Horray, I'm here.The worst part of the trip is over because I managed to get on three different aircraft--one that had PROPELLERS, no less--and managed to arrive in Dublin with my hair just a little messed up and maybe my lipstick a little smudged. It was about 11 hours of flying altogether.
You'll recall that we had a nauseatingly tight connection in Chicago, which meant that we barely got off one plane and were already boarding the next one. A little walk around time with the ability to use the civilized restroom would have been a welcome relief, but oh well. I was just glad not to be spending any more time than absolutely neccessary in Chicago.
So when we arrived in Dublin--dead tired, mind you--we immediately boarded a bus for a full day tour as we traveled from Dublin to Killarney, which is a full day's drive across Ireland. And what a beautiful place it is. I'm just about to tell you about it, but first, I have to offer up a few caveats.
1. I'm typing this with a bluetooth keyboard, an iPad, and a Google Blogger app. I do not have the capacity to link up helpful links to you about anything I say, nor am I able to easily edit my work or add bold or fancy fonts to make it more interesting. This is pretty Basic Blogging.
Even more discouraging is the fact that I cannot insert my pictures anywhere except the top or bottom (I forget which) of the entire post, and so I can't explain them to you. You'll just need to read the post and look at the pictures. I'm hopeful everything will beome abbundantly clear. And if not well I can't help you.
3. I have very limited picture editing cabability. My pictures might be crooked. The colors might be less than true, but you'll be able to get the idea from what I'm showing you.
I hope that is all right, and if it isn't . . . well, read some old posts. Better yet, read someone else's blog post . . . someone with less primitive equipment than I have.
So here goes. I'm showing you how intensely green Ireland is from the time we flew in and as we traveled across the island. The only really non-green thing we saw were the fields of rapeseed, or the seed responsible for canola oil. Also, I want you to notice the ancient crumbling towers that the landscape.
We visited the Rock of Cashel, which is an ancient castle currently being restored. You'll know it by its scaffolding. After that we spent some time shopping at the Blarney Woolen Mills. They had some lovely stuff, but I thought it was a little early to start buying things. Also available at the same site was Blarney Castle. There is a story behind Blarney's Castle, and in the end, his son ends up losing his nose and hands over something related to blarney. Or maybe that's not it at all. Honestly, I'm so tired, I can't keep my fairytales straight any mor
In any case, I didn't end up going and kissing the Blarney Stone . . . and not because I didn't want to. I just really hate things that are so blatently touristy, and this is one. It was going to cost a full $15 to gain admittance just so you could see it, and then someone was going to give you a bunch of guff about how lousy you were at it. And then you had to pay extra for that AND extra for the pidtures. No thanks. So I may have just ruined the whole trip for myself, but I didn't kiss the blarneystone. I have a deep aversion to tourist traps that seem to have as their sole purpose separating tourists from their money.
After that we spent some time shopping at the Blarney Wollen Mills, and I saw some great stuff, but I wasn'tready to spend money so soon off the plane. I think I need to see what's going on first.
After that we came to our hotel. My roommate and I are getting a long great, and that is a big relief. In fact all of the ladies I've met on the tour are great.
And now I can barely keep my eyes open so I'm going to stop as soon as I upload the pictures. Miss all you guys. Don't hesitate to ask questions if you have questions. I just realized that I need to tell you that there are these ancient brick sculptures all around their land. I susupect this has something to do with the many wars the Irish fought, but there was no information provided. also, I wanted to show you howpretty and quaint some of city streets are. Lastly, the yellow field is a rapeseed field. That seed is ground into oil to make potato salad.
Intersting stuff. I'll probably try to figure out more for you.
I'm so tired now I can't think straight. Time for bed.
You'll recall that we had a nauseatingly tight connection in Chicago, which meant that we barely got off one plane and were already boarding the next one. A little walk around time with the ability to use the civilized restroom would have been a welcome relief, but oh well. I was just glad not to be spending any more time than absolutely neccessary in Chicago.
So when we arrived in Dublin--dead tired, mind you--we immediately boarded a bus for a full day tour as we traveled from Dublin to Killarney, which is a full day's drive across Ireland. And what a beautiful place it is. I'm just about to tell you about it, but first, I have to offer up a few caveats.
1. I'm typing this with a bluetooth keyboard, an iPad, and a Google Blogger app. I do not have the capacity to link up helpful links to you about anything I say, nor am I able to easily edit my work or add bold or fancy fonts to make it more interesting. This is pretty Basic Blogging.
Even more discouraging is the fact that I cannot insert my pictures anywhere except the top or bottom (I forget which) of the entire post, and so I can't explain them to you. You'll just need to read the post and look at the pictures. I'm hopeful everything will beome abbundantly clear. And if not well I can't help you.
3. I have very limited picture editing cabability. My pictures might be crooked. The colors might be less than true, but you'll be able to get the idea from what I'm showing you.
I hope that is all right, and if it isn't . . . well, read some old posts. Better yet, read someone else's blog post . . . someone with less primitive equipment than I have.
So here goes. I'm showing you how intensely green Ireland is from the time we flew in and as we traveled across the island. The only really non-green thing we saw were the fields of rapeseed, or the seed responsible for canola oil. Also, I want you to notice the ancient crumbling towers that the landscape.
