Well, we've made it as far as JFK, which I will call home for now. Already we've noticed the difference in weather, and the cultural difference is almost immediate when you step off the plane.
Speaking of the plane, Aer Lingus is ok, but as I mentioned, they are not Air Swiss. I miss that airline. Funny story about the flight back from Dublin... you know the plane bathrooms are ridiculously small. Well, I'll just say that it's a bitch getting a leg cramp in one of those bathrooms when you're sitting on the toilet at 30,000 feet.
A few thoughts about the trip in general, and overseas traveling, at least in Ireland.
01. Bring comfortable shoes. There is a lot of walking, especially out in the country.
02. Things are a little more expensive over there. Euros are like play money. Until you get home and check your bank statement.
03. Hotel wifi spots in general are spotty at best, but they are usually free, so...
04. The temperature never got above 75, and even that was their hottest day of the year.
05. Dubliners will love to tell you about 1916 and 1922.
06. Everyone was friendly.
07. Tipping is optional.
08. The drinking water was iffy, even the bottled water.
09. The Irish love meat and potatoes. I know that should be obvious, but it was very prevalent. Their vegetable soup usually consisted of one vegetable: potatoes.
10. Learn the metric system, or at least have a converter handy.
11. Get a GPS, and install whatever country you'll be traveling in. Well worth the extra fee if you have to pay it.
12. Cromwell was not a popular guy back in the day. Most of the ruins are because of him and his army.
13. Being of Irish origin, Guinness is pretty much the national drink.
14. If you visit any town, city or village and don't see a pub, you are not in Ireland.
15. The electrical plugs are different. Bring converters.
16. The Irish eat beans with their breakfast. And these awful black and white puddings.
17. The roads are insanely narrow, with no shoulders to speak of. Don't play chicken with tour buses. It will not turn out in your favor. Major highways are the only exception.
18. Ireland has a lot of rocks. We're guessing that is probably why the Roman Empire never really bothered to invade.
19. Take some sort of rain gear or umbrella. It rains a lot. Although, we had almost an entire week of sunshine.
20. Bathrooms at gas stations are optional.
Funny moment yesterday:
At the Medieval Banquet, mom says, "There's the Lord of the castle, he's serving food!"
My response: "If he's serving food, he's not the Lord of the castle."
I've included some random trip photos.
