Ireland
We somewhat randomly decided to go to Ireland over Thanksgiving. The tickets were cheap and I'd always wanted to go. It turned out to be the best trip courtesy of some fine travel tips from Jack. My only regret is that we couldn't stay longer. Ireland is a beautiful country and I'll definately be going back.
We met up with Joe in Green Bay and took the Jeep to Chicago. We got there way too early. Apparently it wasn't the busiest travel day of the year.
After an overnight flight we arrived in Dublin at about 8 a.m. We picked up our fabulous little car, Megan. Megan was a Renault. Who knew the frenchies made cars?
Whoo hoo no more rain!
Ryan was our designated driver. We got to Dublin just in time for rush hour traffic into the city. Joe was a great navigator. But where's me jumper?
After we found our little hotel in Temple bar we were off to the source of everything good, the Guinness brewery! It was a little more involved than the Schell tour in MN. There was even a waterfall!
Yes, yes they are.
Ryan under the waterfall. Isn't he cute?
The Guinness tour was five stories of everything ever Guinness.
After a few pints of the fine stuff we were out wandering the streets of Dublin.
The was the large envelope on the map. It sure didn't look like an envelope to me. The Liffy in the foreground.
More Liffy and Dublin!
We started our first night in Ireland at the little bar in our hotel after a rockstar nap. We need Whiskey I say!
They weren't so sure...
But there are so many fine brews on tap the boys said.
Eventually they gave in. Would you like that whiskey with some water the bartender asked. Nope we said.
The next day we were on the move across the country to Galway! I had no idea the sheep just ran all around Ireland. It was great! The farmers each have colors and markings they use on their sheep so at the end of the year they can tell them appart.
Galway was pretty cute. We got there just in time to do a little Christmas shopping before the shops closed.
There were streets in Galway that at certain times of the day allowed cars but then in the evening these huge car stoppers came up from the pavement. We almost got taken out by some of them. Ah stupid tourists.
After a great night of drinking Irish coffees (yep didn't sleep much in the hostel) we were off to explore Galway in the day light.
Joe.
Ryan still asleep.
Next we were off to the north, on our way to Westport (I could have photoshopped that bottle out but I lost interest).
We took Sky road north. It was the most beautiful drive of the trip. We stopped to take some pictures along the way.
Looking out to the ocean from Sky road. In the US there would have been tacky condos here, but in Ireland it is still farm land. Brilliant!
Ryan got some great pictures.
Joe did too.
We stopped at Connemara National Park on the way. There were a series of these giant hills with no trees on them.
We hiked around Connemara for a bit and we were back in the car.
Kylemore Abby was originally built as a private residence but is now an all girls school. Half way up the mountain behind the abby is a tiny statue of Mary.
We finally made it to Westport. It is a much smaller more traditional Irish town. In the center of the round-a-bout there was a statue of St. Patrick. He is apparently the saint of engineers. Who knew they even had one?
More round-a-bout in Westport.
The place has the BEST post bar burgers with garlic mayo. We stopped there after hearing about it from a bartender.
The next day we headed back to Dublin. On our way back we stopped at Clonmacnoise, a super old monastary on the River Shannon. It was built in the year 545 by Saint Ciaran. There is a church there that is still used today.