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| A trip to Ireland (Read 893 times) |
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| view log Wish I were there |
posted: 4/25/2008 at 5:21 PM
modified: 4/25/2008 at 6:48 PM |
| Quote from sholtsman on 4/25/2008 at 4:27 PM: LOVE the pictures!! Looks like so much fun. I can't wait to go back to Europe - Ireland and Scotland (with a visit to Freckles) are on my list! I'd like to add a few more stamps to my passport before it expires next year.
What was your favorite part/place? What kind of souveniers did you bring back for the kids?
Thank you. It was fun and since this was my first time outside of the US it was a learning experience for me in many ways.
We were supposed to go to Scotland but the trip proved to be more tiring for my uncle than he had thought it would be. My uncle had the best time of his life, he loved every day there.
My favorite was driving through the Glens up along the coast. We drove on some back roads that were very narrow (one car wide) and steep. We had to stop a couple of times for sheep crossing.
One of my favorite things was going to a movie premier. I got to meet producer Terry George. It was pretty exciting.
Mostly, I enjoyed seeing my aunt and uncle have such a wonderful time. For my uncle this trip has meant the most. After we got back he found out that he has to have heart surgery, and also surgery on his legs for circulation. He'll be 75 next month and we're all very worried.
Here we are after the Bushmills tour. My uncle, my aunt, our friend, me (with my first ever Hot Toddy).
I didn't buy that many souveniers, everything was expensive with our US dollar worth half the value of a pound. I bought a very cute lamb stuffed animal that baas when you squeeze it's face - it's one of those things that will probably annoy me after a while.  I also got the older kids some clothes. A Queen's University sweatshirt for my 16 y/o son and a Ulster's rugby shirt for my 13 y/o son, a cool Ireland t-shirt for my daughter and one for my husband as well. I bought my daughter a book from Ireland, she loves to read.
I bought a lot of linens since we were invited and went on two private tours at two different linen factories. That was pretty amazing actually. Getting to see behind the scenes. I learned a lot and now appreciate fine linens.
My aunt bought me a sweater, so I have my authentic wool sweater from Ireland. I bought myself sunglasses. I needed them.
Oh, and candy. I bought a TON of candy for the kids and for my friends. They all loved it. Especially Smarties. My favorite are the Munchies.
My best souvenier is my photo album. 
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~Michelle
Southeastern PA Group
Know what's weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change, but pretty soon...everything's different. - Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes |
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| view log Wish I were there |
posted: 4/25/2008 at 6:50 PM |
How about this for marketing...
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~Michelle
Southeastern PA Group
Know what's weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change, but pretty soon...everything's different. - Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes |
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| view log Wish I were there |
posted: 4/25/2008 at 8:44 PM |
| Quote from Dragon76 on 4/25/2008 at 4:50 PM: Love the photos, Michelle. The one of the pint of Guiness was especially great.
Glad you had such a wonderful time.
Guinness has earned respect from me. Until this trip I have never even tasted the stuff. Now I think it's awesome! I couldn't wait until we got to the pub each time we went out, just so I could order a pint of Guinness. Then, just to mix it up I had Harp after having Guinness.
One of the events we went to served wine and beer afterwards, and when I looked around the room I was the ONLY woman with a beer in her hand, all the other women were drinking wine. I felt completely out of place, but I didn't let that stop me from enjoying my beer.
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~Michelle
Southeastern PA Group
Know what's weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change, but pretty soon...everything's different. - Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes |
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JoJo! |
posted: 4/29/2008 at 3:32 PM |
Wow - those pictures are great! The running paths - love them! Glad you had safe travels! Welcome home!
Kelly |
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RAer |
posted: 4/29/2008 at 3:36 PM |
Welcome back. Glad the trip was good.
Ireland is beautiful -- I was there in the eighties. |
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| view log No one's nemesis |
posted: 4/29/2008 at 3:58 PM |
| Very cool, Michelle. Great photos! Thanks for sharing and glad you were able to enjoy the trip. I pray your uncle does (did) well with his surgery. |
Rick
"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." - Juma Ikangaa
"I wanna go fast." Ricky Bobby
runningforcassy.blogspot.com
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| view log Wish I were there |
posted: 4/29/2008 at 4:27 PM |
| Quote from MissPratt on 4/29/2008 at 3:32 PM: Wow - those pictures are great! The running paths - love them! Glad you had safe travels! Welcome home!
Kelly
Thank you! I really enjoyed running in the woods but with our busy schedule and then my own fears of running alone I didn't get the mileage in I was hoping to.
Travels were safe! I HATE flying so I was very nervous about it.
Quote from RAer on 4/29/2008 at 3:36 PM:Welcome back. Glad the trip was good.
Ireland is beautiful -- I was there in the eighties.
Ireland is beautiful and so are the people there. Everyone was very nice too, it made trying new things easier knowing that we'd be greeted by smiling faces. I do regret not seeing more of the country. We stayed in Belfast a majority of the time and I'm NOT a city girl at all.
Quote from rvelich on 4/29/2008 at 3:58 PM:Very cool, Michelle. Great photos! Thanks for sharing and glad you were able to enjoy the trip. I pray your uncle does (did) well with his surgery.
Thank you. My uncle is such a great man, it breaks my heart to see age getting the best of him.
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~Michelle
Southeastern PA Group
Know what's weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change, but pretty soon...everything's different. - Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes |
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Outee |
posted: 5/15/2008 at 3:44 PM |
Mississippi,
Glad you enjoyed hols over here!
We rarely call them "Hot Toddy's" - More a Scottish/English term and they never taste as good over there! |
"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."
Goals:
Sub 40 10k (achieved 21.06.2008, 38:59)
Sub 39 10k again (achieved 11.08.2008, 38:46)
Sub 38 10k
stay injury free! |
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| view log |
posted: 5/16/2008 at 10:04 PM |
I grew up on the Antrim Coast - your pictures of the coast almost matched mine from my last trip home! Growing up, we didn't even blink at the width of the roads - now I'm amazed.
The dollar will have to grow stronger before I go back again 
I am so glad you got to enjoy my homeland. |
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