We're back home after some long and uneventful flights. I uploaded a final batch of pictures, most of which are of the Rock of Cashel. It's good to be home but we miss Ireland.
http://picasaweb.google.com/2jslagle/Ireland2008?authkey=3vec5j_RQTw#
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Farewell Ireland
Friday we saw the Rock of Cashel. The Rock is an old Irish castle from the 1100's and was later used as a church. It was really cool to see, especially when it was all lit up at night. The town of Cashel was fun too, and we even saw a live comedian. But, other than the Rock and a few pubs, there really wasn't too much there.
Friday night we were back in Dublin, and boy was it crowded. We went to a few spots in the Temple Bar area, but they were so packed it wasn't even enjoyable. We did get a good dinner from a street kebab vendor, and had a few drinks at some different places. O'Connell street, one of the main drags through Dublin was very lively at night. It also had a huge light display shaped like a Christmas tree.
We're at the airport now, waiting for our trip to Chicago. We've had a great time in Ireland, we'll definitely have to come back some day.
Friday night we were back in Dublin, and boy was it crowded. We went to a few spots in the Temple Bar area, but they were so packed it wasn't even enjoyable. We did get a good dinner from a street kebab vendor, and had a few drinks at some different places. O'Connell street, one of the main drags through Dublin was very lively at night. It also had a huge light display shaped like a Christmas tree.
We're at the airport now, waiting for our trip to Chicago. We've had a great time in Ireland, we'll definitely have to come back some day.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
After taking the bus yesterday to Cork, we got back on the bus and went to Kinsale. What an awesome surprise Kinsale turned out to be. It is a beautiful coastal village. I'm sure it can be quite touristy during the summer months, but it definitely felt like a little working Irish village last night. All the streets were very narrow, and the sidewalks as well. All in all, probably the most European feeling city we've been to. The pubs in town were quite fun as well. This is Murphy's Irish stout country down this way, as opposed to Guinness.
We stayed at a wonderful b&b, our hosts were very friendly. We spent most of today shopping in the town's little shops, and enjoyed fish and chips right down at the water. We also saw a church from the 1100's, and a castle that was at one time a French prison.
We're now headed up to Cashel, where we'll spend the night and then see the Rock of Cashel tomorrow.
New pictures are uploaded.
After taking the bus yesterday to Cork, we got back on the bus and went to Kinsale. What an awesome surprise Kinsale turned out to be. It is a beautiful coastal village. I'm sure it can be quite touristy during the summer months, but it definitely felt like a little working Irish village last night. All the streets were very narrow, and the sidewalks as well. All in all, probably the most European feeling city we've been to. The pubs in town were quite fun as well. This is Murphy's Irish stout country down this way, as opposed to Guinness.
We stayed at a wonderful b&b, our hosts were very friendly. We spent most of today shopping in the town's little shops, and enjoyed fish and chips right down at the water. We also saw a church from the 1100's, and a castle that was at one time a French prison.
We're now headed up to Cashel, where we'll spend the night and then see the Rock of Cashel tomorrow.
New pictures are uploaded.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
New pics uploaded
There are new pictures uploaded to the gallery from the last 2 days. Today we are going to check out some shops in Kilkenny before taking the bus to Cork. Cheers!
http://picasaweb.google.com/2jslagle/Ireland2008?authkey=3vec5j_RQTw#
http://picasaweb.google.com/2jslagle/Ireland2008?authkey=3vec5j_RQTw#
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Today was really incredible, and as I write this I am sitting in an Irish pub listening to traditional Irish music being played less than 5 feet from me! Just the icing on the cake. Seeing Castecomer, where my Mom's family is from was so neat. I am so excited to get home and put the pictures together into a story of our history! It was an adorable town, and the stable yards had been transformed into a visitor's craft center of sorts. What more could a girl ask for? Needless to say, I made some memorable purchases. We had so much fun, walking around town and discovering. I wonder what it was like to live there so long ago!?
And then it was on to Kilkenny where we are staying at a lovely b&b right in the center of town. We went straight to the castle here and made an appointment for the last tour so that we'd have time to do a bit of shopping and grab a bite to eat. We had what was probably the best pub food so far-huge dishes of seafood chowder with delicious brown bread at a little place called The Field. There's a movie by the same name, apparently.
