Wow and we thought Dublin was crazy!!! This place is all sorts of insanity!
We got here this morning and checked into our closet, literally, we rearranged furniture just so we could put our backpacks down and walk at the same time. Also we have a shower, but the bathroom is down the hall and there is NO privacy there... This is going to be a little bit of an adjustment for me but Kevin assures me we will be just fine :)
And so, on we go!! We jumped on a double decker bus and took a tour around the city which was delightful. We sat on top, uncovered in the sun and wind and listened to all kinds of interesting things about the city while taking amazing
pictures. We talked afterward about how it still hasn't really sunk in that we are here and what we just saw was the REAL Big Ben or Westminster or Tower Bridge (aka the London Bridge). And everywhere you turn there is another building that we just have to stop and be in awe for a second. It is the most incredibly beautiful architecture we have ever seen!
We also went to the Tower of London, a castle from 1090, which was another mind blowing thing to think about and see. And had amazing Pasties for dinner (thanks Ronda) and are now sitting back in our closet eating Haagen-Dazs that Kev just surprised me with!!
Must go before he eats it all! Lots of love!!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Leaving Dublin
Today was a mellow last day in Dublin. We did some shopping, went to a delicious lunch walked to Saint Patricks cathedral (which was breath taking) and drank coffee in the sun sitting alongside the Liffey river. To finish the day off we went and had a beer at O'Neills.
We are packed up and going to bed early because we have to get up at 5:45 to catch our flight to London and we are feeling a bit torn. We are excited to move on and start exploring a new town, but we are feeling really comfortable around this city now and are able to find things without our trusty map. We have learned how to get all over town, how to drive, and the correct way to order coffee here (the necessities) which will all be new each stop. London's list of things to do is the longest of the four stops so the minute our feet hit the ground we will be off and moving by direction of a brand new map! The weather in London is 75 and sunshine, which means we can pack our coats away and probably leave them packed the rest of the trip!
Thanks so much for following us through Ireland, we have so many more stories to share with you that there is just not enough time to post, and we have about 300 pictures so far. Yikes.
Talk to you soon... from England!!!
We are packed up and going to bed early because we have to get up at 5:45 to catch our flight to London and we are feeling a bit torn. We are excited to move on and start exploring a new town, but we are feeling really comfortable around this city now and are able to find things without our trusty map. We have learned how to get all over town, how to drive, and the correct way to order coffee here (the necessities) which will all be new each stop. London's list of things to do is the longest of the four stops so the minute our feet hit the ground we will be off and moving by direction of a brand new map! The weather in London is 75 and sunshine, which means we can pack our coats away and probably leave them packed the rest of the trip!
Thanks so much for following us through Ireland, we have so many more stories to share with you that there is just not enough time to post, and we have about 300 pictures so far. Yikes.
Talk to you soon... from England!!!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Day three
Another eventful day here in Dublin! My extremely brave husband wanted to rent a car and drive across Ireland to see the west coast... I, on the other hand thought this was a terrible idea seeing how everything about driving here is opposite what we are used to and they are crazy drivers!!! Of course, the hubby won and off we drove, on the wrong side of the road across Ireland.
We drove to Galway and then to this adorable little town called Kilvarna to eat lunch. After lunch we drove even further south to see the cliffs of Moher. These were incredible 650 foot sheer cliffs into the Atlantic ocean that we were able to stand just feet away from the edge with no barriers! I found this to be a big thrill, kevin however, did not care for me being so close and told me a had to stay on the paths. What a thing to see!!
Our drive in total was about six hours, with at least two hours of that being completely white knuckled. We were driving down windey roads approx 12 feet wide, a sixty mile an hour speed limit and tour busses coming towards us. Sometimes the branches on the side of the road with scrape across my window and I would hold my breath or scream as Kevin would say "I feel like I'm driving on a go-cart track!" and speed up. Not exactly relaxing, but indeed beautiful!! The scene from PS I Love You where she is walking up the road and it's green hills, silence, little rock walls, farms and sheep... That's where we spent all day today. It truly is an amazing countryside and it was nice to get out of the city for the day.
Tomorrow we return the death mobile (thank god) and spend our last day roaming around Dublin. Today on our drive however we picked out a beautiful house to buy here in Ireland....
Relax Mom, it rains as much here as it does there, we are buying a house somewhere sunnier we decided!
Until tomorrow...
We drove to Galway and then to this adorable little town called Kilvarna to eat lunch. After lunch we drove even further south to see the cliffs of Moher. These were incredible 650 foot sheer cliffs into the Atlantic ocean that we were able to stand just feet away from the edge with no barriers! I found this to be a big thrill, kevin however, did not care for me being so close and told me a had to stay on the paths. What a thing to see!!
