We made it through customs and we are waiting for our flight. Our time here has been fantastic! The landscape is always changing and always breathtaking. The towns and the cities are clean, and full of history. The people are welcoming, pleasant and helpful. I'm already making plans for my return and I would urge you to plan a holiday and experience it yourself. I can't do it justice. 

Last day in Ireland

Dad and I took a walk about this morning. Really to nowhere in particular. I took some pics of the city - pics 1, 2 and 3. We found the "secret garden" (that's what the guide book calls it) -pic 4 and 5. Pic 6 is what the front of the pubs look like in the a.m. We, or should I say I, spent a lot of the day figuring out the customs stuff and trying to pack twice as much crap into the luggage. Tony is going to transport us to the airport so we will be ending the trip with a friendly face.

Winding down

Our days are numbered. We started the day with a visit to Saint Patrick's Cathedral. It's beautiful and gigantic. It's located in the city and has a lovely park in front. -pics 1 and 2. Obviously, the inside is amazing but yet again I used my camera to get most of the interior pics so you'll have to wait to see them. Pic 3 is of the patron saint of medical professionals. I can't remember his name. We went to the National museum and saw many wonderful and interesting things that I wasn't allowed to photograph. They have a great exhibit of "bog people". It seems that the composition of the bogs preserves and basically mummified people. Sorry, again no pics. Pic 4 is the Hairy Lemon. The landmark that has saved us many times. We started to pack. Not easy. Looks like we might have to buy more luggage. Unfortunately, I'm not joking.

Lazy day

We didn't do a lot today. We didn't get lost! Of course we didn't go far either. We had a lovely breakfast at the hotel and wandered to the art museum. Museums are closed on Mondays but for some reason this one was open. We saw many beautiful pieces but I wasn't allowed to take any pictures so you will just have to take my word for it. We did some shopping. Dad's motto is "when in doubt, ship it out". So, Ryan, expect several deliveries. We had lunch at the Hairy Lemon which for some reason dad insists on calling the furry banana. I have tried everything prefixed with " traditional Irish". Black and white pudding, stew, shepherd's pie, coddle, seafood chowder and corned beef and cabbage. I went to the park, Saint Stephen's Green, and took pics of the flora and fauna again. Most of them are on my camera but I had a few on my phone - pics 1,2, and 3. Pic 4 is from yesterday. Something I saw while we were horribly lost. I didn't learn anything new to share with you today but I promise tomorrow will be better. We are going to the museums and Saint Patrick's Cathedral.

Our first day without Tony

So, we got lost today. Twice. Dad likes to say we were "exploring the city", but we were lost. We walked aimlessly for over 4 hours total but we did see a lot. Dublin is a very confusing place. The weather wasn't bad, just overcast in the morning and decent in the afternoon. No rain! We visited Trinity College (pic 1) and saw The Book of Kells. It's a ornate and beautiful book of Scriptures written over 1000  years ago. I wasn't allowed to take a picture so you'll have to Google it. After Trinity we tried to return to the hotel but we took the "long way". Very long way. We saw Dublin castle ( pic 2) and various other stuff. We made it back to the hotel (pic 3) and had a little relax. We then decided to go to Temple Bar for dinner. Temple Bar is not an actual bar. It's a group of streets with a lot of bars. Strange place (pic 4,5). Dad found a bar he could relate to (pic 6). Who knows where we'll end up tomorrow. Definitely not me or dad!

Slainte!

There was a wedding in the hotel last night that was still going on this morning. The bride, groom and entire wedding party was still drinking at 8:30 a.m. when we left. Tony says that this is not the norm. We stopped at Clonmacnoise on our way back to Dublin. Clonmacnoise was founded in the year 548. It has been built and rebuilt many times over the centuries. The Cross of Scriptures is 13 feet high and has been dated to 900 A.D. -  pic 1. Pics 2,3 and 4 are the ruins from different periods from 900 - 1300. It's a very surreal place. Today's lesson is a language lesson in Irish. Slainte is the Irish toast which means "Good Health". We parted ways with Tony today -pic 5. He has been a wonderful guide and I'm sure I'm going to miss him because now dad's in charge and we all know his "uncanny" sense of direction. Well at least we will have 4 days to find our way back to the hotel. Slainte Tony!

Cold but amazing!

Today was chilly with that classic "Irish mist". We started towards Connemara and stopped at Cong. Cong Abbey - pics 1,2. The movie "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne was filmed in Cong - pic 3. We stopped at a few picturesque spots -pic 4. The destination was Kylemoore Abbey -pic 5,6. I can't go into the entire history but it's romantic, humorous and tragic. I'm too tired for a lesson tonight but don't worry I'll make up for it tomorrow! That gives you something to look forward to!

Another sunny day

We traveled up the coast to Galway. On the way we stopped at a walled garden. The farm has a lot of history and the garden is beautiful but not really in it's main season. You can guess dad wasn't into it. Got a pic with Tony - pics 1,2. When in Galway we took a boat tour of the river up into the lake (pics 3,4) then headed to the hotel. The hotel is on the beach - pic 5,6 shows the view. Did you know Christopher Columbus stopped Galway before sailing to America and prayed for a safe voyage? Well, he did and pic 7 is the church he prayed in. Off to Kylemore Abbey and Connemara tomorrow.

Don't leave the marked path

We headed out towards Clare this morning. First stop was Poulnabourne Portal Tomb - pic 1. They predate Stonehenge. Then the Aillwee caves - no pics. As dad says "a cave is a cave". Then to the Cliffs of Moher. It was freezing and the wind was at least 100mph (maybe a slight exaggeration). Dad didn't want to face the elements so I went on without him. I took my first selfie and you can see why it is also my last selfie - pics 2,3. We got back to the castle early and dad wanted to read (nap) so I decided to explore some of the 2000 acres. I was taking pictures of the native flora and fauna when I noticed the good stuff was deeper in the woods past the signs that say "Do not leave the marked trail". Long story short I got lost. I found some neat stuff and obviously I found my way back - pic 5,6. The last pic is today's lesson. The pic is of a lace wall. They are throughout the landscape. Every field has them. They serve absolutely no purpose. During the famine the landowners didn't want to just hand out money so they would pay the peasants  a penny to build a wall. Like I said, there are many walls. Very sad. 

Cinderella, eat your heart out.!!!

Our first stop today was the flying boat museum in Foynes. Pretty cool. Did you that Irish coffee was invented there by Chef Joe Sheridan for weary travelers? Well, now you do. After the museum we took the car ferry over the river Shannon to the Bunratty castle. Again, more stairs. The first pic is the castle. The next is me being terrified followed by Lord Joe looking over his kingdom. From there we checked into Dromoland castle where we will be staying for the next 2 days. That's the next pic. It's amazing! Last pic is of the sky. Blue skies all day until about 6 p.m.. I'll take it!!!!