(click here for pictures) After almost a full morning of waiting, it was time to drop off the kids. I think they were more excited than we were. Reagan made sure that we gave her and her brothers seven kisses since we will be gone seven nights. Check in at Little Rock was simple. We even saw someone famous-we don't really know who it was but others were getting his autograph. We also saw the largest belt buckle ever-must have been 12 inches tall and 20 inches wide. Robby wouldn't let me take a picture. Our Chicago flight was running late -- by an hour at first mention but ended up only being 30 minutes late. We made it to our gate in plenty of time and were soon boarding the plane for Dublin.The Dublin flight went by fairly quickly. Supper was (chewy) beef and mashed potatoes or chicken (with lots of veggies) and rice. After dinner we watched Hotel for Dogs. We must have slept some because soon it was breakfast time-a little lite but adequate (a yummy crossiant, yogurt and juice). We landed in Dublin-stopped by the bathrooms, atm and grabbed a muffin (which Robby later got all over his pants) before picking up our rental car.
The rental car-everything is just wrong over here. Robby is on the wrong side and I am on the wrong side too (I have probably worn a hole in the floor from braking with my foot) People drive like mad, it is hard to see everything and the pedestrians all have a death wish. But soon Robby was driving like the rest of them (my blood pressure is just now returning to normal). He has gotten the hang of it and has even circled the blocks just a few times-because he likes too! He did say that driving was messing with his mind. We drove right to the Guinness Storehouse -- the free parking was full so we headed to another parking garage.
After walking a few blocks this way and a few blocks that way, we finally caught a double decker city tour bus. We saw a number of sights: Kilmainham goal, O'Connell Street and the O'Connell Street Bridge. We got off of the bus at Trinity College and viewed the Book of Kells. But I thought the Long Hall -- which looked like an ancient library with 2 floors of books -- was much more interestng.
Afterwards, Robby decided that we were near our hotel and wanted to check in. We walked for a number of blocks-many many blocks. Then we decided that we had missed it and turned around and had walked many of those same blocks again before seeing a map and realizing that we hadn't missed it and still had to walk some more. Anyway, after a long, long walk we made it to the hotel and expected to check in easily. Not so, they couldn't find Robby's reservation and didn't seem to know what to do with his reservation number. After waiting well over an hour, we finally left (after they assured us we would have a room). So then we had that long walk back to O'Connell Street and we were starving. We had been battling the rain all day and it finally poured when we ducked into Burger King for lunch. We have stayed pretty dry-we each have jackets and umbrellas and even have ponchos that we haven't pulled out yet. But my pants and both of our shoes and socks were drenched.
The rain slowed after our burgers and we hit to sight seeing again. We walked across the Ha'Penny Bridge to Grafton Street to see all of the shops. On the way there, we walked through Temple Bar and I even had my picture made with the Subway man (Not Jared, just a character dressed up like a sandwich). The next stop has been my favorite in Dublin-St. Stephen's Green. It is a beautiful little park in the middle of the city-ducks, swans, flowers-absolutely gorgeous. Next we did a little shopping for one of the kids and then caught the bus back at Trinity College. We rode until St. Patrick's Cathedral and hopped off. The cathedral was beautiful and the bells chimed for what seemed like forever.
It was only a short walk to the Dublin Castle and then back on the bus to the Guinness Storehouse-right where we had begun our day. We looked around inside and then picked up our car. It seemed like it was rush hour traffic but Robby made it fine to our hotel even though there was lots of road construction and detours. He did have a little help from the GPS-which is working perfectly over here. We have parked on the street and think we can avoid the overnight parking fee and only have to pay the meter rate (we will see!).
After getting our room, we unpacked and tried to dry our shoes before walking a few blocks back to the grocery store. Sighseeing makes you hungry so we picked up sandwich stuff for tonight and the next few days. I (Tara) got the spiciest mustard ever-Robby likes it and I can't even eat it! We tried out our "magic jack" and have made a few phone calls - works perfectly. The kids are doing fine-Graham stayed with Grannymom while Reagan and Anderson went to school today.
We are as far north as Ketchikan, Alaska-so it is a little chilly here but it is also daytime...even at 9 at night. Amazing-wonder if we will be able to sleep?
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