) and playing Guitar Hero on the iPod. T’s first attempt got the new high score and blew away all of Rita’s scores from the last 24 hours. Hehe!

Three more hours and we’ll be in the air flying across the pond!

Random thoughts for the day:

• New York City is really pretty (from the air!)
• Airports can be relaxing (when you’re not in a rush, aren’t trying to handle emails or return voice messages, and don’t have to work for TWO WEEKS!)
• Newark airport is much better when you're not traveling with 5 cranky kids, getting there 4 hours early only to be delayed 4 more hours (remember that Wermers Family vacation? it's one we'll never forget!)