Our drive in total was about six hours, with at least two hours of that being completely white knuckled. We were driving down windey roads approx 12 feet wide, a sixty mile an hour speed limit and tour busses coming towards us. Sometimes the branches on the side of the road with scrape across my window and I would hold my breath or scream as Kevin would say "I feel like I'm driving on a go-cart track!" and speed up. Not exactly relaxing, but indeed beautiful!! The scene from PS I Love You where she is walking up the road and it's green hills, silence, little rock walls, farms and sheep... That's where we spent all day today. It truly is an amazing countryside and it was nice to get out of the city for the day.
Tomorrow we return the death mobile (thank god) and spend our last day roaming around Dublin. Today on our drive however we picked out a beautiful house to buy here in Ireland....
Relax Mom, it rains as much here as it does there, we are buying a house somewhere sunnier we decided!
Until tomorrow...
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Dublin day two...
Today I am blogging sitting next to kev in the grass, in the sun, watching kids play and eating lunch in Phoenix park. Does life get any better than this?
We went this morning and did a tour around trinity college in Dublin. The college was founded in the sixteenth century but the buildings themselves were built in the eighteenth century and were amazingly beautiful! The college also houses the book of kells which is about 3000 years old. There is just unbelievable amounts of history here and it is pretty mind boggling.
Next we walked to the Jameson distillery and looked around, and then to the park for lunch. We have walked about six miles so far today and it's only 1:30! Now we are off to Kevins highlight of Dublin, THE GUINNESS BREWERY! We walked by it on our way to the park and he was giddy. And we fully intend (after the tour of course) to sit in the gravity bar atop the brewery and toast our pints to the Stumps, Dave and the Strapples! We know you guys are as excited about that place as Kevin is :)
And now we are off, walking again, just enjoying looking at everything... I wish we could post pictures for you all to see, but I'm sure you will see way too many when we get home! Cheers!!!
We went this morning and did a tour around trinity college in Dublin. The college was founded in the sixteenth century but the buildings themselves were built in the eighteenth century and were amazingly beautiful! The college also houses the book of kells which is about 3000 years old. There is just unbelievable amounts of history here and it is pretty mind boggling.
Next we walked to the Jameson distillery and looked around, and then to the park for lunch. We have walked about six miles so far today and it's only 1:30! Now we are off to Kevins highlight of Dublin, THE GUINNESS BREWERY! We walked by it on our way to the park and he was giddy. And we fully intend (after the tour of course) to sit in the gravity bar atop the brewery and toast our pints to the Stumps, Dave and the Strapples! We know you guys are as excited about that place as Kevin is :)
And now we are off, walking again, just enjoying looking at everything... I wish we could post pictures for you all to see, but I'm sure you will see way too many when we get home! Cheers!!!
Monday, June 28, 2010
We made it!!
After a slightly eventful flight we are in Dublin! Our flight leaving PDX left an hour late and was able to rebook everyone on the flight except the two passengers traveling to Dublin due to their not being anymore flights out of Chicago today. Nice. So we RAN through Ohare had to take a tram, recheck in and go back through security and made it with like five minutes to spare. So much for eating dinner there. But when we opened the shade on the window seven hours later to the most amazing sunrise, it all seemed worth it.
Amazingly enough when we got here it was morning, again, so we have not really slept in 24 hours. I was able to sleep about three hours on the plane but Kevin only slept an hour and is feeling it for sure right now since this is the first time we have sat. We hit the ground running today and have already marked some things off our do to list, like the amazing Dublin Castle. We have also already sat and talked with some uber friendly Irish people ( i make kev ask them questions because I love to hear them talk) and are starting to get our barings in this BUSY city. Our hotel is right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle and is SUPER convient since we are walking everywhere. We haven't actually got in the room yet so I haven't been able to search for bed bugs, although I can't say I would be overly surprised :)
Please excuse any typos and keep mind I am typing all of this on ou iPod so it may not be very detailed or well done, I apologize!
Tonight we will search for a firestation to trade a teeshirt with and shop a little then we will SLEEP. Thanks for following and we'll post again soon!
Side note- one big downfall- we asked for ranch for our frenchfries and the people looked at us like we were crazy! They don't know what it is!! How will we make it without ranch?
