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Published: March 16th 2010
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Photo 2
Freaky! So, I wondered when this would happen.
Day 57...
SO, Not even sure where to start...
I guess I will update on this past weekend then go back to entries and update them with info since there are pictures with no stories!
Mom and Dad FINALLY arrived this past weekend, Mar 12- and we went around campus- I gave a little tour and it was nice- kinda of strange to have them here though. It's hard to believe I haven't seen them for 7 weeks!
After the tour it was off to Galway which we had minor issue with finding the place. Dad drove a rental car and I was very impressed with how he handled the driving on the left which wasn't the issue- it was ROAD SIGNS! Which do NOT EXIST! You get to a roundabout and you have arrows pointing off each direction with a number and name along with the gaelic name- TOO much to look at as you approach one! However, if you arrive in the city there are NO street signs which makes navigating out and in of a city difficult. Thankfully, after living here long enough, I've realized main streets
will have a sign posted on the high wall of a building- not on street corners which came as a surprise to Dad who got rather frustrated after a few missed exits and turns. We made it though and had a wonderfully tasty dinner at the hotel's restaurant. We had planned to go out into the city to eat but they were exhausted and so was I and it ended up being a nice dinner at the hotel and then straight to bed. However- I didn't realize it until I got there- I had MY OWN ROOM AND B-ROOM! Holy COW! I haven't had my own room/bath since home- and this was luxury style! It was WONDERFUL- I used as many towels as I wanted and took as long as I wanted in the shower and it was the first time in months I've watched TV shows/movies I wanted to without having to consult ANYONE. Ah, I was spoiled.
After a wonderful evening to myself of TV, shower, reading, and a yelling-free zone (as oppose to Plassey) I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and after getting out the door into the car we headed for the city.
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Haha, I've been here before We parked and thankfully, having been to the city- I was able to navigate us fairly wellI think and we had a traditional Irish breakfast- big and messy. Mine was pretty good, though I do think breakfast tacos are still where it's at, and I think mom and dad can agree- as much as it was- and as culturally enriching it was- I think we appreciate our American flapjacks even more now.
We wandered down the Latin Quarters before getting back into the car and driving to Salthill and did some sight seeing which was lovely. WE got lost again- but made it back- but not intime to get good reservations at a Irish pub- the big rugby match was on and so many places were already packed. We ended up getting a nice meal at a Chinese place- which was very very yummy. I hope Dad and Mom didn't mind- they still seemed a bit dazed and tired from their flight- I could tell they were still adjusting.
We went back to the hotel and watched a very interesting moving starring Alan Rickman and Liam Nesson and a YOUNG Julia Roberts- it was grand though because it
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SO cute it was mother's day weekend was about the rise of the Irish Republic- very good, but long film.
Sunday we packed up and headed for the Cliffs of Moher.
On the way we stopped a few times to take in the view which included an old castle that we nevre found an entrance to excepted a padlocked gate. Interestingly enough, a group of young German folk were there and they had apparently scaled the walls (like a rock wall) and gotten over into the courtyard of the castle. I could see them through the padlocked gate and it was VERY amusing to watch them climb back out- not to sound crude, but it reminded me of watching rats just crawl over walls and up walls and such- funny.
We got a ways down the road which was scary because the roads to get to the Cliffs are not narrow- they are wafer wide- AHH! I sat in the front passenger seat and I understand why mother wanted the back- it's scary. Not that Dad isn't a good driver- he was grand- the roads are SO narrow and SO bendy- it was just scary to have a rock wall cm away from your
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Lord Haw Haw... hee-hee door. It happened though- a flat tire. What an adventure. Thankfully, we were on a road with a pullover area in front of a B&B and so Dad attempted to change it, but the tire was STUCK- no matter how hard we pulled, kicked, and shifted- the wheel would not come out (yes we removed the lugs) We called finally, and after a few phone calls between AVIS and us- they sent a guy out, but not before a nice gentleman offered to help us and even called his friend Patsy to ask for advice- which was "Well, if it's not coming out by pulling it, it's cemented in there good" Thank you Patsy. Finally, the local mechanic came by and after a failed attempt at yanking it out- he swung a sledge hammer against the inside of the tire and in 2 swings it popped out like a cork. Ugh.
Thankfully it was still early in the day and we FINALLY made it to the Cliffs- we hung around for a while and had a wonderful time- BEAUTIFUL and BREATH-Taking were the Cliffs- Loved it- I hope mom and dad thought it was worth the trouble. I sure
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the 12 tribes did- It's amazing to see God's handy work up close and personal like that- just hard to imagine without having been there to see them- pictures don't do justice. Oh yes- the weather? SUNNY SUNNY and SUNNY! :D
We got back onto the road and headed back to Limerick. Thankfully, the roads turned into main highways and so the driving back was less scary and mom rode up front from the Cliffs to Limerick and it was a smooth sailing back. We were able to make int into the city center well and ate dinner at Smokie Joes- I had been there and despite its Mexicana and American style (with maps of TX and the Gulf of Mex on the wall) I knew it had Irish cuisine and I don't think my parents were disappointed. Dad had his first Guinness- hahaha. He had the same reaction I did- a few sips and "I dont have to have it again"- though he drank about a third, I drank about 3 sips. We were able to get into the Travellodge right by campus and luckily only were there one night. Compared to the Marriott in Galway- the T-Lodge was like a
dorm room- seriously- I should have taken pictures. It didn't even have a night stand between the beds or a clock- nothing. It was clean though and cheap and close to Plassey- so it was our place for less than 12 hours- we were happy with that.
Got back to Plassey this morning and Mom and Dad went to Paris- very unfair.
All in all a wonderful weekend with mom and dad in Ireland- it's hard to believe my journey here is nearly halfway over.
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