Oh Ireland!

Where do I even start with this post?  How do I condense one amazing week into a few words, a few pictures?  Here's my best shot.  I decided to break it into 2 parts - with the boys (Zach, Josh's bro, and his friends) and without the boys.  Although we thought it may be harder to travel with such a big group, it ended up being a blast with the boys.  After traveling for 16 hours (with very little sleep) on Monday (uggghhh), we arrived in Cork Tuesday morning ready to see Ireland.  First up was lunch in Kinsale (small town Carrie & Josh live in).  We were ampted to dine in the culinary capital of Ireland.  Kinsale is a harbour town that thrives in the summer with tourists.  Carrie & Josh live within walking distance of everything!  Here's a street in Kinsale:    

 After lunch we did a mini-walking tour of the town, stopping at this church and graveyard that was pretty cool.

I was completely wore out, so when I went back to nap the boys, Carrie, and Steve went to Old Head, a golf course in Kinsale right on the water.  Beautiful pics!

 Then they drove to the sandy beach (of course the weather is not typical beach weather).  Steve really enjoyed it as you can tell.

 That night was our first pub experience.  Although we kept it low-key, I still was anxious to try the Irish cider beer called "Bulmer's".  Delicious!

 We woke up early Wednesday morning and drove (3 hours) to the Cliffs of Moher.  We all packed into the tiny cars for a long drive.  The cliffs are absolutely amazing, and I don't think the pics do it justice.  They are 600 feet high and beautifully green.

 Of course being on the water, it was extremely windy, but we couldn't complain, because it wasn't foggy.

 The boys showing off to see who could get the closest to the edge. 

 And Tom thought he'd take a little dip in the pond.  He promised he'd get in the water at some time.

 We stayed in Doolin that night at a B & B that was perfect.  It was such a small town, but had a pub which was all we needed.  We started around 3 and went into the wee hours of the evening.  We enjoyed some traditional music, traditional food, and some traditional Irish drinks - Guinness, Harp, Bulmer's, and of course we all had to try the Jameson shot.  Ouch!

 The evening ended with a local Irishman serenading me with a somber Irish song.

 Our waterfront view from the room of our B & B

 Thursday morning we had planned on taking a ferry to the Aran Islands, but the wind and water were so fierce we couldn't go - good thing because we may have been stuck at the islands for days.  So we walked to the water before heading out of Doolin.  Notice the hipster who snuck into our pic.

 On our way back home we stopped at the Blarney Castle and the infamous Blarney Stone.  According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of eloquence.  Of course after climbing the winding stairs and throwing yourself back and upside down to kiss it, I hope you're given something - not sure if it's eloquence though. Thank God there's somebody there to keep you from falling.

My turn right before peeing my pants - I was freaked out!

View from atop the castle

Group pic in front of the castle

After the castle we drove to the city of Cork.  The boys went to the Hi-8 pub, a historic pub where you can't even use your "mobiles".  Us girls went shopping!  We had to make it home for the anticipated "Gentlemen's Hour" Josh had been planning all week.  Carrie & Josh have this formal living room with highback chairs, so they thought it'd only be appropriate to converse with gentlemenly topics while drinking whiskey (out of real crystal glasses) and smoke pipes.  They even got dressed for the occasion.

While they were busy doing gentlemen-ly things Carrie and I were planning our April Fool's Day pranks.  First we sewed all the boys' coat sleeves shut and then put their toothbrushes in salt.  Unfortunately their hour was up before we could do any more pranks.  It was well worth it to see Tom put on his jacket in the morning!

Up next:  Ireland #2 (without the boys)