Ireland Trip Day 2

5-30-10

Please note that these events took place on Sunday not today. I am aware that the blog is dating it on the day I post. Sorry if there is confusion.

So we left our story on the plane and this is where we now begin...

Michael and I planned to do nothing but sleep on the plane as we would wake up at 9am in Ireland. Michael, of course, fell fast asleep. I had a little trouble. After watching about an hour of TV I finally passed out. While I was waiting on the sleep fairy, the flight attendant came around with cards we had to turn in. The cards were "landing cards" that Ireland requires all passengers to fill out unless you have a UK passport. I got myself and sleeping beauty a card and promptly fell asleep. After about four hours of tossing and turning I was done with sleeping on plane. I had somehow missed the dinner service but I do recall someone asking me if I wanted meatballs. I only remember because the smell made me slightly nauseous. . But I was delightfully awakened by my husband to receive a breakfast tray. Bellies full, air travel almost complete, we needed to fill out the landing card before the trip was finished. You had to fill out these cards with a pen. Unfortunately due to the teeny tiny travel space I had, my normal purse pen was no longer in my purse. I asked two flight attendants for a pen to no avail. I ask you, if they want you to fill out the card in pen, why do they not give you a pen? Regardless, no need to panic, a friendly seat neighbor let us borrow his. Time to enter Ireland.

We passed easily through customs and the gate agents and followed the friendly airport signs to the scariest place on earth, the Car Rentals. To travel the places we wanted to go, this was the only option. We got our Fiat and had to figure out how it worked. Because they drive on the left side of the road, that means that you have to sit on the right side and look to the right before you turn right. Panic and anxiety are two words that come to mind when I recall our first few moments in the car. We had to get a Sim card for the phone and a road map for the directions so Michael programmed our new GPS to take us to the nearest mall. We successfully navigated the left side of the road and also the round-a-bouts to make it to the mall only to realize it is Sunday and they don't open until 12pm. So what to do until then? We had breakfast (which really feels like lunch to our bodies) at the local McDonalds. That is not an Irish restaurant folks. It was a good ole American Micky D's. The menu was somewhat different and the coffee was horrible but it was neat to eat there nonetheless.

After acquiring our booty, we traveled to our rental home for the first week of the trip in Kenmare, County Kerry. The roads started out easy enough to drive because they were two lane highways. Then they went down to two lane roads. Next they went to two lane suggestions. That means that the bigger car wins. It was like playing a game of chicken for two hours. Who will pull over first? Which car will make it? Did you hear any scraping? One of the guide books says to "edge over to the left. The vegetation will gently whisk your car but hardly ever scratches". Michael was gently whisking the crap out of our car. Not only was it unnatural to drive on the left, you also had to be a daredevil. The speed limit was posted at 120 KM/ hour. These roads were clearly not made for that speed. I am surprised we made it alive to the house. In addition, we were both falling asleep due to severe jet lag.

Finally we made it to the house. The views were beautiful. We stopped at a Grocery Store to pick up some daily needs and also to get dinner. We had to plan the evening carefully because we needed to keep busy in order to stay awake. We took showers, ate dinner, went on a walk, watched TV, and it was hard! Finally we made it to 9pm and we went to bed. It was still light outside when our eyes shut and it was light when we opened them 12 hours later. Needless to say, I felt very rested.

Day three is next with our first exploring adventure. Stay tuned in!

Have a blessed evening and thanks for reading my blog.