Planes, trains and automobiles.

This past week was half-term- meaning we had two whopping days of hard work at school and then off to Ireland for the week! We took a bus from Cambridge to London, a train from London to Chester, a train from Chester to Holyhead, then a ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and then did it all over again. I guess the title should really be, "Boats, trains and autmobiles," but that just doesn't sound as good. We stayed in Dublin for the first four days, Galway for the next two and then back to Dublin. Dublin was beautiful! Our hostel was close to the River Liffy and rated the number one hostel in Europe! Needless to say, our first hostel spoiled us for the second...

In Dublin we went to the Kilmanhaim Jail, the Old Kilmainham Hospital which is now home to the Modern Art Museum (whose pedestrian pathway was so beautiful, it almost seemed fake), the Guiness Factory, St. Patrick's Cathedral and park, and a few Starbucks along the way (we won't mention the McDonalds or the Burger King except to say that McDonalds had curly fries and a Rolo McFlurry that was absolutely not made with real Rolos). On Monday Dublin hosted a marathon, so I got my yearly marathon fix in since I'll be missing Dad in the Richmond Marathon this year! Afterward we went to lunch at a small cafe. When we asked what the soup of the day was, the waitress told us, in a very matter-of-fact tone (one which implied it should be obvious), "it's bank holiday, no soup." Still not quite sure what bank holiday is, but definitely skeptical.


On Tuesday we took a break from Dublin (rough life) and took a train to Galway for two days. Galway is a beautiful town, home to the Spanish Arch, the famous Claddagh Village and close to the Cliffs of Moher. Although rainy most of the time we were there, we took a bus tour to some caves (not very exciting ones, almost felt like a repeat of our field trip to the Luray Caverns), the Cliffs of Moher, which were beautiful, and a few other picture stops at castles and cathedrals. We also tried mushy peas (delicious!) and saw traditional Irish dance and music. Then back to Dublin, and finally, back to our clean B&B in Cambridge! We made a lot of friends along the way - a French Rugby Team, a Canadian who has a lot to say, an Austrian enjoying his "whooper" from burger king, and many a tour guide, but it's nice to be home. Tomorrow is Halloween and then off to our first full week of school!