We Want to See the Whole World

This European holiday is drawing to a close...Devastating.  The week here has been better than anything I ever imagined or planned. It's made for some amazing memories...memories that I will take with me forever.  I decided for my own memory sake to list my top 5 highlights and then lowpoints.  I've considered this blog to be my travel journal and I gotta get it down while it's still fresh or it'll be gone tomorrow...seems to be the way my brain works these days. Top 5 High Points: 1) The people of Ireland in general, many offered directions without us having to ask, most have been gracious and welcoming, curious about us and always greeted with a kind attitude. 2) The proposal we witnessed at the Cliffs.  I just can't get past that. I'm such a romantic and that just made the already spectacular day even more incredible. 3) The Avis rental car agent.  Her attitude and excitement were so positive and she was just a really genuine person 4) The Marless Hous...

One more day to go before this adventure ends...we are terribly saddened by this. The day started with breakfast at the Belvedere Lodge, which I believe was prepared by Vince.  On the road we went after that, headed for Cahir Castle, built in 1142 (pronounced Care Castle).  I'd seen many pictures of it already and read several blog posts from other visitors.  We pulled into Cahir and there it was, downtown on the main road.  The town was built around it. I paid the 2 hour pre-paid parking fee and we strolled across the street to get some shots of the town and the hatchery...We had arrived a few minutes before it opened so had some time to waste.  An amazing blue heron was waiting for his picture to be taken.  I don't think I've ever seen one before (or noticed anyway).  After we paid the €6 entry fee for the both of us and "listened" to the cashier excitedly tell us about the Early Ireland Women's exhibit inside the hall, we went in to the gro...

It took me around 6 months to plan my trip and a year's worth of hard work and saving, but I poured my heart into each and every moment of planning.  And now, there are only 2 days left. I can't believe it.  It has all been incredibly worth it. We left the Randles Court this morning a little after 8 and decided to just hit the road for Blarney Castle.  I had previously planned on us eating lunch in Blarney at the Muskerry Arms.  We pulled into Blarney around 10am and decided to just eat brunch there instead.  We had the restaurant practically to ourselves which was nice. A continental breakfast of fruits and cereals and brown bread was provided and then we were able to order off the hot menu in addition.  Both of us ordered omelets...I didn't get a picture of the omelet because I was too hungry and wolfed it down.  The brown bread here was FAR superior to the brown bread of yesterday and the omelet was delicious. I would definitely recommend this rest...

Woke up this morning in the Randles Court Hotel after a much needed deep sleep.  This hotel has long corridors with motion sensor lights, huge bathrooms, a sitting room at the entry and on the front patio overlooking a horse pasture and with a view of the mountains in the distance.  It does not however have a/c (which I've heard most of the hotels in this town don't) and it was a rather stuffy night. Mom and I got ready for the day and headed to breakfast in the hotel restaurant since it was included in the cost of our room.  Entry to the dining room was rather confusing as the buffet is right up front and there's no clear sign as to whether to help yourself or wait for a server.  So we stumbled to a table and waited for a server who eventually came and thought we were with a large tour group also staying here.  When we told him we weren't, he seemed flustered...anyway, moving on, he brought us menus and said we could order what we wanted.  So I ordered...

Finally!!! The day I've been waiting for. How do I have words to describe today?  My soul is peaceful as I sit here drinking Barry's tea, listening to Celtic Woman, and waiting for my photos to upload.  Today was everything I dreamed it would be and then some.  Sadly we checked out of Marless House this morning and hit the road at 9am headed for Dunguaire Castle and on to Cliffs of Moher.  I had read several posts on Trip Advisor recommending to just photograph the castle and not pay the money to go in and tour it...I figured I'd make up my mind when we got there....Turns out I went with the recommendations and didn't pay to enter.  It's beautiful from afar, but considering the castles we're going to later this week I figured I'd pass, my mom was in agreement. I had also read several recommendations for the Burren Chocolatier so we stopped there....cute little shop and beautiful looking chocolates, but the woman who ran the shop was frankly down right r...

Today started out with an amazing breakfast at Marless House.  Mary is by far the best B&B hostess I have ever met.  It has been a few years since the last B&B I stayed in, but mom and I stayed in quite a few when I was in my early teens.  Mom agrees with me on this.  On Trip Advisor Mary has been recommended for her scones, so I definitely ordered a scone with my breakfast along with scrambled eggs and helped myself to her fruit bar.  Ummm may have had some of her homemade brown bread as well.  shhhh don't tell. Before I start on the happenings of the day, here are a few musings that mom and I have noticed: There are a lot fewer public restrooms (called Toilets) here than in the states, something we definitely take for granted!  Something we like here is that there are barely any fast food places to be found, especially not on every street corner.  Along with that, gas stations are not on every street corner either....which must be a pro...

It's about 9:30 at night here in Ireland and I am sitting on my bed in the Marless House B&B in Salthill sipping a cuppa Barry's Tea.  It's probably about my 10th cup of tea in 2 days.  The tea here is incredible!  So as I sip my tea and upload pictures to photobucket I figured it was about time I get this blog started. I title this post days 0.5 to 2.0 because I'm considering my traveling day to be 0.5.  Day 0.5 The day started with Mom texting me from the airport saying that she had been waiting in the security line for a long time and I should come early for my flight (we flew seperately since I had booked my ticket in January and she booked later this summer).  I had everything packed already and was just curling my hair, so I threw everything in the car and headed to the Aero parking lot.  I wish someone could have recorded the panic inside my head as I drove.  Did I forget anything because of leaving so fast? I made it to the airport and ...