Trip Across the Pond: July 29

Monday, July 29

            Today we off for a bit of sightseeing, first on the list is the Guinness Storehouse Brewery.  Of course, a free taste is waiting when you finish the tour.  We learned how to build the perfect pint and got a certificate to prove we can do it.  After hitting the gift shop, we headed out once again. 

            The weather is quite unpredictable- sunny one minute and a downpour the next.  We head to the nearest tree or overhang and bring an umbrella and raincoat whenever we are out and about. 

            The other thing we discovered- bringing the correct electrical plug adapter can be tricky.  Luke, Lynne, and the Apple store clerk, all told me the UK adapter would not work and I needed to bring the European adapter instead.  So I left all my UK adapters behind at Dave & Lynne’s.  Guess what they use the UK electrical outlets here and I can’t charge any of my gadgets.  Now I know I am on vacation and should turn off my phone and should have left my computer at home, but I need my iPad to read and my computer to blog- right? I’m just a techie at heart. So to make a long story even longer, we have been trying to find the Apple store for two days. 

            After leaving Guinness, we headed down to City Centre and over to Trinity College.  Adam works for George Washington University in DC and this college is associated with GWU.  Also, The Book of Kells, is housed in the Berkley Library.  I loved walking through the library and inhaling the sent of old books.  

            The search for the Apple store continues: Adam has the map and Mark asked for directions and it is pouring rain. We managed to walk completely around the block and end up where we started, giving up we asked someone at the Tourism Information shop, and found out it was 4 shops down, directly across from the exit for Trinity College.  But hey it was worth it, I can now charge all my gadgets and again post on my blog.

            We met up with the rest of the family for supper at an Irish Pub with live music.  The Irish are certainly a lively group. I love it.

Trip Across the Pond: July 28

Sunday, July 28

We were all up early and on the road to the Cardiff airport by 5:45.  We made it to Ireland and met up with a very tired Micah and a sick and tired Adam.  The taxi driver that took us to the hotel, was like a tour guide/Dublin historian all in one.  We are staying at the Maldron Hotel in Tallaght.  It is quite a ways from Town Centre in Dublin- 19 tram stops to be exact. In other words we are at the end of the line.

Once we were settled, we took off for Tesco’s, a few blocks down the street, to get supplies.  There is always so much to figure out when traveling in a foreign country and a large city.  Where is the tram and how do you use it to get from place to the other.  Where do we eat in Dublin?  Luke has been to Dublin before, so was able to steer us in the right direction to walk over the beautiful bridges to the Temple Bar neighborhood, which is filled with cafes, pubs, and shops. We found a great pub, Merchant Arch, with live music and excellent fish ‘n chips, my favorite.  There was plenty of room for Gruffy to exercise his legs up and down stairs.

Micah, Mark, Adam, and I walked around the city a bit, after Luke and Em took Gruffy back to the hotel.  Micah did some major souvenir shopping. 

The tram ride back was interesting and a bit scary.  A drunk woman got on that was screaming a stream of cuss words, the driver stopped and talked to her, she still wouldn’t settle down.  About two stops down, he stopped again and 2 security guards got on and took her off.  Unfortunately, by the time we were nearing our stop, there were only the 3 of us and two drunken guys (around 30, I’d say), and a lady left.  They kept eyeing us and moved to the seats behind us. I was sure their intent was to rob us.  When we got off the tram, Micah looked back and they were being rather lewd to the lady before running off.  No more after dark trips on the tram.

Trip Across the Pond: July 26 & 27

Friday, July 26

            It’s Lynne’s birthday today and she has planned a tea for the family.  This means sandwiches, lots of finger foods, and sweets.  It was great to see her mom, brother, and her sister, Claire with her 2 girls and husband family.  Gwenda stopped by as did Dave’s sister, Julie. Sarah, Louie, and Fione were at a wedding- I teased them that I had come all the way from Iowa to celebrate Lynne’s birthday and they only had an hour drive and couldn’t make it.

            We’ve started packing for Ireland.  Gruffy has his own little Gruffalo suitcase.  Another “oh, wow” moment for him.

Saturday, July 27

            Lynne and Emma have a ‘hen’ party (bachelorette) for Em's cousin Leanne.  So Luke & Gruff took us on a nice drive to a beach.  Even though it was partly cloudy, it was still gorgeous.  Nothing more fun for a kid then sand and water.

            Wales is such a beautiful country, with mountains, ocean, and everything a lush green. 

Trip across the pond: July 24 & 25

Wednesday, July 24

            Every morning we sit outside our hotel and wait for one of the Powell’s to pick us up.  Another couple from the UK is staying at our hotel and we seem to be outside at the same time. We are enjoying chatting with them daily.

            Today we went to ASDA’s to get food, the UK’s version of Walmart. I’m going to make fish tacos with guacamole salad and cucumber salsa.  Mark baked, Grandma Casper’s Butterscotch Chocolate Chip cookies.

            Mark buzzed around the backyard field on the riding lawnmower with Gruffy.  I’m not sure who had more fun.

            We’ve had very relaxing days.  Mark manages to nap with Gruffy most days. It is such a blessing to spend time with our Welsh family. 

            Gruffydd is a character, he loves to play outside, walk the dogs, and ride in his little car.  He plays with matchbox cars – lining them up and pushing them off the settee.  He learns new words everyday, parroting everything we say.  One day he picked up his travel potty (which looks like a suitcase) by the handle and walked around saying “morning” whenever he passed us. He has a wonderful imagination turning sticks into lasers or swords and hiding in Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs. Since the weather has cooled down a bit, he is in a much better mood. He still has tantrums one minute and all smiles the next.  Ah, the life of a 2 year-old.

Thursday, July 25

            Another quiet day- ran a few errands and then playtime with Gruff.  I worked on supper: I’m cooking Linguine Chicken Ragu, garlic bread, and strawberry spinach salad.  It’s challenging to find ingredients that match my US recipes.  Especially when cooking Mexican, that is not as popular here with one little shelf of items.  Indian food is much easier to do, as there are many shelves full of spices, rice, Naan, etc.

            We are looking forward to our trip to Ireland.  Micah and Adam will fly in to Dublin on Sunday morning from the states.  Luke, Emma, Gruff, Mark, and I will  fly from Cardiff to Dublin, arriving around 9:30.  Hopefully, we will all connect in baggage claim.  Our family has not been on a trip together since 2000, when Adam graduated from high school.  It should be interesting: 6 adults with a 2 year-old.  I’m thinking Gruff will be my excuse for not hiking and going shopping instead.

Trip across the pond: July 23

Tuesday, July 23

            Emma had a spa appointment in Cardiff so I rode along to run some errands and do a little shopping at St. David’s Mall.  I love shopping in Cardiff.  St. David’s is a huge mall with tons of shops.  The Apple store was my destination for a European adapter for my iPad, etc. and Starbucks for a Wales mug (I broke mine right before leaving on my trip. 

Cardiff is a cool city with an interesting downtown area.  There are arcades with interesting little shops on both sides of a slate walkway.  Lots of places to dine, when I was ready for lunch I headed out of the mall and looked for a café that had AC.  The food wasn’t very tasty, but I did get fizzy water with some ice.

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales.  Cardiff Castle is a must see & it is right in the middle of the shopping district.  I’m hoping to stay a couple of days in Cardiff with the boys before we go home, since we are all flying from the Cardiff airport.