Day 9 - Dublin

Yesterday we left our beautiful hotel on the hill in Cork and made our way toward Dublin.  There was really only one thing on the agenda and it was to see the Rock of Cashel.

And here are a bunch of pictures of the outside.

And here are some of the inside.

And here are some pictures of the grounds.

And here's this.

We made one more stop in Kildare for some lunch and then it was back into the city.  It was actually very sad and touching to say goodbye to Kevin.  He had driven us over 1100 miles in our 7 days together and had regaled us with stories and given us all of the information we could ever ask for.  Besides that, he handled a lot of ridiculous roads with ease and was happy every single second we spent with him.  Kevin made us rethink our general attitude toward life.  He is a truly lovely man.  Here are a few of our favorite sayings of his:

1. Tough as nuts

2. Holiday makers

3. (About a golf course built on a mountain)...You needed one long leg and one short leg to play.

4. You can tell the Irish on the beaches in Florida because they're as red as a turkey cock.

5. (I don't remember the context) They were belting the lard out of one another.

6. He's been in court more times than I've had dinners.

7. You couldn't see my heels for dust!

Think it was windy for our goodbye picture?

We had thought about doing a bit more sight seeing once back in Dublin but the Merrion was too wonderful a place to leave and so we stayed in and relaxed until our dinner at 8:00. 

It was a truly wonderful trip.  Ireland is truly, even with it's weather, a lovely, genteel, magical country.  I'm not sure we met a surly person our whole time there.  I'm not sure we heard more than one or two car horns the whole time we were there and trust me, the driving is nuts.  I would say it's just what I wanted it to be.  I feel like one could spend a lifetime driving around just to see the little towns and what is around every corner.  All one would need is a lifetime supply of Lipitor.  The food was good but it's comfort food and it's heavy and every meal comes with all manner of potatoes.  Oh, and Guiness and Guiness and more Guiness.  

Lastly, I want to thank my brother and sister-in-law who were so generous to celebrate this round number of mine with me and Rebecca.  It's not a small thing to be able to spend 16 hours a day - 6+ of which were in a car - with family and not have a moment of unhappiness or discomfort.  The whole thing couldn't have been easier.  I'll always remember it and cherish it.