Planning the final details for Ireland is here. It just seems like yesterday, Bryan and I decided to start saving for our trip to the Emerald Isle. That was two in half years ago. Now it is July, the month we are leaving and besides having one small panic attack we are pretty much ready to go.
We have all the major stuff finished. Tickets, accommodations, grandparents to watch Jack, house and animals watched, car rented (click here for my post about driving on the left side of the road), etc. It's just the minor details that are stressing me out a bit. Today, I'm going today to shop for (hopefully) the final time.
We also have a tentative schedule planned while we are down there. I say tentative because we really want to just explore the country and immerse ourselves into the culture. But there are a few things on our list that we definitely want to do and experience.
From the advice of a co-worker, who lived in Ireland for 9 months, I bought the book, Ireland for Dummies even though I feel the the title on these series of books in demeaning, it really was helpful and I enjoyed reading it. While reading the book, I would find some Irish music on YouTube and highlight away as I imagined us sitting in a pub drinking Guinness or Murphy's Irish Stout.
The book was also full of useful tips. Some in particular were:
1. If sitting at the bar do not tip your bartender, instead if you enjoyed his or her service, offer to buy them a drink.
2. In Ireland, holding up your hand, palm toward you and putting up two fingers (like your ordering two drinks) is considered a very offensive gesture (similar to putting up the middle finger in the US).
We will be staying in Ireland for ten days. Again, this is just a tentative schedule, but this is the rough draft of our itinerary.
Day 1-Dublin (bus tour)
Day 2 Dublin (pub tour)
Day 3-Drive to Co. Galway and explore the town where we will be staying for seven days
Day 4-Back to Dublin (Mumford and Sons concert)
Day 5-Cliffs of Mohr and dinner in Banratty Castle
Day 6-Galway City/Aran Islands
Day 7- Co. Cork and Blarney Castle
Day 8- Co. Kerry and Dingle Peninsula
Day 9-Stay in Co. Galway
Day 10-Back to Dublin for flight in the morning
As you can see it's pretty jam packed, but I I cannot wait to explore the beautiful countryside and end our night with the locals with a pint in my hand.
If anyone has been to Ireland and would like to add some suggestions on want to see and do in Ireland I would love to hear from you!
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| The cottage we rented |
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