Hi everyone. I'm in Killarney, Ireland right now in an internet cafe. Steph and I started to updated the blog but this computer is very slow so I'll finish another time.
So far we've been to Dublin then we went to Edinburgh & Carnoustie Scotland for a few days. We went to the Open. On our way to the Open, we met a local from Edinburgh on the train. Hi Jamie!
The Open and meeting Jamie was great! We were not there on Sunday to see Padraig win though. After Scotland, we came back to Ireland and we started our tour.
We started in Adare, with Catherine driving of course....and then we started the "Ring of Kerry" drive. It's amazing.
We stopped in Waterville and met some interesting people! We loved it. We hung out with Marty Schottenheimer and his 7 friends for a night. Tons of fun and lots of beer, Irish whiskey and some coffee to go with the Whiskey. Great night!
After Waterville, we continued the drive and stopped in Killarney. We are here now in Killarney and will be here another day then we're off to Kinsdale.
More details and photos to come....when I find an internet cafe with faster connections.
We're having a great time....despite the rainy, chilly weather! Miss everyone!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Dublin Decker "Hop On Hop Off" Bus Tour!
Steph and I did the double decker hop on hop off tourist bus tour. We rode all around Dublin (in the rain on the top level - no cover) and learned a lot about the city and its attractions (besides Guinness).
We toured Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells, saw Bono and Edge's apartment/hotel in Dublin, St. Patrick's Cathedral, all the bridges, local neighborhoods, Temple Bar neighborhood and random parks.
It was a great day. I totally forgot where we went to dinner that night but I'm sure it included a few beers as well. We do like Guinness. yum.
We toured Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells, saw Bono and Edge's apartment/hotel in Dublin, St. Patrick's Cathedral, all the bridges, local neighborhoods, Temple Bar neighborhood and random parks.
It was a great day. I totally forgot where we went to dinner that night but I'm sure it included a few beers as well. We do like Guinness. yum.
Guinness Tour!
We had a great time. It was an excellent tour and we learned a lot! We had a complimentary pint after the tour. We opted for the half pint though because we didn't want to get too tipsy and plus...embarrassing to say....we didn't know if we would like Guinness, we hadn't tried it in the US. We both loved it. It's not as heavy as we thought. It was delicious. We highly recommend the Guinness tour if anyone goes to Dublin.
Oh, it rained today, but it didn't matter, we were inside the Guinness brewery!
Question...does anyone know what makes Guinness the dark color? Michael Laffey....I bet you know. :)
Oh, it rained today, but it didn't matter, we were inside the Guinness brewery!
Question...does anyone know what makes Guinness the dark color? Michael Laffey....I bet you know. :)
Steph and I arrive in Ireland!
Steph and I both arrived in Dublin on July 17th. Our friend Catherine had a big 2 weeks planned for us. We were so excited to be there even though it was rainy and cold. As you'll read "rainy and cold" will be a theme of our Ireland trip.
We actually think that you can get all 4 seasons in one day in Ireland! No doubt! Always have a sweater, your rain gear, sunglasses and an umbrella with you at all times!
Steph and I did what everyone does when they arrive in Ireland, we had a few drinks! We had some beers and went to a place called Harry's for dinner. We thought, "Oh Harry's....great, your typical Irish pub....! YEAH!" It was not, it was an Italian bistro. Oh well, it was still delicious.
We had a few more drinks then went to sleep early for because we had a big day of touring Dublin coming up.
Let's hope for sunny skies! HA!
We actually think that you can get all 4 seasons in one day in Ireland! No doubt! Always have a sweater, your rain gear, sunglasses and an umbrella with you at all times!
Steph and I did what everyone does when they arrive in Ireland, we had a few drinks! We had some beers and went to a place called Harry's for dinner. We thought, "Oh Harry's....great, your typical Irish pub....! YEAH!" It was not, it was an Italian bistro. Oh well, it was still delicious.
We had a few more drinks then went to sleep early for because we had a big day of touring Dublin coming up.
Let's hope for sunny skies! HA!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Today is Monday, July 16th...where I am and what´s next....A Jewish Irishman!
