En Route
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Complimentary champagne and champagne glasses. Not a bad way to start off the marriage!
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A very empty Green Bay Airport...encounter first delay due to bad weather in Chicago.
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Missed our connection in Chicago...but talked the booking agent into rerouting us to Toronto via First Class!
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First Class Cheese plate...with brie!
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Ken enjoying his Air Canada beverage
Belfast, Ardee, and the Backroads of Ireland
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After 18 hours of travel and two missed flight connections, we finally made it to Ireland!
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Our reward
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Our next challenge: tackling the layout of cars in the UK.
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Badass.
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The town of Ardee, Co. Louth. Approx. one hour north of Dublin.
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2011-08-07
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O'Flynn's pharmacy: our savior after losing our luggage en route.
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Coffee (my other savior)
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Ardee Castle.jpg
The largest fortified medieval tower house in Ireland.
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2011-08-08
ArdeeCastle.jpg
ArdeeCastle.jpg 2011-08-08
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OnewayBridge.jpg
Just as we were getting used to driving through a maze of roundabouts, a reverse driver's seat, and staying on the left side of the road, we encountered one of Ireland's many the one-way bridges.
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2011-08-08
Galway
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Finally reaching our first hotel in Ireland.
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Victory.
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Nothing like a frothy glass of Guinness after a long day of travel.
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Irish/German beers front and center.
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Made some new friends as the evening progressed...
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Tired...
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...but so tired as to prevent me from updating Ken's relationship status!
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In case we didn't get our fill of wedding materials the first time around (outside the window of our hotel room).
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Our first experience with public transport in Ireland...Ken forgets to bring Euros...
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John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, officially known as Eyre Square within City Centre Galway.
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2011-08-09
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2011-08-09
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2011-08-09
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Originally the entrance to the Browne family mansion in Abbeygate street (dated 1627).
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2011-08-09
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GalwayEyre2.jpg 2011-08-08
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Our first official pub stop in Ireland - Skeffington Arms ("The Skeff")
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CoupleGalway.jpg
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First of many seafood chowder samplings.
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Keg levers right at the table
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The medieval architecture of The Skeff
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2011-08-09
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Side streets of Galway
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Oscar Wilde and Co.
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Performers reminiscent of NYC
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2011-08-09
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2011-08-09
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2011-08-09
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The River Corrib, which connects Lough (Lake) Corrib to Galway Bay.
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Walking in the direction of Galway Bay
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Stopped at this "Old Man's Bar" per the suggestion of a street shop vendor. A good find.
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BeerGalway.jpg
Salivated over these kegs just begging to be consumed. Then noticed some free Druid cider in a grocery bag at our feet...SCORE!
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One of only two Papa Johns sightings in Ireland :(
Ennis, Bunratty, and the Cliffs of Moher
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Ennis: a town of interesting past times
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countryside.jpg 2011-08-10
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"Just you and me, and the road ahead."
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On the grounds of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
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2011-08-10
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2011-08-10
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Historic village within Bunratty Folk Park
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Slippy?
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First up-close view of Bunratty Castle.
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Medieval string performance within the castle.
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Day 3...still attired in our travel garb.
In Celtic cultures, honeymead or "Mead" was to be consumed every day by newlyweds for one full moon after their wedding. Mead was thought to confer the qualities of virility and fertility. From this tradition sprung the term "Honeymoon."
Announcement.jpg
Call to dinner
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BunrattyCeiling.jpg 2011-08-10
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Announcement from the host...there's trouble a-brewing across the land...
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Group performances including "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," "Danny Boy," and authentic Irish tunes.
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Serenade.jpg 2011-08-10
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Ready to chow down
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Made some new Italian and Austrian friends
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Take Two
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mmmmm
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Back at Auburn Lodge later that same evening, Ken befriends a Ohioan!
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Reunited.jpg
Finally reunited with my luggage on Day 4 of our trip...and it feels so good.
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Day 2 in Ennis: the bear emerges from his cave.
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Don't.jpg
do this...
