The Final Pics...(Ireland Part 3)

I rented a car and drove around the Beara Peninsula. It was great.
It was 11:45 am. Never too early for a pint. :)

Had lunch in this little town.

This is a little town called Eyeries. Very colorful. I wonder if they paint everything so colorful to brighten up the gray weather.

At the end of the first day the car got a flat!

Called someone to come fix it. I told him he was my knight in shining armor.

On day two with the car went to Lough Hyne.

Then went to this town called Baltimore. This is the Church of Ireland. Wouldn't that be weird if there was a Church of the USA?

Then saw the Drombeg Stone Circle.

I think the kids party up there.

Cows on the walk to the rocks

Just some photos from the drive...

Guess who's learning to use the big girl potty??

She went twice yesterday on her own and so far once today... yeah, Alina!! :)

New camera, Aunt Rhoda's cardigan

We got a new camera, and we love it! It actually takes the picture when you press the button instead of waiting until it feels like taking it... how exciting! Here are some pictures from the past few weeks.

We took Alina sledding when it snowed

Putting up the Christmas tree

The final result...

Babcia came to visit

Alina and Ania

Here is Ania in the pretty cardigan Aunt Rhoda knitted for her!

Yes, her hair really does that all on its own. Every day. Even right after a bath, it won't go down. :)

Blarney Castle (Ireland Part 2)

I went to visit Blarney Castle and kissed the Blarney Stone. Now I'm eloquent. I actually kissed it twice because the first set of pictures didn't come out so well. I'd post them, but all you'd see is my legs.

He told me I was a very sweet lady.

Look how green!!!

And yellow!

After we went to the pub for a drink and they had all sorts of pitchers on the ceiling. It was neat.

This was a cool building in Cork that needs a good scrubbing. I like the harp and knots.


This is my attempt at being an artistic photographer. It is at the abbey where we went right before and after the fancy tea with Stuart.

26:34

I ran the Jingle Bell today. It was a 5K. Well, while I didn't get any great photos, I met my goal. And was pleasantly surprised in a couple other areas.

Time: 26:34 (Goal was 27, to have a 9 min mile)
Place: 178 (475 finishers)
Women: Top 50! (I was number 50. :))
Age Group F30-34: 4!! (25 in group)

It was pretty cold. Maybe that kept the good people home? This time I was bib number 445.

Maybe I should try out for the Olympics...That's all the boasting I will be doing for the day.

Ireland (Part One)

Here are some pictures from Ireland. I took 430, so I will only give you the highlights. :)

Dublin

Here is Dublin and the River Liffey.


This is the picture that got me in trouble with one of the neighbors. Probably her fear was that I would post it on the Internet. It happened.



Belfast

This was a big deal in Belfast because of the glass roof. They didn't do that when all of the bombings were happening. Change is happening.


I went on a political tour of the area. These are the murals that cover the city. This was from the Protestant side.


This is the gate that is closed at night to separate the Catholics and Protestants. There is a very high fence that goes on so people cannot throw rocks and other tricks to the other side.


We then had tea at Hotel Europa, the most bombed hotel in Europe. In fact, while I was waiting for Rhona there was a sweep.



Galway

This is the church near the hotel where I stayed. Doesn't it look sort of like a boat? In fact that was the idea!


Stuart took me on a drive around Galway in Mayo and Connemara.


This castle was closed, but we went in anyway.




Sheep!


Having tea at Ashford Castle. Stuart was afraid we weren't dressed. The American in me thought, "Why? We aren't naked! We look great!"



More later...