Saturday, June 23, 2012

More of Ireland and More of...well...er...ah..

Saturday has arrived...week of doing nothing except getting back from the trip and a bit of straightening up, Kelly doing laundry, me...I pulled some weeds that had grown 4 feet in the last 3 weeks amid intermittent rains, cooked some meals and rearranged the refrigerator twice (don't ask).

I've spent many hours loading the Irish photos into my shiny new Ireland Dropbox folder and picking ones that I particularly thought were applicable and scenic and all the rest of the reasons people look at pictures.  I think I have about 150 in the folder now and there are more to come.  I took OVER 2000 photos with my formerly (I'll get to that in a few minutes) TRUSTY Nikon S10 Coolpix camera.  That was roughly 1000 photos per day!  I drove most of the days and we were in several different locations on the same day so they are, of course, not exactly organized in the most desirable way (you'd have to consult my daughter Audrey about that organizing business).  They are colorful, scenic, shocking (Belfast!) and striking at times. 

I was really "taken" by the Irish good humor and friendliness we experienced no matter where we were.  Warm greetings, good cheer and a busy, busy atmosphere no matter what town or city we were in.  Seemed pretty productive to us.  Yes there were closed stores here and there, little shops belonging to real people and that had closed the doors maybe forever, maybe just to move.  But there were lots of shops open doing a lively trade everywhere we went, the Celtic Tiger may not be roaring but it's not dead yet either.  We heard that everything was "so expensive"...well for an American coming to Europe for the 1st time it might seem so...but in light of our years in France and other European countries it is not much different with the exception of gasoline and diesel fuel which was about 5-10 Euro cents more expensive per liter.  Made for 2 fillups near 100 USD, familiar territory with the price in France.  Worth every nickle to get to see and experience these fine people and their beautiful, verdant country.  Here's the link to all the one's I've chosen out of the thousands so far...more to come too!

My Ireland Dropbox        <---- click here! Actually There.





Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Emerald Isle, Wonderfully WET! And very GREEN!

Yes we have returned from our nearly three week incognito voyage and journey to the lands of our relatives (well...some of them).  We took the Irish Ferry "Oscar Wilde" from Cherbourg to just south of Dublin about 60 miles to Rosslare, Ireland (The Republic).  Then OFF the lovely ferry of the last 18 hrs of relaxation to the near panic of LEFT, LEFT, LEFT driving in our LEFT hand driver position automobile.  Panic! Gasp! Whew, near miss there...Oops there for the first 30 or so miles in the driving rain and tight traffic.  Gads, this takes some skill and daring!  Balls actually, balls.  Hold your breath so long you sound like your panting when you do. My oh my.  Into Dublin under the direction of Bonnie our faithful (mostly) Tom-Tom voice of The Goddess, on city streets thick with noon-time traffic and roundabouts of all sizes and junctions.  Found the hotel along a non-descript one way road adjacent to the river Liffey.  I, of course never let a road direction stop my activities pulled in against traffic and people scattered allowing US to pass and turn left on the street in front of the apartment we rented with Katie and Paul for the next 4 days.  Finding the front door was easy as it had been described to us as besides a chocolate shoppe on this very street we were on.  We rang the bell...no answer...Katie and Paul were planning to be there so they had the keys and a hint anyway of how one would get into our space.  Yes.  Then a sound of a door, then another, and finally there they were! All smiles and hugs all around we journeyed up on the elevator with our bags to survey the premises.  Seems a few pics are necessary here so here we go...1st bunch are about our departure from Cherbourg.

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The Oscar Wilde's Twin at her mooring.

We joined the crowd on deck.


Two sailboats entering Cherbourg's harbor.

One of several forts on the outer breakwater.

The last one of the forts, very impressive!