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you want this
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2011-08-10
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Ocean.jpg
View of the Atlantic Ocean from the cliffs.
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Our apologies - the fog is shrouding a gorgeous view of the ocean hitting the rocks below the cliffs.
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The Edge
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2011-08-11
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O'Brien's tower. Built by Sir Cornelius O'Brien, a descendant of High King Brian Boru.
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Serious Husband
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Badd@.jpg 2011-08-10
ErinCliffs2.jpg
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View from the seaside town of Lahinch, a 10-minute drive from the Cliffs.
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2011-08-11
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The Atlantic
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People swimming and surfing in 60-degree weather!
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View from our restaurant on the water at Lahinch.
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Downtown Lahinch
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Dinner at O'Looney's Bar, right on the beach
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They need this sign in just about every American restaurant.
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Ring of Kerry
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Heading south from Ennis toward the Ring of Kerry
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A church in the lovely town of Tralee.
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Sort of looks like they live in hobbit holes here in Tralee.
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Driving through Killarney on our way to Kenmare - both cities within the Ring of Kerry.
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2011-08-12
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At Sheen Falls Lodge, wherein we befriended "The Chatty Man" Patrick Hurley.
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2011-08-12
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View from the front door of Sheen Falls
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Executive suite overlooking the falls.
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Sheen Falls
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2011-08-14
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2011-08-14
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2011-08-14
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2011-08-14
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2011-08-12
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Going out for dinner in Kenmare, a 10-minute drive from Sheen Falls Lodge.
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Murphys.jpg
KenmareBand.jpg
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Lamb shank and fajita dinner :)
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Jambone1.jpg
They do exist!
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SheenFallsRose.jpg
An encouraging gesture
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5...4...3...2..1.
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Day 2 in the Ring of Kerry: Horseback riding
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2011-08-12
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2011-08-12
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View on horseback
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KenHorse.jpg
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
HillView.jpg
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Near Ladies View at Killarney National Park
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
KenKillarney4.jpg
2011-08-13
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Ken didn't realize I was taking these photos of him running :)
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RingofKerry.jpg
KillarneyNatPark4.jpg
2011-08-13
KenSits.jpg
KerryBigRock.jpg
KillarneyWaters.jpg
Upper Lake, one of the three lakes within Killarney National Park.
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KillarneyWoods.jpg
2011-08-13
WheresKen.jpg
2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
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KenHuffing,Part2.jpg
2011-08-13
KingoftheWorld.jpg
2011-08-13
KillarneyPark5.jpg
Upper Lake, take 2
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2011-08-13
KillarneyWaters3.jpg
2011-08-13
KenKillarney2.jpg
2011-08-13
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KillarneyForest.jpg
KillarneyLakeBest.jpg
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MistyMountains3.jpg 2011-08-12
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At Killarney National Park in the Ring of Kerry
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2011-08-13
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Pathway leading to O'Sullivan's Cascade
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2011-08-13
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2011-08-13
FallsClosup.jpg
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2011-08-13
KillarneyWaters4.jpg
2011-08-13
KillarneyWaters5.jpg
2011-08-13
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Downtown Killarney
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A little late night karaoke in the lounge of Sheen Falls Lodge.
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Several round of shots to enliven our singing efforts. Paid for by The Chatty Man?
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The Chatty Man's golden retrievers
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OtherMcSor.jpg
KerryAg.jpg
Sign #19 out of 563
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Cork and Kinsale
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2011-08-13
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Maryborough Hotel in Cork
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2011-08-14
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Sneaky pic...prank #2 for the day.
(Prank #1 was shoving a fistful of cashews into Ken's mouth during an irritated moment in the car, forcing him to shut up).
(Prank #3 was pouring some water down his shirt one minute after taking this photo).
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Foyer
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BearSleeps2.JPG
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Chinese.jpg
Change of eatery selection from the usual meat and potatoes.
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Erin's favorite stout.
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McDonalds.jpg
While his wife is puking back in the hotel room, Ken thinks it'll be a good idea to pick up some pungent McDonalds to bring to her.