Today is my last day in Sitges, Spain. Tomorrow, I´m off to Ireland. I´m meeting Stephanie and Catherine. Catherine booked a full 2 week adventure for us through Ireland and Scotland. I´m so excited! Let´s just hope it stops raining in Ireland and Scotland! Let´s hope for nice, warm weather. HA...good one.
Debbie´s husband, Andy, will be in Ireland with a bunch if his friends celebrating his 40th birthday. We´ll be in Killarney the same days so hopefully we can have a few beers together! That would be a great time.
I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I´m really excited about visiting Ireland and Scotland. Everyone says I´ll love it.
Seamus, the Horans, and the Laffeys all think I´ll meet my husband in Ireland. We´ll see!
Mom, maybe he´ll be a Jewish Irishman!
Bye,
Les
Debbie´s husband, Andy, will be in Ireland with a bunch if his friends celebrating his 40th birthday. We´ll be in Killarney the same days so hopefully we can have a few beers together! That would be a great time.
I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I´m really excited about visiting Ireland and Scotland. Everyone says I´ll love it.
Seamus, the Horans, and the Laffeys all think I´ll meet my husband in Ireland. We´ll see!
Mom, maybe he´ll be a Jewish Irishman!
Bye,
Les
OY VEY....Marianne, Mom, is coming out for a TEN DAY visit!
Oh yes, Mom is visiting me. We are meeting in Brussels on August 17 and we´re traveling until August 27. That means 10 days with Mom. Lynne is laughing, I know it! I think everyone is laughing!
We are planning on visiting Brussels, Amsterdam and maybe Paris. Let´s hope we can spend 10 days together without killing each other.
Just kidding Mom, I´m very excited for you to visit. Robin told me that I should probably stay a little tipsy for the entire 10 days. I think that´s a good idea. Ma, maybe I´ll get you to drink as much as I do. You too can have the nickname Tipsy.
I think everyone knows my mom. We laugh a lot together and I think people laugh AT us together. I know we´ll have a great trip. I´ll be sure to keep everyone updated. I´m sure the blog entries over mom´s visit will be interesting!
Ma, I´m sure you already starting packing! I´m looking forward to our travels.
OY VEY!
We are planning on visiting Brussels, Amsterdam and maybe Paris. Let´s hope we can spend 10 days together without killing each other.
Just kidding Mom, I´m very excited for you to visit. Robin told me that I should probably stay a little tipsy for the entire 10 days. I think that´s a good idea. Ma, maybe I´ll get you to drink as much as I do. You too can have the nickname Tipsy.
I think everyone knows my mom. We laugh a lot together and I think people laugh AT us together. I know we´ll have a great trip. I´ll be sure to keep everyone updated. I´m sure the blog entries over mom´s visit will be interesting!
Ma, I´m sure you already starting packing! I´m looking forward to our travels.
OY VEY!
Lessons Learned, Random Thoughts...Really just stuff I write down
1. I haven´t been using my travel books as much as I depend more on the web and personal recommendations. The books are heavy so they´re probably going to be shipped home.
2. I don´t have a home right now...shipping home really means shipping to Stephanie´s apartment in NYC. Thanks Steph!
3. I bet the U.S. has just as many gorgeous places as Europe. I just have to visit them next!
4. Stockholm is my favorite airport so far. They have a great internet cafe, good snacks and it was very clean and organized.
5. I definitely prefer smaller towns over larger citites. No doubt! I feel more comfortable in smaller towns.
6. Many hotels offer a breakfast buffet included in your room rate. This is great, except I realized that when people walk through the buffet they run into you. No one looks where they are going...too busy staring at the eggs.
7. I still get nervous each time I wait for my luggage at baggage claim.
8. I also still get a little nervous my first day in a new place.
9. I don´t like looking at maps. I really enjoy when I´m traveling with someone if he or she looks at the map. e.g. Jason, Wendi, Marisa....Steph, I hope you´re ready to read a map!
10. Starbucks made it to Barcelona.
11. Barcelona has a chocolate museum.
12. When taking a bus tour, you should always take the 1st tour offered in the day. Less crowds...less annoying tourists.
13. I´m so glad I´m not traveling in a big group. I notice many big groups and no one can make a decision. They all just stare at each other.
