IRELAND!!!

This year, when Bob asked where I'd like to visit on vacation, I thought a little and decided that Ireland would be a great place to visit.  It's always green, no snakes, and it's the home of Guinness beer.  How could we go wrong there?  So off we went.

We decided to rent a car and drive around Ireland ourselves, so we rented a little VW Golf, and we had a very fun time.....after Bob learned how to drive a standard shift car while sitting on the wrong side of the car, while driving on the LEFT side of the road, with his wife (me) in a near panic most, no, all of the first day we were there.  It was rough, but we made it to our first B&B without a scratch.

Our hosts were very friendly, and they recommended a pub in a nearby town for our first dinner in Ireland, along with our first genuine Guinness.  The fish and chips and Guinness were both very tasty indeed!  ha

Our hosts sat and chatted with us in the evening, telling us the history of Ireland and their little town, and they treated us to some very delicious apple pie.  Good old American apple pie tastes good where ever you are!

We couldn't decide between visiting Kilkenny Castle or the Rock of Cashel.  They thought we'd enjoy Kilkenny Castle and we took their advice.

Kilkenny Castle was built during the 13th Century, and later became the principal Irish residence of the Butler family for almost 600 years.  People actually lived there until 1935!  Can you imagine living in a genuine castle?  The castle was huge, with thick walls and slits in the castle walls to shoot arrows through.

Some of the bedrooms were open so we could see typical bedrooms from the era, including this child's bedroom.

During the restoration they cut away part of the walls so the ancient part was visible.

Isn't it pretty the way the flowers grow in the old rock walls?  Ireland is so beautiful

Waterford was our next stop, and, since it was once a Viking port, we discovered a replica of a Viking ship,

a restored Viking watch tower, and......

 this very handsome Viking Warrior!

Yep, dinner was at a local pub where we both had another Guinness and sampled genuine Waterford Blaas.  Too bad I forgot to take a picture of the Blaas, but trust me, they were good.  Actually a Blaa is a soft bread roll baked only in Waterford and well worth a taste when you're there.

 Wait, that's a Blaa on the left beside my Guinness!

 Waterford is a pretty little town, and we enjoyed our walk to the Waterford Crystal Visitors Center.

I really thought the crystal center would be just another tourist trap, but we were both surprised and happy to find the tour was quite interesting. 

They showed us the molds that are used for special pieces. Because they're carved out of wood they can only be used a few times.

These guys have good lungs!  I missed the shot, but they blow through the metal bar to form a large ball of molten glass which they then shape into the form they want it to be.

They do have plans and drawings, but they cut the glass using memory.  A grid drawn onto the glass before it's cut is their only guide.

This shows a glass bowl from beginning to end.  On the right we see the plain, glass bowl, and the left the finished product.

Can you see the grid?  The glass cutters apprentice for five years!

Waterford Crystal makes The People Choice Awards, and we were given a chance to hold one.  "I would like to thank my husband and daughters for their support!"  ha!

Yes, of course we bought some Waterford Crystal before leaving, and you can come visit us to see our selection!

Next stop:  Cork!