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Kinsale: pretty seaport town 20 minutes south of Cork.
2011-08-16
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Awesome Kinsale fish restaurant recommended to us by our singing friends back at Sheen Falls Lodge.
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2011-08-16
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On our way to Dublin.
Dublin
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Clontarf Castle, our last hotel.
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2011-08-16
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Royalty.jpg
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2011-08-16
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They upgraded us to an executive suite :)
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Living room
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From our bedroom window
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Day 8: Finally reunited!
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If luggage could talk...
Guard.jpg
Goofing around inside the castle
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Liffey.jpg
SirJohnGrayStatue.jpg
O'Connell Street
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2011-08-16
DanielOConnelBird.jpg
Daniel's probably rolling in his grave over that bird taking a dump on his likeness.
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DowntownDub2.jpg
PapaJohns2.jpg
Second Papa Johns sighting!
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DowntownDub3.jpg
DowntownDub4.jpg
DublinBusView.jpg
A single cloud.
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Brunch.jpg
Day 2 in Dublin and our last full day in Ireland: Ken's obsession with taking photos of food continues...
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Parliament Square, the "quad" of Trinity College
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2011-08-17
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Our Harry Potter-like tour guide, Marcus.
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The bell tower - the only structure on campus not torn down by Cromwell's troops.
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Rainbow
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ParkKells.jpg
Near Trinity College Library containing the Book of Kells.
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Smoke and mirrors
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A return to the Red Beard Experiment!
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Entrance to St. Stephen's Green
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2011-08-17
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Robert Emmet - feisty Irish nationalist and orator.
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Bum.jpg
Ken's obsession with bums also continues.
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Two Lovers
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Lunch breaks in the park
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2011-08-17
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Jonathan Swift grave and epitaph
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Beautiful artwork even on the floors
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I took this shot multiple times, but only once did I get this amazing golden hue.
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The national symbol of Ireland
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KenStPatrick.JPG
Legend has it the Duke of Kildare cut this hole in order to thrust his arm through it and establish a truce with the Earl of Ormond.
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"I surrender!"
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The Lady Chapel
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Glimpse.jpg
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2011-08-17
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British flags in an Irish cathedral?
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Last stop: St. James Gate
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2011-08-16
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GuinessEnter.jpg
KenGuinness5.JPG
GuinessEnter4.jpg
GuinnessFactory6.JPG
Looking up the eight floors of the Guinness Factory.
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BuildingLease2.jpg
A copy of the 9000-year lease signed by Arthur Guinness for the land occupied by the Guinness Storehouse.
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HopsSign.jpg
Slovenia was feeling underrepresented in the list of countries that can grow hops.
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ArthurGuinn.jpg
GuinnessFactory9.JPG
WaterGuin.jpg
Dingle.jpg
ErinGuin.jpg
Hallway.jpg
GeniusAd.jpg
GuinessAd.jpg
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GuinnAd2.jpg
GuinessBarrel2.jpg
GuinessBarrel.jpg
2011-08-16
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GuinessBrands.jpg
2011-08-16
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ToiletSign.jpg
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Contradictory.jpg
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360-degree views of Dublin :)
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GuinnessFactory12.JPG
Inside the Gravity Room
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GravityBar.jpg
One pint of Guinness = Drunk.
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DwellingHouse.jpg
JamesJoyce.jpg
PapaJohns3.jpg
We just couldn't resist.
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RiverLiffey4.JPG
lotsobeers.jpg
Dublin4.JPG
The River Liffey at sunset
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River Liffey
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Dublin9.JPG
Temple Bar
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Fallen.jpg
A street performer was offering money to anyone who could ride his bike over a line in the cement. This dude wasn't too successful.
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Dublin10
Ha'Penny Bridge
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I love the green lights illuminating the underbellies of the bridges.
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Dublin14.JPG
HaPennyBridge.jpg
RiverLiffey.jpg
BridgeCoup2.jpg
BridgeCoup.jpg
The End
