Hello Ireland!

Begin Day 1

in Dublin.

Meet our guide Kim,

and our step-on guide Liam

who is from Ireland and

it’s fun to hear him talk

but we don’t always understand

what he says,

and our driver Desi

who is actually Desmond

but we don’t clear that up

until the next day.

Check in to our hotel

all before 10:00am.

Sit in the lobby a bit

then go out for a walk.

First around the block

just to get my bearings

and then I join others

and we go a little farther.

Up the road a bit

then turn and walk down

to the River Liffey.

I fall at an intersection

which hurt my pride

and a little bit more

than just my pride

but I keep walking.

Cross the River Liffey

and find the Temple Bar

originally, not that kind of bar

but now that kind of bar.

Not a pub kind of person

so keep walking.

Past statues of

Dublin’s pioneers.

Past stores

and people.

So many people

for a Wednesday morning.

Check out a couple

of small stores.

Buy my traditional

t-shirt souvenir.

Walk some more.

Notice a pigeon left

a mark on my shoulder.

When did that happen?!

Maybe the pigeon mistook me

for a statue?

Back to the hotel

for a welcome dinner.

Meet the whole tour group

all 42.

Don’t expect me to

remember any names.

It’s been a long day

that started yesterday

so I head to my room

which is as small as a closet.

Not really but close.

But it’s the view that makes

or breaks a room

and this basement room view

is of the hotel’s heating ducts.

Attempt to clean

my hoodie

from the pigeon dropping.

Shh, time to sleep.

Because day 2 begins

with some breakfast

and greetings of other

tour members.

More Dublin

this time a tour.

Grafton Street.

O’Connell Street.

Buy a new hoodie

since my pigeon

one is still wet.

Trinity College.

Book of Kells.

Never heard of the Book of Kells?

It’s How the Irish Saved the World

which is a book

and a claim.

Liam points out

Panguar Bán

a charming poem.

Also, noted

despite not having

a strong military force

the Irish were hired to fight

in other countries’ wars.

Did you know

the harp is the country’s

national emblem?

They are quite proud of the fact

Ireland is the only country

with a musical instrument

to represent their country.

A tour of Jameson Whiskey

to learn about making whiskey.

I have been offered a lot of free whiskey samples

for a teetotaler.

Liberties of Christ Church

is where we say

goodbye to Liam

who is now off shift.

We stop at Phoenix Park

and hear about a couple of popes.

Dinner at The Merry Ploughboy

with Irish music

and dancing

where their “legs flail about

as if independent from their bodies”

(you’re welcome for working in

a Friends’ reference).

Another night in the

closet room with the

heating ducts as my view.

But I’m too tired to look

at the view anyway.

After Day 3’s breakfast,

we head to Guinness

to take a tour

I know a lot about making beer

for a teetotaler.

Travel to Limerick

and I try to think of a Limerick

while walking around

but I’m not that clever.

Back on the bus to see

another cathedral

and more castles

along the way.

I take a picture of the wrong building.

Dinner is at the

Knappogue Castle Medieval Banquet.

A renaissance dinner theater

where we eat tomato soup

with no spoon

to be authentic.

I try some fish

to be authentic.

I still don’t like fish.

That is me being authentic.

Laughs and fun

and play that harp!

Back to the hotel

in Shannon.

My room is a bit bigger

than a closet.

Day 4

we are off to the

Cliffs of Moher.

But can’t see

the ocean because

of the fog.

Onto Galway

and walk around

Eyre Square

and learn to

keep my best side out.

Stop for lunch at

King’s Head

and sit in the red corner.

Then back on the bus

and onto

St Nicholas – Nun’s Island

and walk in another cathedral.

I have visited a lot of cathedrals

for not being Catholic.

Another night in Shannon.

Day 5

back on the bus after breakfast.

A view of the River Shannon

with another castle

on the opposite side.

This is King John’s Castle.

I have seen a lot of castles

for someone living in the 21st century.

A stop at Adare Village

with time for a short walk

in the picturesque village park.

Then to Muckross House and Gardens

and walk around Ross Castle.

A jaunt ride pulled

by faithful Maggie the Horse

through Killarney National Park.

Our driver explains the local ABCs

(Another Bloody Castle).

Dinner at

Kate Kearney’s Cottage

with the option of

more fish (pass).

More singing from a

3-person band

but they are joined midway

by friends.

I like that.

More dancing but this

time there is audience participation.

Not by me, but by some others.

Head to our hotel

in Killarney

the room with the nicest view.

Day 6

is the Ring of Kerry Tour.

It is Desmond’s day off

and the substitute driver

is not as gentle.

A stop in Caragh

a historic village

similar to a ghost town.

The people that once lived

in those huts must have

been no bigger than me.

A village of tiny, short people

with little horses.

May not be historically accurate

but that was the impression

I got from my visit.

Back on the bus,

we pass by the bogs.

Why do the bogs remind

me of Wyoming?

Stop at Scarriff Inn

claiming Ireland’s best-known view

(fog permitting)

for lunch and

I opt for the traditional

Irish Stew with lamb

to be authentic.

A clear view

and no fog

so I can finally see

the Atlantic Ocean.

A stop in Waterville

and I pick up a rock

the ocean gifted me.

I need a picture next to a

Charlie Chaplin statue

because he used to

vacation there

and the statue is there.

Another section of

Killarney National Park.

A scratch on the bus

because the road

wasn’t big enough

for the bus

and

the construction

and the consensus on the bus

is Desmond won’t be happy.

Back in town

we are on our own.

A little stroll downtown

and then pizza for dinner

because we are a

little tired of

authenticity.

Day 7

Desmond is back

and we are headed back

to Dublin.

But first,

a detour to Blarney Castle and Garden.

I climb to the top of the castle

using the strategic

stairway and tiny halls

to stand in line

and kiss the Blarney Stone

to get the gift of gab

but I did not receive the gift

and only got a photo instead.

Walk around the gardens

and wished we had more

time to walk around the

gardens.

I expected to see some

fairies dancing

or at least a

leprechaun or two

but no such luck.

Back on the bus

and onto Dublin

and we pass a few

ABCs

before we arrive

for our farewell dinner.

Say goodbye to Kim

and Desmond.

I head to my room

and note about 3 of my first

closet rooms

could fit in this one room.

(sigh)

Time to repack and attempt

to fit a few souvenirs

in my suitcase.

Day 8

back to the airport

for another long day

to get back home.

Farewell Ireland!

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