The castle wasn't much to write home about, I'm afraid, and probably made worse by my encounter with the tour guide at the beginning of the tour. We were dead tired, and so when he ushered us into a room lined with chairs to wait for the last few stragglers of our group, we sat down. Then, to make matters worse, I took a photo of James just as the guy came in. I was told "I'm sorry, but there are no photos allowed, and all the furniture in the house is antique, so please don't sit down." Things he had neglected to tell us, I guess. What made it funny was that he then tossed his keys on several pieces of "antique" furniture throughout the tour. I felt like a rebellious school girl throughout the tour, as it was also exceedingly boring. Unfortunately, not all of us have as much of a love of antique furniture as this man, but that was all he talked about. I kept getting scared I was going to get caught giggling. Anyway, it was a pretty castle, if not what we had imagined it might be like.
Now we're at the end of our pub hopping, and I'll sign off. Tomorrow is another day! And sometime between now and then we'll decide where we're going next! :)
And then it was on to Kilkenny where we are staying at a lovely b&b right in the center of town. We went straight to the castle here and made an appointment for the last tour so that we'd have time to do a bit of shopping and grab a bite to eat. We had what was probably the best pub food so far-huge dishes of seafood chowder with delicious brown bread at a little place called The Field. There's a movie by the same name, apparently.
The castle wasn't much to write home about, I'm afraid, and probably made worse by my encounter with the tour guide at the beginning of the tour. We were dead tired, and so when he ushered us into a room lined with chairs to wait for the last few stragglers of our group, we sat down. Then, to make matters worse, I took a photo of James just as the guy came in. I was told "I'm sorry, but there are no photos allowed, and all the furniture in the house is antique, so please don't sit down." Things he had neglected to tell us, I guess. What made it funny was that he then tossed his keys on several pieces of "antique" furniture throughout the tour. I felt like a rebellious school girl throughout the tour, as it was also exceedingly boring. Unfortunately, not all of us have as much of a love of antique furniture as this man, but that was all he talked about. I kept getting scared I was going to get caught giggling. Anyway, it was a pretty castle, if not what we had imagined it might be like.
Now we're at the end of our pub hopping, and I'll sign off. Tomorrow is another day! And sometime between now and then we'll decide where we're going next! :)
We took the bus from Dublin to Castlecomer this morning. Castlecomer is where Jen's great-great-grandfather emigrated from. It was a very nice little Irish town. Not much there but a few pubs and shops. Jen's g-g-grandfather was a stable master. We found the old stable grounds that were from the local manor in the 1800's. Hard to say if it was the same stable or not, but you never know.
From Castlecomer, we got back on the bus and came to Kilkenny. We checked into our B&B and then went on to Kilkenny Castle. It was a good tour, although the castle was not really a mideval castle at all on the inside, it had all been remodeled in the Elizabethan era. I had kind of been hoping for more of a mideval castle. It still looked really awesome from the outside.
We had dinner at a really good Italian restaurant (kinda tired of traditional Irish food), and are now pub crawling in Kilkenny. Some more pictures to be uploaded later.
From Castlecomer, we got back on the bus and came to Kilkenny. We checked into our B&B and then went on to Kilkenny Castle. It was a good tour, although the castle was not really a mideval castle at all on the inside, it had all been remodeled in the Elizabethan era. I had kind of been hoping for more of a mideval castle. It still looked really awesome from the outside.
We had dinner at a really good Italian restaurant (kinda tired of traditional Irish food), and are now pub crawling in Kilkenny. Some more pictures to be uploaded later.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday Morning
Hello all! We are having such a lovely time. The jet lag is competing a bit with the excitement this morning, so we slept in a little and are being a little lazy about getting our day started. Today we plan on seeing Trinity College and the Book of Kells as well as the Dublin Castle and St Patrick's Cathedral. Tonight we think we might head out to one of the suburbs on the coast for some dinner. We'll just have to see where the day takes us!
I would like to note that I have discovered two new favorite drinks. The Bulmer's cider is very delicious (thanks for the idea of trying the ciders, Becky!), and at the Jameson's Distillery yesterday I had a Jameson's and cranberry juice-very interesting and yummy! The tours were really fun yesterday, it was neat to see how both Guinness and Jameson's are made. The Gravity Bar at Guiness was spectacular, with a 360 degree view of the city. And we got a seat right next to one of the glass outer walls. This trip is just great! Wish each of you could be here with us!