It
Amazingly enough when we got here it was morning, again, so we have not really slept in 24 hours. I was able to sleep about three hours on the plane but Kevin only slept an hour and is feeling it for sure right now since this is the first time we have sat. We hit the ground running today and have already marked some things off our do to list, like the amazing Dublin Castle. We have also already sat and talked with some uber friendly Irish people ( i make kev ask them questions because I love to hear them talk) and are starting to get our barings in this BUSY city. Our hotel is right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle and is SUPER convient since we are walking everywhere. We haven't actually got in the room yet so I haven't been able to search for bed bugs, although I can't say I would be overly surprised :)
Please excuse any typos and keep mind I am typing all of this on ou iPod so it may not be very detailed or well done, I apologize!
Tonight we will search for a firestation to trade a teeshirt with and shop a little then we will SLEEP. Thanks for following and we'll post again soon!
Side note- one big downfall- we asked for ranch for our frenchfries and the people looked at us like we were crazy! They don't know what it is!! How will we make it without ranch?
It
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Getting Close...
Have you heard the Zac Brown Band's new song "Free"? It is a beautiful song!!!! And... every time I hear it I think of Kevin and I on our upcoming trip. If you change some of the lyrics (like "old van" into "backpack"), it doesn't rhyme anymore, but it fits perfectly :) This trip is definitely going to be across this land, just me and you, and we are for sure going to be "just as free as we'll EVER be"!!!
(Violin playing)
So we live out in our old van
Travel all across this land
Me and you
And we'll end up hand in hand
Somewhere down on the sand
Just me and you
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
We'll drive until the city lights
Dissolve into a country sky
Just me and you
Lay underneath the harvest moon
Do all the things that lovers do
Just me and you
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
And ever be
No we don't have a lot of money
No we don't have a lot of money
No we don't have a lot of money
No we don't have a lot of money
All we need is love
We're free as we'll ever be
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
So we live out in our old van
Travel all across this land
Me and you
Friday, June 11, 2010
Busy, Busy, Busy!
With the school year slowing to an end, it feels like our lives are just getting ready to hit fast forward!
Everything is turning into a mad dash of getting things finished and wrapped up "before we leave." Kevin has been madly trying to finish up the garden space, working even in the pouring down rain (because there is no other option if he wants to get it finished), but will be mostly finished with it by this afternoon. He feels like it is a good stopping point for while we are gone, but as soon as we are home the yard work starts again!
I have been working like crazy, and just trying to get my life in order and things organized before we take off. On top of everything we decided to take the girls on a quick trip to Cannon Beach before we leave. Kevin wanted to give them one last hur-rah so that they know how much we love them before we abandon them at the kennel, and there is no place they love more than the beach. So, we will be packing up to spend three days at a beach house with the girls and the fam on June 20th-22nd. Once we get back from there we only have 5 days until we are on the plane headed for Dublin! We have lots to do in those five days and may be sorry that we took a trip so close to a major trip, but I'm sure the girls will think it was worth it!!!
I haven't had a lot of time lately to keep this updated, but hope you will all follow us on our travels around Europe in 16 days! I cannot believe it is this close! We are both starting to get a little nervous because traveling out of a backpack and being gone for this long of period of time are things we have never done, but even more than nervous we are excited!
Keep checking back because I have promised my mom that we will do quick updates (hopefully) every evening while traveling so she knows we are still alive, seeing as how we will not be calling.
Happy end of the school year everyone!!!!!!
Everything is turning into a mad dash of getting things finished and wrapped up "before we leave." Kevin has been madly trying to finish up the garden space, working even in the pouring down rain (because there is no other option if he wants to get it finished), but will be mostly finished with it by this afternoon. He feels like it is a good stopping point for while we are gone, but as soon as we are home the yard work starts again!
I have been working like crazy, and just trying to get my life in order and things organized before we take off. On top of everything we decided to take the girls on a quick trip to Cannon Beach before we leave. Kevin wanted to give them one last hur-rah so that they know how much we love them before we abandon them at the kennel, and there is no place they love more than the beach. So, we will be packing up to spend three days at a beach house with the girls and the fam on June 20th-22nd. Once we get back from there we only have 5 days until we are on the plane headed for Dublin! We have lots to do in those five days and may be sorry that we took a trip so close to a major trip, but I'm sure the girls will think it was worth it!!!
I haven't had a lot of time lately to keep this updated, but hope you will all follow us on our travels around Europe in 16 days! I cannot believe it is this close! We are both starting to get a little nervous because traveling out of a backpack and being gone for this long of period of time are things we have never done, but even more than nervous we are excited!
Keep checking back because I have promised my mom that we will do quick updates (hopefully) every evening while traveling so she knows we are still alive, seeing as how we will not be calling.
Happy end of the school year everyone!!!!!!
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