I can go where and when I want and I don´t have to ask anyone else. I highly recommend traveling alone or with 1 or 2 friends...that´s it!
14. Do a ´test run´with the safe in your room before putting valuables in it. Sometimes it will lock and you can´t get it open. That would stink if you put valuables in it.
15. Crocs are everywhere!
16. Many people, men and women of all ages, have tattoos. Lots! Nice ones too! Don´t worry Ma, I´m not getting one.
17. In the elevator, Marisa and I noticed that the button E was for the lobby. We would always say ¨E for Lobby¨ Not sure why, but it was E. ???
18. Sitges has the best laundry place. The detergent smells the best. I washed even clean clothes so they would smell good too.
19. I have not yet been to a city with humidity. Sorry to tell everyone that. I know it´s been really hot and humid at home.
20. I saw a lot of boobies on the beach again. The girls and ladies don´t wear bras either. No, I didn´t go topless. My boobies would blind everyone. They´re so white!
21. Young kids have very fashionable haircuts.
22. You always have to ask for your check. No one ever rushes you out of a restaurant.
2. I don´t have a home right now...shipping home really means shipping to Stephanie´s apartment in NYC. Thanks Steph!
3. I bet the U.S. has just as many gorgeous places as Europe. I just have to visit them next!
4. Stockholm is my favorite airport so far. They have a great internet cafe, good snacks and it was very clean and organized.
5. I definitely prefer smaller towns over larger citites. No doubt! I feel more comfortable in smaller towns.
6. Many hotels offer a breakfast buffet included in your room rate. This is great, except I realized that when people walk through the buffet they run into you. No one looks where they are going...too busy staring at the eggs.
7. I still get nervous each time I wait for my luggage at baggage claim.
8. I also still get a little nervous my first day in a new place.
9. I don´t like looking at maps. I really enjoy when I´m traveling with someone if he or she looks at the map. e.g. Jason, Wendi, Marisa....Steph, I hope you´re ready to read a map!
10. Starbucks made it to Barcelona.
11. Barcelona has a chocolate museum.
12. When taking a bus tour, you should always take the 1st tour offered in the day. Less crowds...less annoying tourists.
13. I´m so glad I´m not traveling in a big group. I notice many big groups and no one can make a decision. They all just stare at each other.
I can go where and when I want and I don´t have to ask anyone else. I highly recommend traveling alone or with 1 or 2 friends...that´s it!
14. Do a ´test run´with the safe in your room before putting valuables in it. Sometimes it will lock and you can´t get it open. That would stink if you put valuables in it.
15. Crocs are everywhere!
16. Many people, men and women of all ages, have tattoos. Lots! Nice ones too! Don´t worry Ma, I´m not getting one.
17. In the elevator, Marisa and I noticed that the button E was for the lobby. We would always say ¨E for Lobby¨ Not sure why, but it was E. ???
18. Sitges has the best laundry place. The detergent smells the best. I washed even clean clothes so they would smell good too.
19. I have not yet been to a city with humidity. Sorry to tell everyone that. I know it´s been really hot and humid at home.
20. I saw a lot of boobies on the beach again. The girls and ladies don´t wear bras either. No, I didn´t go topless. My boobies would blind everyone. They´re so white!
21. Young kids have very fashionable haircuts.
22. You always have to ask for your check. No one ever rushes you out of a restaurant.
Sitges, Spain...my favorite place so far!
I am now in Sitges, a small, quaint, beach town 30 minutes outside of Barcelona. I love it here. It has a very local feel, nice people, yummy food, amazing little homes, a great running path and a perfect beach...it was just what I needed after chilly Germany, Prague and Stockholm.
On my taxi ride from Barcelona to Sitges, I noticed some random girls along the highway. I thought that was weird. Why were girls hanging out on the highway. Oh...they were prostitutes. Yes, along the highway. They were dressed slutty and just waiting for people to stop.
At first I thought...oh great..Sitges...is kinda trashy. I knew it couldn´t be because Debbie and Andy were visited Sitges they loved it. Anyway, after a few miles, I didn´t see anymore slutty girls. Phew.
We pulled into Sitges and I was taken back...gorgeous and relaxed. A beach town. Perfect. I saw people of all ages hanging out on the beach until all hours. Everyone just seemed happy.
