Well, I finally am able to have a bit of a sit down to write about the past amazing week I spent in my green, gorgeous hop over the pond - Ireland. As I am now perched in the common room with a wide open bay window, a cup of tea sitting next to me, and I am gazing out onto Bolton Gardens from our Earl's Court Hostel, I can't help but think how lucky I am to be back again.
Our travel last Saturday consisted of an on-again-off-again relationship with cars, buses and planes. Mrs. G took us to Springfield to catch the bus to South Station in Boston around 10:30 am. Of course Mom had thought our flight was 3 hours earlier than it actually was...therefore when we arrived at Logan we had a plethora of 6 hrs waiting to board our first flight to London. I think I was able to take about 45 laps of mindless wandering and Burberry perfume sampling by the time I decided to settle and try to take in some light reading. Couldn't sleep on the plane at all. I think I caught 1 hr of shut eye before the flight attendent came round with dinner... (at 11pm?! no thanks...) However BA and Aer Lingus, I do commend you on having several adorable attendents I would gladly fly with again. I digress... Gordon Ramsey kept me company with a holiday Christmas special, which had me laughing outloud. Then I finally got a chance to watch Crazy, Stupid, Love - another LOL'er. Great flick. Finally landed. Flying into London was such an incredible view - saw the entire city from a birds eye for the first time - remarkable. It was like a movie, seeing all of the "main sights" look like a miniature playset below me.
Upon arriving at Heathrow, it felt strange and familiar all at the same time. I saw the WH Smith (basically a Hudson News) and immediately went in to see how much they would rob me for an Innocent fruit juice. Sadly too much, and I moved along to the cafe for a coffee and a Life Water. Wonderful comfy chairs in the corner called my name and I passed out cold for an hour - several hours later (yes, another 4 hour + layover) we were back on the plane to Ireland, finally slept. Coming into Ireland, my anticipation grew to a huge smile that swept all over my face. I had just enough sense of direction once we got off the shuttle bus to make our way to the front of Kinlay House, where we hung our hats for the night. I don't think I had eaten something relatively enough to call a meal in 48 hours...The girl at the desk suggested this awesome cafe called Cornucopia. Laura Genese - you would love it. Raw, Vegan, Veg, Gluten Free, Fresh, Local, Organic, Cheap. AMAZING. Mom and I shared a delicious 2 salads with sprouted beans and chickpeas rocket and vegs. Sweet potato soup and walnut bread. (i did sneak a bite of bread here and there...when in Ireland you CANNOT pass up delicious brown bread, especially if it has walnuts in it!) My stomach can hate me later.
We pathetically passed out by 7:30 and woke several times before midnight. We looked at the clock that read 9:15pm thinking it had to have been 6:00am already. Ugh. In the am we brightly woke ourselves with a freezing cold shower - woke me up for sure next to a cup o' coffee and muesli!!! Definitely not gluten free, but I've missed unlimited muesli so much - cest la vie.
After breakfast, the group (soon to be known as the "Sexual Harrassmentt on Sesame Street - 12 Pubs of Christmas and Not Enough Sleep Tour") were kindly greeted by our adventure leader for the next week - Sean. Looked slightly familiar - but much shorter hair, and didn't think it could possibly have been the same guy. Carrying on - we all checked in, and on the bus we went! Sean had us all do a round about in "the hot seat" introducing ourselves. Mom was of course the most 'mature' (or you could just say oldest) on the trip. But she stuck it out well and good with the best of them. All you need is a desire for fun and you're welcome on the Shamrocker tour. When it came my turn, I said hello to the crew and mentioned I'd been on a shorter Shamrocker 4 years ago...And then the connection was made - Yes indeed kids, Sean was my guide round 1 and now for my pilgrimage back - Awesome to be in his group again! The rest of the gang consisted of mostly Australians, two boys from Scottland, a girl from Canada, England and another from New Zealand. They were all so much fun.
