A limerick for Limerick

Now that we've made it to Limerick 

We're not quite so sure about this pick

Out on the streets there are no people

Not even by the church and steeple

Still, I hope this trip doesn't go too quick!

Ok so I may need a bit of work with my Limerick skills but who could resist!

We were pretty skeptical about this stop on the trip because in spite of being the third largest city in Ireland Limerick was nowhere to be found in our Rick Steve's  guide book. 

On our train ride we met a nice gentleman - older and we think autistic - who was full of wonderful facts and information about all the cities we'll be visiting. He even woke us up to make sure we didn't miss our stop. 

When we arrived in Limerick outside the train station was cute and we were told  that it was about a 10 minute walk to our hotel.  So, off we went. Within a few blocks It reminded us both, almost instantly of our time in Ketchikan, AK. Those of you who have heard some of the stories about that know what I mean. An odd little town with a combo of lovely and adorable paired with rundown and gritty all covered with a bit of confusing.

Only serving to reinforce this feeling, we shortly see a poster informing us that Limerick has been awarded the City of Culture 2014 Award for Ireland. This was made hilarious and strange by the fact that the banner was hung on a run down building with some panels missing. You would think they'd hang it in a more strategic place.

In the evening, armed with a list of potential "hot spots" from our hotel front desk we went out to find a good time.  We did find a delicious dinner at a pub close to us. However, after that we wandered to check out some of the other spots and found eerily quiet streets and anything that was open had barely anyone in there. Odd to put it mildly. 

There is a castle and a cathedral in town but we decided to book a day trip out to the Cliffs of Moher and they we're absolutely incredible!  We were slightly worried about the trip to start with but it far surpassed our expectations. That is actually putting it mildly in my opinion. It was an all day bus tour around County Clare and the areas surrounding the Cliffs as well  it was great to get out of the city and into the countryside. 

For my family, we passed right by Dromoland!  The tour guide even talked about it!

We're taking a break now and eating a grocery store dinner in our hotel room.  Haven't even mentioned yet our hotel yet. This hotel is a bizarre super modern hotel in the medieval part of the town, feels like an airport hotel but nowhere near an airport.

Still deciding what to do tonight, the town is having a 4th of July celebration but that just seems wrong...

Then there was this...

As mentioned in the earlier post, Limerick is an odd "city" that reminds me and my traveling partner of the months we spent living in Ketchikan. Namely, bizarre and never making total sense, also both are the third largest city in they're respective areas.  

Then, after a befuddling but overall good (we think) night, we got back to our room and there was this...

Forgive the photos they are of the tv screen. This not only completely confused us but was also a bit terrifying. A short bit of research later revealed that this is a show called Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy http://www.channel4.com/programmes/noel-fieldings-luxury-comedy

I only recommend this if you're ready for a heady mix of confusion and fear. 

You've been warned. 

Where are you Molly Malone?

Wonderful day again!  This morning started with complimentary breakfast in our hotel then off to jail!

Several people recommended the Kilmainham Gaol. The jail housed and executed the leaders of the Easter 1916 revolt. Really a great tour of a jail that was restored by a restoration group in the 1960s including some who we're imprisoned there themselves. 

After that we grabbed the hop on hop off bus to take a tour and jumped off at Trinity College. Didn't go in today but it's still on the list. We ate a lovely three course meal at Farm, which was good but not quite up to our discerning Bay Area palates. But it was a lovely leisurely dining afternoon. 

Next on to the search for Molly Malone, or at least her statue. We found it on the map, we found those streets in real life but no Molly. Cut to us circling the block twice and finally realizing that there is a sign marking where she should be but isn't. She's away being cleaned. So while disappointed we were glad to realize that it was not that we can't read maps. 

We also found O'Neills pub one of the oldest still operating public house. Please ignore the "incorrect" spelling we're all family!  Shockingly I was not the only one of us to find our last name on a building. 

Back now at the hotel resting before venturing back out to pubs tonight. I'm looking for some live music I think!

Tomorrow we catch a train to Limerick and start the next chapter of our trip. So happy to realize that today is only our second day!

Tea for two!

Had a lovely afternoon strolling Dublin. We walked from our hotel at the west end of the city along the Liffey river. We wandered through some of the neighborhoods along the way.

We stopped for dinner at a lovely tea shop called The Queen of Tarts where we had tea, delicious food and a strawberry rhubarb crumble per our waitress's recommendation. It was tucked away on a walking street and we sat outside and enjoyed this amazing weather!  It's the perfect kind if warm that is warm enough to sit still but not too hot to move around.

We walked off our dinner on the way back to our room. Plan for the night is to keep each other awake for a bit longer and watch the World Cup game as we plan our day tomorrow. 

Off again

Sitting at the airport waiting for my flight and getting more excited by the minute!

One of my best friends and I are off to Ireland, first stop Dublin. As an Irish lass by heritage it is amazing as I look around the gate at how many people look just like my family. Slightly unnerving actually. 

Also, my people have a lot of babies. I knew this but really. 

See you on the other side of the pond!

You might be totally soulless if ...

this slideshow does not make you least smile.

Mild existential crisis thanks to Pandora

You know how when you're in a movie and the previews can really give you a tone of the movie you're about to watch.  This is what Pandora did to me today. 

Today at work I was listening to my Joni Mitchell station on Pandora, don't judge me, sometimes you're just in a folk music kind of space.  So with Pandora, every hour or so there's an ad, and today all the ads are about freezing my eggs so that I can make sure I'm still able to have kids later!

What?! 

Either they think I’m a young, single, sad woman who needs this service now, or they’re torturing older women from the true era of Joni Mitchell and teasing them for not being able to have children now.  Either way there is a lot of stereotyping and assumption going on and I’m offended for the person that the marketing thinks I am...

Also, now I'm mad because I'm clearly susceptible to marketing and am concerned that I do in fact need to freeze my eggs now.

F**k you Pandora