Sitges is my favorite place so far! I´ve just been running, relaxing, and sitting on the beach. No touring here...just time for nothing! I have a lot of touring coming up.
On my taxi ride from Barcelona to Sitges, I noticed some random girls along the highway. I thought that was weird. Why were girls hanging out on the highway. Oh...they were prostitutes. Yes, along the highway. They were dressed slutty and just waiting for people to stop.
At first I thought...oh great..Sitges...is kinda trashy. I knew it couldn´t be because Debbie and Andy were visited Sitges they loved it. Anyway, after a few miles, I didn´t see anymore slutty girls. Phew.
We pulled into Sitges and I was taken back...gorgeous and relaxed. A beach town. Perfect. I saw people of all ages hanging out on the beach until all hours. Everyone just seemed happy.
Sitges is my favorite place so far! I´ve just been running, relaxing, and sitting on the beach. No touring here...just time for nothing! I have a lot of touring coming up.
Barcelona!
I loved Barcelona. I stayed pretty close to Las Ramblas but set back enough that I didn't hear all the craziness. I think I've decided that I'm starting to get annoyed by obnoxious, annoying, loud tourists. Yes, I know I am a tourist, but I don't act they many do. So sad to say, but the majority of the loud annoying tourists are from the U.S. Oh well.
I did bus tour (of couse)...I'm all about the bus tours! After the tour, I just walked to the beach and around the city. The 'Race of the Tall Ships' was in Barcelona. It was very cool to see all the boats in the harbor.
I ate amazing tapas too. Jason and Wendi...they were much better than what we ate in San Sebastian.
I really loved the atmosphere of Barcelona. I only had one day so I didn't make it to any of the museums nor any of the Gaudi buildings. I hope I can go back during my travels.
I think the city has it all...cultures, great restaurants, city atmosphere on the beach! It's a great city. I recommend it to anyone!
I did bus tour (of couse)...I'm all about the bus tours! After the tour, I just walked to the beach and around the city. The 'Race of the Tall Ships' was in Barcelona. It was very cool to see all the boats in the harbor.
I ate amazing tapas too. Jason and Wendi...they were much better than what we ate in San Sebastian.
I really loved the atmosphere of Barcelona. I only had one day so I didn't make it to any of the museums nor any of the Gaudi buildings. I hope I can go back during my travels.
I think the city has it all...cultures, great restaurants, city atmosphere on the beach! It's a great city. I recommend it to anyone!
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Today is Saturday, July 14
I had a great day in Barcelona and now I´m in Sitges, a beach town outside of Barcelona. I´ll be here until Tuesday when I fly to Dublin to meet Stephanie and Catherine.
I´ll try to update Barcelona and Sitges trips before I head to Ireland!
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.
Bye!
Les
I´ll try to update Barcelona and Sitges trips before I head to Ireland!
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.
Bye!
Les
Friday, July 13, 2007
Today is Friday, July 13...yikes (Friday the 13th) and I'm off to Barcelona and Sitges
Hi everyone. I'm in the Stockholm airport getting ready to go to Barcelona and Sitges. Sitges is the beach area around Barcelona.
Marisa and I had a great time this past week. We updated the blog together, enjoy it!
I'm going to Spain again because Germany, Prague and Stockholm were all chilly so I'm in the need of some sun and warmth before I meet Stephanie and Catherine in Ireland on Tuesday, July 17. I heard it's been rainy and chilly in Ireland and Scotland so I'm off to the sun now!
Have a great weekend. Please email soon! Miss everyone! More to come soon about my adventures in Barcelona, Sitges, Ireland and Scotland!
Bye,
Les
Marisa and I had a great time this past week. We updated the blog together, enjoy it!
I'm going to Spain again because Germany, Prague and Stockholm were all chilly so I'm in the need of some sun and warmth before I meet Stephanie and Catherine in Ireland on Tuesday, July 17. I heard it's been rainy and chilly in Ireland and Scotland so I'm off to the sun now!
Have a great weekend. Please email soon! Miss everyone! More to come soon about my adventures in Barcelona, Sitges, Ireland and Scotland!
Bye,
Les
Lessons Learned and Random Thoughts...part ????