We visited the Rock of Cashel, which is an ancient castle currently being restored. You'll know it by its scaffolding. After that we spent some time shopping at the Blarney Woolen Mills. They had some lovely stuff, but I thought it was a little early to start buying things. Also available at the same site was Blarney Castle. There is a story behind Blarney's Castle, and in the end, his son ends up losing his nose and hands over something related to blarney. Or maybe that's not it at all. Honestly, I'm so tired, I can't keep my fairytales straight any mor
In any case, I didn't end up going and kissing the Blarney Stone . . . and not because I didn't want to. I just really hate things that are so blatently touristy, and this is one. It was going to cost a full $15 to gain admittance just so you could see it, and then someone was going to give you a bunch of guff about how lousy you were at it. And then you had to pay extra for that AND extra for the pidtures. No thanks. So I may have just ruined the whole trip for myself, but I didn't kiss the blarneystone. I have a deep aversion to tourist traps that seem to have as their sole purpose separating tourists from their money.
After that we spent some time shopping at the Blarney Wollen Mills, and I saw some great stuff, but I wasn'tready to spend money so soon off the plane. I think I need to see what's going on first.
After that we came to our hotel. My roommate and I are getting a long great, and that is a big relief. In fact all of the ladies I've met on the tour are great.
And now I can barely keep my eyes open so I'm going to stop as soon as I upload the pictures. Miss all you guys. Don't hesitate to ask questions if you have questions. I just realized that I need to tell you that there are these ancient brick sculptures all around their land. I susupect this has something to do with the many wars the Irish fought, but there was no information provided. also, I wanted to show you howpretty and quaint some of city streets are. Lastly, the yellow field is a rapeseed field. That seed is ground into oil to make potato salad.
Intersting stuff. I'll probably try to figure out more for you.
I'm so tired now I can't think straight. Time for bed.
20 comments:
Yeah, she made it, white knuckles and all! Rest well!
my lipstick a little smudged..... Sounds like a fun plane ride...smile.
Love the photos. Have the best time.
Billie
Glad that you made it safely. The pictures are gorgeous, thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful stay and enjoy every minute.
So glad you made it safe and sound! My daughter and I are very jealous looking at your pictures. One day she and I will get there! :D Have a marvelous time!
There doesn't seem to be an easy trip to Dublin from the states. Our trip took 27 hours and we were dead tired too, but you will find Ireland worth it in the end.
Loved the pictures. Wasn't Cashel gorgeous. I am with you on the tourist traps - no Blarney kissing for us either. Enjoy your sleep and have fun shopping.
Glad you made it safely and glad you didn't spend $15 kissing a stone I think that is the real blarney. Pictures are beautiful love the cat and the green. I don't know why on those tours they think everyone is able to sleep on a plane. Hope you get some good rest so you can enjoy the rest of your trip.
Glad you made it with just a bit of smudged lipstick. Love the pictures, it really is that green there. Hope you sleep well and have lots of energy to go tomorrow.
I am happy to hear that you arrived safely and had a wonderful first day. Also glad that you can post and we can enjoy the trip with you. Get lots of rest tonight, or maybe it is today, lol.
Debbie
I wish I could've stowed away and gone along. Ireland is really incredibly green. Why did my grandparents want to leave? I guess starvation is a good reason. Glad you can share pictures and am looking forward to more. Sleep well.
Glad you made it! Crazy how they put you right on the bus! All the pictures are beautiful! I hope you get a few of some cottages. I do miniatures and want to do an Irish cottage type scene. Love the photo of the kitty! I hope you get some good rest so you can enjoy the rest of your trip!
Tell me you didn't adopt another cat already!! Seriously, I'm glad you and your roommate are getting along well. I hope your quilt receives rave reviews, and I hope you have a wonderful time! Sharon - ssauser@dishmail.net
So glad you are there in one piece and seeing what beauty Ireland offers even the weary.
Cats--tokens of our familiarity with creatures who speak another language and yet make themselves understood, all over the world.
You have definitely captured the "Forty shades of green" in your photos, hope you catch up on your sleep and have a great trip! A nip of the black stuff is full of iron should you need a restorative!!
Great post and beautiful pictures. I'm glad to see you checking things off of your worry list. Flying, check
roommate check, kissing the blarney stone and catching some awful disease, while spending a lot of money to do it, check.
So, do the cat's over there meow with such a heavy accent you can't understand them?
I'm glad to hear you're safe, such a wonderful place to be.
What an adventure to remember with a smile! Being there sounds great! - the traveling part, not so much. Continue to have fun!
JoAnn
So glad you made it safely! Love the pictures, all the green and cute little Granny's Kitchen. How long did you have to look to find a kitty cat all posed in a garden?
You're off to a great start - don't worry about the "basic-ness" of your posts - I love travelling with you!
How fun! I feel the need to dance a jig! :) Sounds like you hit the ground running. Thank you for letting us stow away with you and experience a virtual adventure. Rest well.
Oh so much lovely green!
I just drove up I-5 to my sister's & passed so many desert tan hills....
I'm glad everything is working out with your roomie!
Great job, working with Basic Blogging. :^)
Hi Wow - what a fun post!!! Love the pictures of course! Green, Green, and more Green!!! I'm so jealous! And I see you've made friends with a kitty =^..^= I'm a little curious though about how you "smudged" your lipstick on the plane? ;-)
Re blogging problems - I don't know if you've tried BlogPress? It's a free ap for the iPad that I use to blog with when I'm on retreat or traveling and it works great. The best thing about it is that I can load pictures whenever I like in the post. I haven't yet found a way to use links or fancy fonts etc, but I think you would like how easy it is to use & load pics.
Looking forward to more posts - so glad to see you are having a great time :*)
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