Ireland

Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

The glass walls of the gravity bar are very cool and also a little unnerving.

Diego’s perfect pint

This is the water display — an ode to the importance of the water source, the Wicklow Mountains.

Details were not spared in this building. This is a small piece of an enormous bronze sculpture that is part of the transportation display.

This is a more different piece of an enormous bronze sculpture that is part of the transportation display.

The building is full of little moments like this one. <3

Serving up the good stuff in Gravity Bar

Heading toward the Storehouse…even the approach is cool.

Heading up to the top floor to take in the views from Gravity Bar.

Hanging out in the Gravity bar with a 360 view of Dublin

Here’s the brewing process for inquiring minds.

There was a huge wall of casks from the display about the coopers (cask makers).

We also met Christian and Rose (love them) from California at the Guinness Storehouse. Here’s a blurry photo of us heading into the Storehouse together after I needed to inquire about Christian’s sweater, which proudly bears the image of a kitten. That is an awesome sweater.

ireland 22553818_10155779949704931_1343933031_o

One of their most recognizable ad campaigns.

The tasting room was full of white mist coming from several different barrels each representing different flavor notes in the Guinness. It was rad.

Jameson Distillery, Dublin

Our wonderfully weird waiter at JJ’s.

Temple bar and Dublin sights

Artichokes flower!!! Mind blown.

THE Temple Bar

The bakeries were mouth watering.

Cool details abound in the city…this is the base of a street light. St. Patrick’s cathedral is peeking out in the background.

John’s Lane Cathedral

Love locks on the Ha’penny Bridge. Fun fact, the city has to remove these from time to time due to the maintenance issues the little rust producers cause. The last removal weighed in at 300KG/661LBS!

Cool bronze casts of Viking artifacts set into sidewalk pavers throughout the city give a nod to the city’s Nordic roots.

The Ha’penny Bridge over the Liffey River

Yum!

A bird with tude and a rainbow

Diego’s favorite shop of the day.

Another view of the Ha’penny Bridge

Elmira, New York!

A chill afternoon in the courtyard of Trinity College

Christ Church Cathedral

Courtyard of Trinity College

The Spire on famed O’Connell Street

Aran Islands

Actual working water fountain

Heading into Doolin

Kinsale’s harbor

I made a friend at dinner. Her name is Poppy.

Lefty

Trying not to ralph

The complex maze of stone fences double as property boundaries

View from O’Brien’s Castle

Inisheer taxi

One of the ferries

Heading to our homestay

We were the only passengers

Cliffs of Moher

DCIM100GOPROG0151619.JPG

standard travel pose

our “hike”

DCIM100GOPROG0171679.JPG

DCIM100GOPROG0141606.JPG

DCIM100GOPROG0141597.JPG

standard travel pose as near to the edge of the cliff as I dared to stand

DCIM100GOPROG0161628.JPG

Roadtrip in Southern Ireland

Glendalough Monastic Settlement: A beautiful old monastery situated in Wicklow National Park.

A cemetery in Kilkenny.

Flowers make me think of my friend Heather.

Artichokes flower!!! Mind blown.

So obedient!

Kinsale’s harbor

Kilkenny

From the road

Our little red charriot

Adorable Kilkenny…

Diego’s favorite shop of the day.

The bakeries were mouth watering.

From the road

Cork’s English Market is like a farmer’s market on steroids. It has been around since 1788, it’s in the center of the city, and it’s chock full of family businesses. It is absolutely darling in every respect.