1. In many European countries, you pay a little bit for a public restroom, yet they are so clean. It will well worth the money. The U.S. should do this. Very clean!
2. Be sure you can read the "Do Not Disturb" sign in the local language otherwise housekeeping will come into your room without knocking. Yes, that happened. HA!
3. There are no bathrooms on tour buses.
4. Bathrooms (restrooms, ladies room) are always called Toilet. No one will understand you if you ask for a bathroom, restroom or ladies' room.
5. Be sure to confirm a few times the train schedules and never trust what the front desk people tell you. Do your own research as well.
6. Always find out ahead of time how much a taxi will cost you to your desitnation. Do NOT trust anyone just because he has a laminated sign. HA!
7. Know the currency of the country ahead of time.
8. Be sure you're in the right line to buy tickets and read the machines before assuming they will have an English version.
9. Make sure you check before you enter a train car...you may be in the Smoking Car. smelly.
10. FEBREEZE is the best...it cleans and smells great too! We think that if you "febreeze" something, you cleaned it.
11. Many Europeans do not understand personal space or standing in a line. They invade your space and always try to get in front of you.
12. Marisa likes to sleep a lot and she can sleep anywhere at anytime. She doesn't like to eat a lot and doesn't have to pee a lot either.
13. I like to wake up early, eat a lot and I have to go to the bathroom a lot more than Marisa.
14. Be sure to know where your secret pocket is if you store something there.
15. The span of a windmill is the same wingspan of an airplane. Very cool!
16. It's really annoying when people sit behind you on a plane and use your chair to help them up.
17. The Nobel Prize dinner is in Stockholm every year. The first one was awarded in 1901.
18. There are 53 bridges in Stockholm.
19. Skor means cheers!
20. I feel as though I'm on my 2nd chapter of my trip....First was Italy and Spain and now it's really touring...Germany, Prague, Stockholm and now I'm off to Barcelona!
2. Be sure you can read the "Do Not Disturb" sign in the local language otherwise housekeeping will come into your room without knocking. Yes, that happened. HA!
3. There are no bathrooms on tour buses.
4. Bathrooms (restrooms, ladies room) are always called Toilet. No one will understand you if you ask for a bathroom, restroom or ladies' room.
5. Be sure to confirm a few times the train schedules and never trust what the front desk people tell you. Do your own research as well.
6. Always find out ahead of time how much a taxi will cost you to your desitnation. Do NOT trust anyone just because he has a laminated sign. HA!
7. Know the currency of the country ahead of time.
8. Be sure you're in the right line to buy tickets and read the machines before assuming they will have an English version.
9. Make sure you check before you enter a train car...you may be in the Smoking Car. smelly.
10. FEBREEZE is the best...it cleans and smells great too! We think that if you "febreeze" something, you cleaned it.
11. Many Europeans do not understand personal space or standing in a line. They invade your space and always try to get in front of you.
12. Marisa likes to sleep a lot and she can sleep anywhere at anytime. She doesn't like to eat a lot and doesn't have to pee a lot either.
13. I like to wake up early, eat a lot and I have to go to the bathroom a lot more than Marisa.
14. Be sure to know where your secret pocket is if you store something there.
15. The span of a windmill is the same wingspan of an airplane. Very cool!
16. It's really annoying when people sit behind you on a plane and use your chair to help them up.
17. The Nobel Prize dinner is in Stockholm every year. The first one was awarded in 1901.
18. There are 53 bridges in Stockholm.
19. Skor means cheers!
20. I feel as though I'm on my 2nd chapter of my trip....First was Italy and Spain and now it's really touring...Germany, Prague, Stockholm and now I'm off to Barcelona!
Ice Bar in Stockholm!
Yes, we were tourists and went to the Ice Bar for a drink (or 2). It was chilly but really pretty cool. (ha, no pun intended)
It was a good way to end our trip! We had a fabulous week in Germany, Prague and Stockholm!
2nd day in Stockholm, rain, cold and the Vasa Museum
Shocker...rainy and chilly. Marisa and I are convinced that Stockholm doesn't have a summer season. BRRR! I actually had to buy warm socks. Today, we did a bus tour and learned more about Stockholm. We also went to the Vasa Museum.