I would like to note that I have discovered two new favorite drinks. The Bulmer's cider is very delicious (thanks for the idea of trying the ciders, Becky!), and at the Jameson's Distillery yesterday I had a Jameson's and cranberry juice-very interesting and yummy! The tours were really fun yesterday, it was neat to see how both Guinness and Jameson's are made. The Gravity Bar at Guiness was spectacular, with a 360 degree view of the city. And we got a seat right next to one of the glass outer walls. This trip is just great! Wish each of you could be here with us!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Guinness and Jameson's
We went and saw the Guinness storehouse today and the Jameson Distillery. At the Guinness storehouse we did the full tour, I pulled my own pint, and we hung out in their Gravity Bar, with great views of Dublin. We spent almost 3 hours there. They have an awesome gift shop. It's all stuff you can get online I'm sure, but it's fun to see it all in one place.
From Guinness, we went to the Jameson Distillery. They haven't brewed whiskey there since 1971, but they still have a good little tour. The highlight of was the whiskey tasting at the end. Very fun.
We stopped at a few pubs, came back to rest, then when back out for dinner and more pubs. We decided stay an extra night in Dublin, because we still have a lot to see tomorrow.
New pictures uploaded.
From Guinness, we went to the Jameson Distillery. They haven't brewed whiskey there since 1971, but they still have a good little tour. The highlight of was the whiskey tasting at the end. Very fun.
We stopped at a few pubs, came back to rest, then when back out for dinner and more pubs. We decided stay an extra night in Dublin, because we still have a lot to see tomorrow.
New pictures uploaded.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
First Night in Ireland.
Not going to write much as we're both pretty tired, but I did upload some pictures, be sure to check them out. The link: http://picasaweb.google.com/2jslagle/Ireland2008?authkey=3vec5j_RQTw
Heard some great traditional Irish music at a cool pub that was fairly authentic (for center city Dublin anyway). A good mix of accents there, mostly Irish, French, German, and of course American.
Heard some great traditional Irish music at a cool pub that was fairly authentic (for center city Dublin anyway). A good mix of accents there, mostly Irish, French, German, and of course American.
Ireland
We are here in Ireland! The posted times of the blog entries aren't going corrospond to when we actually wrote them, because we haven't been able to find free wireless in any of the airports. At the very least though, they're posted in chronological order.
As I'm writing this now, it's 3:30 pm here in Dublin and we're sitting on our bus waiting for it to take us to our hotel. We couldn't see much of Ireland from the air because it was quite foggy on the way in. We did catch some glimpses of some rocky coast and green pastures though. One thing to note, I'm pretty sure airport tarmacs look the same in all countries.
We are happy to be here after a full day (night?) of traveling. We're both pretty tired, but not horribly so, and we should be able to sleep well tonight on local hours. Tomorrow is the Guiness factory, Trinity College, the Book of Kells, and whatever else we may find.
Take care.
London Heathrow
We made it to London's Heathrow airport uneventfully, and had a good little breakfast when we got here at a neat coffee shop called Giraffe. The catch phrase there was "love, eat, live". The food was delicious and the coffee even better!
We each slept about 3 hours on the 7 hour flight, and boy are we glad to be on solid ground.
We're anxious to get to Dublin, our connecting flight leaves in about 2 hours.
It was amazing to see England from the air as we descended towards London. All the beautiful greens and browns of farmland slowly faded into the congestion of London. It's a pretty clear day, and we were able to see Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the Eye of London from the air!
It was also quite amazing to watch a bit of the pink sunrise from above the clouds. God sure has created an incredible world! We'll sign off for now as the jet lag is causing a bit of rambling. :) Love to all!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Getting Ready to Go
Well we're all packed up except for a few last little things and getting really excited! We'll be landing in Dublin on Saturday, November 22nd and staying 2 nights, but that's the only reservations we have! We'll be staying at the Schoolhouse Hotel (www.schoolhousehotel.com) which we chose for it's good reviews of a quiet comfy place to stay as we battle our jetlag. Otherwise, we're planning on just taking our time and finding places to stay as we go. One thing we are looking forward to is visiting the town that Jen's Mom's family is from- the Archer's, who are from Castlecomer, Ireland. And highlights from Dublin will definitely include the Guinness Brewery and Temple Bar, though we're also hoping to find some more local, down to earth Dublin nightlife. We'll be posting photos as we go at this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/2jslagle/Ireland2008?authkey=3vec5j_RQTw
We hope that you enjoy sharing a little in our trip! We'd love to hear from you while we're gone. Have Happy Thanksgivings with your families! We'll be missing ours so much. God bless!
We hope that you enjoy sharing a little in our trip! We'd love to hear from you while we're gone. Have Happy Thanksgivings with your families! We'll be missing ours so much. God bless!
Friday, November 14, 2008
First Post
Hello, this is our blog. We're going to be using it to keep in touch with our friends and family while we're traveling in Ireland.
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