Trip to Ireland

Friday we left Llangollen after breakfast and drove to Holyhead. It was on one of their main roads, but to us it is more like a country lane through the Wales countryside. Semi's and tour bus navigate it no problem. What just blows my mind is not only are the roads narrow but cars park along side (well really in one of the lanes) so you have to navigate around them. It is wild, so to say that I breathed a long sigh of relief when we turned the car back to Hertz up in Holyhead is a huge understatement, which if you know me you'll totally understand. Thankfully Steve has been patience with me and has tried to calm my nerves. It was Karissa's first time with the driving experience in the rental car. We were well up the road and she made the discovery that Steve was driving, she had thought I was driving because of where I was sitting.

It is beautiful country in the North of Wales. It was raining so there was a beautiful rainbow arching between the hills filled with sheep. Was also wonderful to see the holstein dairy cows grazing in the pastures, a site that I miss at home. The ferry ride was not too bad, but it was foggy so the view was not great. It is raining here in Dublin also, but the locals are very happy as it has been really dry. Steve booked us at a Marriott north of Dublin in a newer area that was just a farming village 15 years ago. It is really nice to stay in a hotel built in my lifetime. It feels so comfortable here, makes you feel like home, green fields, rain, low clouds, 65 degrees, and standard Marriott services. All that combined with being this far into our travels, WE CRASHED BIG TIME, slept into until 10AM.

Karissa can't seem to get enough food, sleep and the internet since we picked her. At the inn in Llangollen the food is included and they serve a three course dinner. Karissa had no problem eating all three courses- fruit salad, chicken and rice dinner, and a large piece of strawberry cheesecake. Then after swimming she was in the room looking for a snack. She fell asleep early and slept in the car, on the ferry, in the taxi, and took a nap after 4PM tea with the rest of us. There is internet in our room here so she best get her fill before we head out again.

Cathy will come fetch us this morning. Then who know what will be on the agenda. We are hoping to meet up with Keddies Sunday Evening and watch the World Cup together.

Hope you are all surviving the heat. We are enjoying to cool rains here in Dublin.