Week 5 - Ireland

Cliffs on Moher in Ireland

I am behind in the blog again.

  Week 5 included going on a 4 day trip to Ireland.  My mother-in-law, Ann and her husband Dan traveled with us from Nottingham England to Dublin on Ryanain last Thursday.  We boarded a green tour bus called the "Paddywagon" on Friday morning and spent the next 3 days touring southwestern Ireland.  We stayed in Galway on the coast and went to Killarney and Cliffs of Moher.  That was the most beautiful site we saw. 
Prior to getting to the cliffs we stopped along the road and climbed up hills that were completely stone -- not the green grassy hills you expect.  The kids built their own mini standing stones and carved their names on a large rock to mark they had been there.  That was Jacob's favorite thing.

We also rode a horse and buggy around a national park in Killarney.  Erica was asked to drive the horse and sit with the driver.  She sat beaming a wide smile through rain and mist and didn't care one bit.  That is all she talked about for days.  She says it is her favorite thing we have done on this trip so far.  The horse was named Rosie -- I told her David would be pleased in honor of his Cincy Reds.

We finished our trip to Ireland by climbing up the very narrow and very tall spiral staircases up Blarney Castle and kissed the famous stone.  That is not easy to do.  Laying on your back with your head down into a hole in the rain is a bit unnerving.  But we did it.  Erica was so brave didn't question doing it one bit. 

This is another castle we stopped at -- Bunratty Castle.  Near Cliffs of Moher in the O-Brien lands

 Behind the cliffs of Moher. It was sunny and beautiful but very windy!!

 

Heading to York for the day on Saturday Oct. 6.  Planning to see the Viking "city" that has been uncovered -- Jorvik Center and the city walls and gates.  Also have to go to the National Railroad museum -- it is free and full of steam engines for Jacob to enjoy.  Also the largest gothic style cathedral in Europe.