The VASA was the ship that set sail in Stockholm and then sank 10 minutes after it started it's journey. They recovered the boat and now it's in a museum. Very interesting, yet very disturbing.
Marisa and I ate a typical Swedish lunch, pickled herrings and something else (no clue what it was) at the oldest restaurant in Stockholm. We felt like locals...for the hour we were there.
The VASA was the ship that set sail in Stockholm and then sank 10 minutes after it started it's journey. They recovered the boat and now it's in a museum. Very interesting, yet very disturbing.
Marisa and I ate a typical Swedish lunch, pickled herrings and something else (no clue what it was) at the oldest restaurant in Stockholm. We felt like locals...for the hour we were there.
Sunset and sunrise in Stockholm!
The sun does not set until 11.30ish and then the sun rises again at 3.00 a.m. Be sure to sleep with your blackout shades shut!
Making friends at dinner!
Marisa and I went to an amazing seafood dinner that night. We ordered a huge platter to share along with a bottle of wine! We had a hilarious waiter and for some reason Marisa and I made friends with everyone around us that night.
Another couple (note...they were trying to have a romantic dinner) ordered the same seafood platter as we did, so we started to talk to them....I should rephrase that and say "We interrupted their romantic dinner".
We laughed so hard at nothing. I think it was the wine. We wanted dessert but our server told us jokingly that we couldn't have dessert unless we finished our entire platter. We had about 6 shrimp (Shannon, note, NO S on the end of shrimp! ha) remaining so tipsy Marisa discretely put our remaning shrimp on our new friends' plate. They laughed, as did our waiter, now we could have dessert.
We ate dessert and had dessert wine. YIKES, more wine.
Another couple (note...they were trying to have a romantic dinner) ordered the same seafood platter as we did, so we started to talk to them....I should rephrase that and say "We interrupted their romantic dinner".
We laughed so hard at nothing. I think it was the wine. We wanted dessert but our server told us jokingly that we couldn't have dessert unless we finished our entire platter. We had about 6 shrimp (Shannon, note, NO S on the end of shrimp! ha) remaining so tipsy Marisa discretely put our remaning shrimp on our new friends' plate. They laughed, as did our waiter, now we could have dessert.
We ate dessert and had dessert wine. YIKES, more wine.
Leaving Prague (yeah)...going to Stockholm...with one stop in Berlin.
Marisa and I were ready to go to Stockholm! We took a train from Prague to Berlin and stayed the night in Berlin.
We were happy to be back in Germany. We found Berlin and Dresden to be very organized, clean and the people were friendly. BEST YET...sun was out. Finally!
Don't laugh but we went to Italian food for dinner that night!
The next morning, we took a taxi to the airport and we were off to Stockholm. All travels were easy...finally...yeah! We got to Stockholm no problem.
We even took the Arlanda Express train from the Stockholm airport to the city center. Our hotel, Nordic Sea, was directly outside of the Arlanda Express train. Perfect! No Febreeze needed. No one smoked on the train!
The sun was out but where was summer? It was chilly, long pants and a jacket were needed. Chilly but great. We don't think Stockholm has summer weather.
Of course we took a boat tour and learned about the different islands of Stockholm. Just as everyone thinks...yes, there are a lot of blonds in Stockholm. I felt at home. This was the first city on my travels where I looked like a local.
We were happy to be back in Germany. We found Berlin and Dresden to be very organized, clean and the people were friendly. BEST YET...sun was out. Finally!
Don't laugh but we went to Italian food for dinner that night!
The next morning, we took a taxi to the airport and we were off to Stockholm. All travels were easy...finally...yeah! We got to Stockholm no problem.
We even took the Arlanda Express train from the Stockholm airport to the city center. Our hotel, Nordic Sea, was directly outside of the Arlanda Express train. Perfect! No Febreeze needed. No one smoked on the train!
The sun was out but where was summer? It was chilly, long pants and a jacket were needed. Chilly but great. We don't think Stockholm has summer weather.
Of course we took a boat tour and learned about the different islands of Stockholm. Just as everyone thinks...yes, there are a lot of blonds in Stockholm. I felt at home. This was the first city on my travels where I looked like a local.
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