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Geo: 52.6538, -7.24798
Today was a travel day, Dublin-to-Kilkenny, and it was supposed to have been spent primarily in Kilkenny, normally about 2 hours from Dublin.
But, from walking cross town to pick up the rental car (because of the taxi strike), relearning the mechanics of driving a stick while driving on the left (hand side of the road), sitting on the right (side of the car), and shifting with the left, a confusing maze of 1-way streets, no right turns, dead end alleys one-car wide (yeah, trying a 33-point turn to get out of THAT one), and Dublin's disdain for street name signs -- they don't have ANY that can be read from more than 10 feet away, in most cases don't have ANY, and those they do have aren't on street corners or above intersections but on small signs tacked to buildings at the second floor level that can't be seen until you've driven past and it's too late, and remember you're ALREADY confused from the left/right/left switch in orientation -- it took a little longer to get out of Dublin than planned.
So, after arriving in Kilkenny, a very cool medieval city that once was the capital of Ireland, we only
had time for a quick walk-by of Kilkenny Castle, the old city area, and the Black Abbey, an 800-year old stone church still serving as a Dominican parish church today, followed by a real Irish dinner -- sea bass, a steak, and an ale -- and a lively 'session' of live traditional Irish music in a local pub. Tomorrow, self-guided tours of several local historical sites -- the castle, St. Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower, the Rock of Cashel -- and the long drive to Dingle.
We're wishing we could stay here in Kilkenny for an extra day, rather than picking up and moving on after just one night. That's a pretty good rule of thumb for any traveling, we think!
While it did rain for about 30 minutes during the Dublin-Kilkenny drive, it was again a mostly sunny day here on the Emerald Isle . . . we're feeling truly blessed and spoiled by the great, apparently out-of-character weather.
Slainte!
Sharon and Mike / Mom and Dad
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Rex
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Yeah, driving a car with everything on the other side, not to mention having to be on the other side is no easy chore, huh Mike. I'll bet your copilot was cool calm and collected....