Heading Home June 9 and 10

Heading Home June 9 and 10

So here I sit 36000 feet in the air on my way home. I do have one last travel post to update first from yesterday, and then maybe a few comments about various things during the trip.

Since Rita and I have spent time in Dublin before we decided to do a day trip out of Dublin. This time is was across country to the Connemara Coast and Killary Harbour for a boat ride. It does sound strange to say a drive across country but in Ireland that is about 3 hours. It was a long day, but enjoyable nonetheless. Our first stop was Kylemore Abbey. It's run by Benedictine Nuns now, but was first built as a manor house by an Earl for his wife since she so loved Connemara. She died shortly after they moved in and the Earl could not stand to stay there. It was given to the nuns and run as a girls boarding school until about 2010. Now the grounds and gardens are taken care of by the nuns.

Next was Killary Harbour. Killary is a natural fjord created by the ice age and the only one of its kind in Ireland. It is 14 miles long and used mostly for raising salmon and mussels. You could see the floats for the beds all along the harbour as we cruised. It's also a beautiful cruise to take and enjoy more of Ireland's incredible scenery. I dozed off and on during the trip back. Must have been all the fresh air. :)

We arrived back at 8:00 (I forgot to mention that we were up at 6:00am for a 6:50 departure for this trip) and had reservations at my favorite Dublin place, Gallagher's Boxty House in Temple Bar. The food is delicious there.

It was after 10:00 when we arrived back at the hotel and still had to get packed for today.

This morning our cabbie from the other day picked us up and we did the check in and Customs and last minute duty free shopping at the airport. Considering we left the hotel at 8:30 for an 11:30 flight we arrived at the gate just as they were starting the boarding process.

We now have about 4.5 hours until we arrive in Chicago. I just caught up on two episodes of Game of Thrones, and have Mr. Peabody and and Sherman playing as I write.

So there is this holiday.... done for now. :)

I do have a few things to add, general comments and reflections about the trip but they may have to wait a day or two until I take care of things at home after being gone.  :)

And I will add some more pictures from the trip also.

I also would like to add a big thank you to all of you who have taken the time to follow along with Rita and I, and been so supportive in your comments.  I do hope you enjoyed reading my comments.