It finally rained in Ireland

5 days into our trip, and we finally saw rain today. In fact, it rained all day, often heavily.

We started the day with breakfast in the hotel restaurant. It sure was hard to get out of bed this morning. The room is so cozy, and I'm fighting a cold. I guess yesterday's exhaustion was a little more than exhaustion. By the time I went to bed last night, I was completely stuffed up and sneezing, and my ears were burning. Of course, Scott made me take my temperature at least 4 times to confirm I didn't have a fever. I didn't. I'm feeling a bit better today thanks to Mucinex.

After breakfast, we went to Giant's Causeway and hiked around a bit. The formations are incredible. There's plenty of folklore to go with the strange shapes rising from the ground, but geologists have noted that it's the result of a volcanic eruption from the 4th millenium BC. These polygonal columns of layered basalt are the only World Heritage Site in Ireland.

After exploring Giant's Causeway for a couple of hours, we headed toward Dunluce Castle, but went the wrong way. We stumbled upon the small ruins of Dunseverick Castle instead. And just across the road, I finally got a prized picture of a sheep. :-) I can't post it until we get home though. We can only upload Scott's photos while on the trip.

We then turned around and headed to Dunluce Castle, but when we got there it was pouring rain. We stopped in at Wee Cottage for coffee, tea, soup and a cake to bide our time while the rain died down, but the rain never died down. We didn't want to pay to tour the castle ruins in the rain, so we took a couple of quick photos and vowed to return tomorrow morning if it was less rainy.

Instead, we spent the rainy day inside at Old Bushmill's Distillery, another whiskey making facility. The tour was much different than the one at Jameson because it's an operating distillery. At the conclusion of the tour, we got the obligatory tasting. Scott opted for a Black Bush; I took a special whiskey made for the company's 400 year anniversary that crystalized the barley by heating it to a higher temperature than usual (I believe it was the Bushmills 1608). Boy, was it strong! I preferred the Jameson, but then again mine was mixed with cranberry juice there.

We walked around the very small town a bit and just rested until it was time for dinner tonight. This time, we made it down to the restaurant for a nice meal.

Tomorrow, we explore the countryside a bit more and stay in a hotel nearer the airport in preparation for our flight to Scotland on Sunday.

From Dublin to Bushmills

Today, I'm exhausted. Poor me, right?!? All this international travel has worn me out. Yeah, I know you feel sorry for me. Nonetheless, I'm exhausted, so forgive any ramblings below that don't make sense.

After a hearty breakfast, we headed back to the Dublin airport to pick up our rental car. There were some rental car places in town, but the ones at the airport seemed to be more accustomed to picking up in one location and dropping off in another, especially since we are leaving the car in a different country. Just let me say, I hate the rental car process. It's never simple, and it's so tough to tell what you really need and what they're trying to upsell you on just to make extra money. A fee for this, a fee for that. But, once that was over and done with, we were on our way from Dublin, Ireland to Bushmills, Northern Ireland (UK).

Scott had driven on the "wrong" side of the road on the "wrong" side of the car when we were in New Zealand, so it was relatively easy for him to pick up again. We got an automatic because shifting gears with the "wrong" hand was just one too many elements to add to our navigation. I'm sure he could have done it, but why bother when you don't have to. There are a lot of roundabouts here. Practically every intersection on our route was a roundabout. They're easy once you get used to them, but at first going the "wrong" way and yielding to the right can mess with your head.

Anyway, we could have made it here in under 3 hours if we'd taken the quickest route via highway for more of the trip, but we wanted to explore the countryside a bit and try to find a church that was just off the road we were taken where some of my distant relatives were married, buried, etc. Dilworth, Cross, Hazelton (and various related spellings). It's St. Andrew's Church (Church of Ireland) near the town of Moy in a small community called Killyman. We actually found it rather easily and fortunately just after a wedding had concluded. There were a few folks there packing up lingering decorations and the bridesmaid bouquets. I thought it was rather odd to have a wedding ceremony in the middle of the day on a Thursday, but I don't know the customs here.

So, the route we took (which would have been approx. 3 hours without any stops) became a 5 or 6 hour journey after we stopped for lunch, got cash at an ATM (the currency changed when we crossed the country line), took a detour to the church, took some photos, etc. It was a pleasurable trip, but now I'm exhausted. Not to mention the past 3 days of walking in Dublin. I think we tallied almost 15 miles.

As expected, we saw lots of sheep (and cows) once we got into the country. I don't have any photos yet, but I'm sure we'll manage a couple in the next few days...although I never managed to take a stellar photo of any sheep while in New Zealand.

