Ireland - Day 3

Today was spent driving around the Ring of Kerry. Beautiful location unfortunately marred by overcast weather. Colors weren't as sharp in this round of photos. However, they were saved by some really cute lambs :)

The Lakes of Killarney

Lots of gorse in bloom.

Lobster holding a glass of Guiness... how very Irish.

Cute lamb#1

Cute lambs #2 and #3

Being a big Doctor Who fan from the Tom Baker Era, this store name just made me giggle...

Tulips in the Killarney Park

Walkway in the Killarney Park.
St. Mary's Cathedral, Killarney

Jaunting horses - apparently, riding in one of these is THE thing to do in Killarney. I didn't. I decided to walk around instead of taking the ride.

Ireland - Day 2

Today was a day for driving. We started with a walking tour of Waterford and then headed to Killarney. On the way, we drove through Dungarvan (photo of the Dungarvan harbor above).

We were supposed to have stopped at the Waterford Crystal factory, but it has closed. High salaries and the bad economy closed the famous factory. It's been bought out and the operation to create the crystal has been moved to the Czech Republich (I think). At any rate, if you have Waterford Crystal with the Waterford seahorse on the bottom, it will probably become a collector's item now.

Above is a dog being walked in Cobh (pronounced "Cove"). Lovely place where the Titanic launched from and where many of the Irish emmigrants to the U.S, Australia, Canada and other places left.

Blarney Castle. Yes, I kissed the most unhygenic tourist attraction ever. Not sure if it has given me the gift of the gab, considering I am already quite a talker as it is...

Beautiful red maple on the Blarney Castle grounds.

View of the manor outside Blarney Castle. I believe the owners of this area (they own the Blarney Woolen Mills too) live here.

Lovely woofie outside the Blarney Woolen Mills. This dog was very well behaved and posed quite nicely.

Paddywagon Tour bus. No, I'm not on this tour, but the name cracked me up.

Finally, a shot of the Methodist Church in Killarney, and my view from my hotel window (Killarney Avenue Hotel).

Ireland - Day 1

The trip over from San Francisco to Atlanta was uneventful as was the trip to Dublin. Still, waking up really early is not my forte, nor is taking two flights that start at 8:15 a.m. in one time zone and finish at 8:30 a.m. in another time zone. Plus, flying coach... ugh, cramped!

Still, I am very happy to be here. Adventure #1 getting from Dublin airport to Heuston (pronounced like "Houston") Station. Quick bus ride. Yay for quick! Thought it was pretty Irish to see the Guiness sign behind the station sign.

Here's the view from my room at the Granville Hotel in Waterford.

Continued view from my room.

Something that fascinates me is how we use different terminology from one English speaking country to another. Being American, I call Coke, Sprite, soda, etc "soft drinks". In Ireland, I kept hearing the word "minerals". Had no clue what they meant until I saw the menu... I like it! Though, I wonder about the mineral content in Coke...

I always joke that wherever I go, no matter how small the town, I can always find a Chinese restaurant. So, here's one near my hotel. Had to take a photo :D

And finally, a comic shop. Didn't take a photo of the people inside, but well, they looked no different from the people you find in comic shops in the States.

I did see one adorable woofy who looked like a cross between a wiener dog and a corgi. (Basically, he was a dachshund looking dog who was the size of a corg). He was very well behaved and although he was mostly black, he had a heartshaped white pattern on his behind. Didn't get a photo. Sorry!

Marlene's trip

9 and Chani were not too happy to go to the Kitty Hotel. They hissed at the cage, at the towel, at each other. I'm sure they will calm down soon enough, but I feel such guilt! Yes, I shall have to find some lovely toys or treats for them in Ireland.

Currently, I'm sitting at the Atlanta airport waiting for my connecting flight to Dublin. I have a 3 hour layover and have managed to waste one of those hours paying bills, eating some really bad for me deep fried food at TGI Fridays.

I've been ogling some rolling bags that might fit under the seat in front of me AND carry my camera and my laptop and such... I don't mind carrying my laptop about, BUT it makes my back pack so heavy.

Sigh...

Can't wait to get to Ireland. Do I need to post photos of the Atlanta airport?

Don't worry, Chani

I'll keep you clean. And really, Mom still loves us lots.

What?!?!?!

Furfriends, I have some disturbing news. Mom has just informed us that she is leaving us! She is taking us to the Kitty Hotel tomorrow while she goes off gallivanting across some Pond to a place nicknamed "The Emerald Isle". How dare she not take us with her!

9 did not want to give Mom love at all when she told us this. He has since forgiven her, but I'm not too happy about it. I'll be sure to give her a lot of guilt by not looking at her when she puts me in my room at the Kitty Hotel (I'm an excellent drama Princess and can make Mom feel guilt better than Grandma!)

Well, at least she will meet Grandma and Grandpa over there, and she promises to take lots of pictures and think of us every day. Grrrr...

I shall do my best to have fun at the Kitty Hotel (I'm much better at it than 9), but I'm not too happy about this!

Note from Marlene: Yes, everyone, I'll be heading off to Ireland on Friday. I'm hoping that the Icelandic volcano does not close Dublin Airport. According to the weather forecast, I shall be experiencing a lot of lovely rain and cold temperatures (remember, I'm a wimpy Californian... anything below 60 degree F (15.5 degree C) is cold for me... this whole 14 degrees C high and 7 degree C low is a bit much for me! I'll only be gone for about 5 days and yes, I'll miss 9 and Chani dearly! But, I will take photos and my laptop, so I might post some images from my trip here.

Nose kisses

Chani really is patient with 9, especially when 9 decides to clean the places Chani missed. Nuff said ;)