We're baaaaack!!!

Phew! We made it back home safe and sound.

You may think this is a silly thing to say, but when you've just spent 10 days in a country where people drive on the wrong side of the road (yeah, you read me right: WRONG!! -- don't care what the Irish, the British the Japanese or the Australians say-- driving on the left side is nuts!) and you change gear shifts with your left hand, and torrential showers of rain sneak up on ya on the road and blind you from seeing anything beyond your nose and stopping for "refreshments" means hitting the local pub with a request for a Pint of Guinness, you too will understand the meaning of our relief at being back home with all our limbs intact.

Not that we did anything reckless... nu-huh.... never in a million years...

Seriously though, we've just had one of the loveliest most gratifying vacations in a long time. Ireland is truly a beautiful place and the Irish people are one of the nicest, most friendliest welcoming folks to walk on the face of the earth. Not even the occasional, but quite violent nonetheless, rainstorms we had throughout the trip could put a damper on our time there.

Our vacations were sprinkled with several great moments. Highlights of the trip included:

- Driving out of Dublin Airport and hubby freaking out at driving on the left side of the road
- Me freaking out at driving on the left side of the road a few hours later
- Eating "Fish and Chips" sans Fish once, twice.... well..... more like 12 times....
- Me peeing "aguilita" style at the top of a hill in the Ring of Kerry because Guinness runs through me faster than we can drive to the next gas station
- Walking into a pub in Galway with not one, but TWO, stag parties going on; both parties dressed up as MEXICANS (and me wearing my I (heart) mexican shirt!!)
- Eating a veggie fajita in the basement of a Tex-Mex restaurant in Limerick and learning all about the Irishmen that fought at The Alamo.
- Eating at a pub in the Dingle Peninsula and learning afterward that parts of "Far and Away" were filmed in that town and that several of the townsmen were in the movie as extras.....


o-O


Okay, okay.... I'm pulling your leg. Here are a few of the REAL highlights of the trip:


"Pub crawling" in Temple Bar in Dublin, listening to live Irish music




Visiting the highly educational Guinness Storehouse and learning how to make beer


Driving down the Wicklow mountains


Having a stroll around Glendalough and exploring the incredible ruins of St Kevin's Kitchen


Spending a night in Kilkenny and visiting the impressive castle that once belonged to the powerful Butler family.


Driving along the south coastline and stopping in quaint little towns like Youghal, Cobh and Baltimore.







Crossing the intimidating Mitzen Head Bridge and staring down the Rocky cliffs of the most southern-westerly tip of Ireland.




Visiting the gorgeous Bantry House and walking around its lovely gardens


Stopping to take pictures of the ruins of Castle Ballycarbery in the town of Cahersiveen



Visiting Muckross House and its breathtaking view over the Killarney Lakes




Checking out the puzzling Gallarus Oratory


Standing atop the indescribable Moher Cliffs and feeling so small and fragile against the powerful forces of the Wind and the Sea


Visiting the ever so elegant Kilemore Abbey nested high up in the Connemara National Park



Catching up with paddy friends Lisa and Joe for a Pint of Guinness (or eight!) and having a good craic



Stopping at Kilbeggan to visit the Locke's Distillery, the oldest licensed pot still distillery in the world, and learning how to make Irish Whiskey (not to be confused with Scottish Whisky, I've since learned)


Going back to medieval times by visiting the impressive Trim castle and learning that parts of Braveheart where filmed there.


Going up on the Hill of Tara and yelling out the "As God is my witness..." line at the top of my lungs.



Oh, and did I mention eating a lifetime's worth of potato fries and baked potatoes???


Fned.