We adventured to Cashel and then Blarney, where it poured and poured all over us. But Mom and her ankle battled their way to the top of the castle to kiss the stone. Obviously we all know how she already has the gift of gab - why not increase her capabilities with a hearty snog with the stone. We shopped a bit, but Mom realized that despite her love for the wool sweaters on sale, there was no way in hell they would fit in her ridiculous stuffed bag. Note: I will have to post a photo of this sucker...and I thought I overpacked. Please. Seriously over the top. Our final destination for Day 1 would be Killarney, what I remember as the place to party. Mom and I stumbled upon The Smokehouse, where we grabbed some coffee and shared a ciabatta app. It was very Bob Marley inside, and really cool. That night we went to go pay Pa a visit. As I wrote in my previous entry of Ireland 4 years ago, Pa is an expert story teller and drinker extrodinaire. The legend still stands and is just so fun to watch. Both extremely awkward to have Mom sitting beside me when he's making dirty jokes, but hilarious all at the same time. As one of the Scottish boys in our group said to me as we all left, "well-endured" and worth bringing her for sure. Decided to pass up the Grand Hotel dancing this time around. Been there, done that, and was swooped up by a sweaty boy I was not too fond of. I'll pass this time around :)
Cheers kids
KB
Our travel last Saturday consisted of an on-again-off-again relationship with cars, buses and planes. Mrs. G took us to Springfield to catch the bus to South Station in Boston around 10:30 am. Of course Mom had thought our flight was 3 hours earlier than it actually was...therefore when we arrived at Logan we had a plethora of 6 hrs waiting to board our first flight to London. I think I was able to take about 45 laps of mindless wandering and Burberry perfume sampling by the time I decided to settle and try to take in some light reading. Couldn't sleep on the plane at all. I think I caught 1 hr of shut eye before the flight attendent came round with dinner... (at 11pm?! no thanks...) However BA and Aer Lingus, I do commend you on having several adorable attendents I would gladly fly with again. I digress... Gordon Ramsey kept me company with a holiday Christmas special, which had me laughing outloud. Then I finally got a chance to watch Crazy, Stupid, Love - another LOL'er. Great flick. Finally landed. Flying into London was such an incredible view - saw the entire city from a birds eye for the first time - remarkable. It was like a movie, seeing all of the "main sights" look like a miniature playset below me.
Upon arriving at Heathrow, it felt strange and familiar all at the same time. I saw the WH Smith (basically a Hudson News) and immediately went in to see how much they would rob me for an Innocent fruit juice. Sadly too much, and I moved along to the cafe for a coffee and a Life Water. Wonderful comfy chairs in the corner called my name and I passed out cold for an hour - several hours later (yes, another 4 hour + layover) we were back on the plane to Ireland, finally slept. Coming into Ireland, my anticipation grew to a huge smile that swept all over my face. I had just enough sense of direction once we got off the shuttle bus to make our way to the front of Kinlay House, where we hung our hats for the night. I don't think I had eaten something relatively enough to call a meal in 48 hours...The girl at the desk suggested this awesome cafe called Cornucopia. Laura Genese - you would love it. Raw, Vegan, Veg, Gluten Free, Fresh, Local, Organic, Cheap. AMAZING. Mom and I shared a delicious 2 salads with sprouted beans and chickpeas rocket and vegs. Sweet potato soup and walnut bread. (i did sneak a bite of bread here and there...when in Ireland you CANNOT pass up delicious brown bread, especially if it has walnuts in it!) My stomach can hate me later.We pathetically passed out by 7:30 and woke several times before midnight. We looked at the clock that read 9:15pm thinking it had to have been 6:00am already. Ugh. In the am we brightly woke ourselves with a freezing cold shower - woke me up for sure next to a cup o' coffee and muesli!!! Definitely not gluten free, but I've missed unlimited muesli so much - cest la vie.
After breakfast, the group (soon to be known as the "Sexual Harrassmentt on Sesame Street - 12 Pubs of Christmas and Not Enough Sleep Tour") were kindly greeted by our adventure leader for the next week - Sean. Looked slightly familiar - but much shorter hair, and didn't think it could possibly have been the same guy. Carrying on - we all checked in, and on the bus we went! Sean had us all do a round about in "the hot seat" introducing ourselves. Mom was of course the most 'mature' (or you could just say oldest) on the trip. But she stuck it out well and good with the best of them. All you need is a desire for fun and you're welcome on the Shamrocker tour. When it came my turn, I said hello to the crew and mentioned I'd been on a shorter Shamrocker 4 years ago...And then the connection was made - Yes indeed kids, Sean was my guide round 1 and now for my pilgrimage back - Awesome to be in his group again! The rest of the gang consisted of mostly Australians, two boys from Scottland, a girl from Canada, England and another from New Zealand. They were all so much fun.
We adventured to Cashel and then Blarney, where it poured and poured all over us. But Mom and her ankle battled their way to the top of the castle to kiss the stone. Obviously we all know how she already has the gift of gab - why not increase her capabilities with a hearty snog with the stone. We shopped a bit, but Mom realized that despite her love for the wool sweaters on sale, there was no way in hell they would fit in her ridiculous stuffed bag. Note: I will have to post a photo of this sucker...and I thought I overpacked. Please. Seriously over the top. Our final destination for Day 1 would be Killarney, what I remember as the place to party. Mom and I stumbled upon The Smokehouse, where we grabbed some coffee and shared a ciabatta app. It was very Bob Marley inside, and really cool. That night we went to go pay Pa a visit. As I wrote in my previous entry of Ireland 4 years ago, Pa is an expert story teller and drinker extrodinaire. The legend still stands and is just so fun to watch. Both extremely awkward to have Mom sitting beside me when he's making dirty jokes, but hilarious all at the same time. As one of the Scottish boys in our group said to me as we all left, "well-endured" and worth bringing her for sure. Decided to pass up the Grand Hotel dancing this time around. Been there, done that, and was swooped up by a sweaty boy I was not too fond of. I'll pass this time around :)Cheers kids
KB
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