We're staying at Bushmills Inn for the next couple of nights. It's a very nice hotel with structures (the old coach house and stables) dating back to 1608. Our room is very large yet homey, there are cozy reading nooks down the halls, a fine dining restaurant downstairs and plenty of amenities--including the room service that I'm so glad to have tonight otherwise it might be a feast of gummie bears and Dr. Pepper because I don't have enough energy to make it out to even the most low-key restaurant tonight. You may notice the American flag flying over the restaurant in the photograph to the right. I asked the receptionist why that was and she said they rotate it out and try to fly the flag of the home country of the guest that flew the farthest. Not sure if that's us or not as there's at least one other American couple here as we heard their voices in the lobby after their round of golf.

So, with that tidbit, we're off to look at the room service menu. :-)

Dublin Day 3

This morning I visited my company's office in Dublin. It was an easy walk across St. Stephen's Green to get that. What a nice commute that would be each day! It was interesting to learn a bit about the office, the similarities with my office in Atlanta, the differences, etc.

I got back to the hotel mid-day, and we headed out to lunch. As I noted earlier, vacations revolve around food. After lunch, we continued our walk to the Old Jameson Distillery. We took a tour where we learned about the whiskey making process then enjoyed a sample. Scott had his neat (i.e. plain, no ice). I had a Jameson and cranberry juice. We bought a few souvenirs, then started our trek back to the hotel. (Tomorrow, we head to Bushmills; pretty soon, you'll think we're lushes.)

We did a bit more window shopping and took a number of photos of cute alleyways with flower-lined balconies, including those in the Temple Bar area. Then stopped in at a coffeehouse for coffee and cake before getting back to the hotel.

As I'm typing this, it doesn't seem that we've done much today. Yet, it was a full 7-hour excursion. Again, tons of walking...but we gotta work off our meals somehow.

Tomorrow, we leave Dublin for Northern Ireland. We're renting a car and will surely explore lots of country backroads along the way.

Dublin Day 2

It was a very warm day in Dublin--approximately 75 degrees Fahrenheit according to an outdoor temperature sign we saw...and I'd believe it. It was considerably warmer than yesterday and almost too warm for my thin longsleeve shirt, especially to be walking as much as we were. The sun was out as well, and it was a very pretty day.

We started with breakfast in our hotel, then a nap before venturing out to the Guinness Storehouse. Along the way, we saw several historic sights, including Christ Church Cathedral (founded in 1030 and located in the heart of medieval Dublin). We also stopped at Dublin Castle, founded in 1204.

But most of our day was spent at the Guinness Storehouse--touring the old storehouse (the fermentation plant for the brewery from 1904 to 1988), learning about the brewing process, eating lunch, sampling the beer, etc. There were great views of the city from the Gravity bar at the top of the building (7th floor).

All total, we walked about 5 miles, so we're back at the hotel room resting for a bit before heading out to dinner. Funny, how on vacation it seems that it's always time to eat.

More tomorrow...

Day 1 in Dublin

We arrived in Dublin around 10 a.m. local time today and took a taxi to our hotel--Stauntons on the Green. It was constructed in 1750 and was originally the terrace of 3 Georgian houses. The room wasn't yet ready for our check in when we arrived, so we left to walk around a bit.

The hotel is immediately across from St. Stephen's Green, a 22-acre public park. So, we strolled through the park, then walked along Grafton Street, a popular shopping area to do a little window shopping and pick up a couple of items we forgot at the drug store. We ate a late breakfast just before noon (our 2nd breakfast since we ate on the plane as well). We had a breakfast sandwich--sausage, bacon, and fried egg between two thin slices of white bread. Healthy! ;-) Yea, right. At least we walked some of it off.

The weather is a bit chilly when the sun isn't out, but I'm generally okay wearing a long sleeve shirt and hoodie. I did have to put on a scarf when we sat down to eat because it was a bit breezy in the outdoor area we were sitting, and it's naturally warmer when you're out walking. The sun would peak through every now and then when we were sitting in the park watching the ducks and other birds. The park was rather crowded when we walked back through on the way to the hotel around 1:30 p.m. Lots of families, tourists and nearby office workers enjoying their lunch outdoors.

We took a nap when we got back to the room because we didn't get much sleep on the plane and what we did get was a bit uncomfortable. With free internet at the hotel, we were able to check in on e-mail, Facebook, etc. and provide this brief update on our blog. Now, time to start thinking about what we'll do for dinner and where we'll explore tomorrow.

Global phone is set up...missing my Droid X already (sorry Blackberry). We depart in approximately 8 hours.

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The next voyage begins in

The next voyage begins in T minus 2 days! Ireland and Scotland here we come.