I've been back from Ireland for a week now. Sorry I haven't posted sooner but still getting back on track from the jet lag.
We had a wonderful time. Everything went according to plan and there were no hitches regarding the prize (airfare, 6 nts at B&Bs, and car rental). On the way back we had to sit on the plane on the tarmac for 4 1/2 hrs before takeoff for a 7 1/2 hr trip. So 12 hrs on the plane! The great thing was before we boarded they had upgraded up to 1st class! Sure made things alot easier. Of course we missed our connecting flights out of JFK so Delta put us all up for the night and rescheduled us for the next day. So instead of getting home at 8:00 pm on Saturday, it was 4:00 pm Sunday. Thank goodness we had Memorial Day off from work.
Ireland was beautiful and the people were very friendly. My husband adjusted fairly well to driving on the left side of the road while sitting on the right side of the car. No accidents thank heavens. The roads aren't marked very well but we only had a couple of backtracks.
We flew into Shannon on Sunday morning and drove to Adare for the night. Very cute little village with lots of thatched roofed houses. On Monday we drove down to the Dingle Peninsula and stayed in Dingle town (via Connor Pass) for 2 nights at O'Neill's B&B. The views coming across the mountains were spectacular! It literally brought tears to my eyes. On Tuesday we did the Slea Head drive around the peninsula and again, outstanding vistas around every curve. Up to this point we had beautiful weather, probably in the low to mid 60s & no rain.
Then on Wednesday we drove up to Doolin (taking the ferry from Tarbert to Kilmer which saves 2 hrs driving time) for 2 nights. Totally different scenery but awe inspiring nonetheless. Alas, the Irish weather came through and we had rain and lots of fog the whole time we were here. We stayed at Emohruo (read it backwards) B&B. Our hostess Margaret was very friendly and informative about the area. On Thursday we drove around the Burren & on Thursday evening about 6:00 the fog lifted enough for us to go to the Cliffs of Moher. WOW!
Friday morning we drove back down to Bunratty and toured the Bunratty Castle and Bunratty Folk Park. I do not see how the women went up and down those narrow, spiral stairways with those long dresses on! We spent our final night at the Bunratty Arms and drove on into Shannon the next morning for our 11:25 flight.
I have 250+ photos on Kodakgallery.com. If anyone would like to see them, send me your email addy & I'll send them to you. (I would attach them here but don't know how!)
This was a trip of a lifetime (mine anyway!) and I probably would never have taken it if I hadn't won it. Keep entering!! You'll be glad you did.
We had a wonderful time. Everything went according to plan and there were no hitches regarding the prize (airfare, 6 nts at B&Bs, and car rental). On the way back we had to sit on the plane on the tarmac for 4 1/2 hrs before takeoff for a 7 1/2 hr trip. So 12 hrs on the plane! The great thing was before we boarded they had upgraded up to 1st class! Sure made things alot easier. Of course we missed our connecting flights out of JFK so Delta put us all up for the night and rescheduled us for the next day. So instead of getting home at 8:00 pm on Saturday, it was 4:00 pm Sunday. Thank goodness we had Memorial Day off from work.
Ireland was beautiful and the people were very friendly. My husband adjusted fairly well to driving on the left side of the road while sitting on the right side of the car. No accidents thank heavens. The roads aren't marked very well but we only had a couple of backtracks.
We flew into Shannon on Sunday morning and drove to Adare for the night. Very cute little village with lots of thatched roofed houses. On Monday we drove down to the Dingle Peninsula and stayed in Dingle town (via Connor Pass) for 2 nights at O'Neill's B&B. The views coming across the mountains were spectacular! It literally brought tears to my eyes. On Tuesday we did the Slea Head drive around the peninsula and again, outstanding vistas around every curve. Up to this point we had beautiful weather, probably in the low to mid 60s & no rain.
Then on Wednesday we drove up to Doolin (taking the ferry from Tarbert to Kilmer which saves 2 hrs driving time) for 2 nights. Totally different scenery but awe inspiring nonetheless. Alas, the Irish weather came through and we had rain and lots of fog the whole time we were here. We stayed at Emohruo (read it backwards) B&B. Our hostess Margaret was very friendly and informative about the area. On Thursday we drove around the Burren & on Thursday evening about 6:00 the fog lifted enough for us to go to the Cliffs of Moher. WOW!
Friday morning we drove back down to Bunratty and toured the Bunratty Castle and Bunratty Folk Park. I do not see how the women went up and down those narrow, spiral stairways with those long dresses on! We spent our final night at the Bunratty Arms and drove on into Shannon the next morning for our 11:25 flight.
I have 250+ photos on Kodakgallery.com. If anyone would like to see them, send me your email addy & I'll send them to you. (I would attach them here but don't know how!)
This was a trip of a lifetime (mine anyway!) and I probably would never have taken it if I hadn't won it. Keep entering!! You'll be glad you did.
