Day 4: We woke up early, loaded onto the motor coach, and drove around Cardiff do view the beautiful city. We were able to stop and visit Cardiff Castle and do a little shopping before making our way over St. Georges Channel via the slowest ferry ever. After 4 extremely long hours on the ferry we reached solid ground and departed for our next stop-Waterford. Our hotel was right along the river and we had a wonderful view. That evening we had a dinner as a group and enjoyed some of the local Ireland food.
Day 5: We woke up the next morning and took a walking tour of Waterford. Our guide was great and the information he had on Waterford and the early vikings was interesting. Come to find out he has been to 2 states in the United States: Montana and Idaho. How random is that?! Later that day we stopped in Kildare to visit the Irish National Stud. This place would have been my grandfathers dream. What beautiful horses and grounds. While there we were able to "meet" a horse that costs $70,000 for his stud services. WOW!! He just stood in the field as if he knew he was THE STUD. For lunch we didn't understand anything on the menu so I went for the safe bet and ordered a baked potato--I still have no clue what was in that potato. I think everything but the kitchen sink. That evening we stayed in Dublin in a hotel right along the river. It was great until the hotel lost Devin's suitcase for over 3 hours. They had placed it in an empty room and just thought it would miraculously find it's way to the correct owners. Devin and I decided to take a walk and locate the Hard Rock Cafe. We had an enjoyably expensive American meal and toured the city for a little bit longer.
Day 6: After taking an orientation drive of Dublin we stopped at Trinity College and toured the museum and was able to see the Book of Kells. This place was hot and everything smelled like really old musty books. After existing the museum we had to walk thru a gift shop (just like getting off a ride at Disneyland-always a gift shop) and we saw a girl who passed out. She actually looked dead---they dragged her outside and called for help but in the meantime was just trying to wake her up. Devin went over to help and I sat out of the way. After a LONG time-a medical person showed up and looked lost. Not sure what he was planning on doing. Note to others traveling to Ireland: Don't get sick b/c you may not recover and help takes forever! After the college tour we had the entire afternoon to tour the city. Devin and I went to the park and watched the Worlds Best street performers. This was pretty fun and there were even break dancers from New York performing. We walked throughout the streets and enjoyed the atmosphere Dublin had to offer. We went back to the hotel to get ready for our evening dinner and tour of the Guinness Storehouse. Devin was in heaven! We toured the brewery and it was very interesting. Devin was able to taste test a Guinness and taste test some more. Dinner was wonderful and the dessert was even better. Since we were part of a private tour- the building was open late just for us and we were able to do some shopping at the gift shop. We arrived back at the hotel around 10:00 and I needed ice cream. Since there wasn't anything in the hotel, we had to walk to the nearest McDonald's which was blocks away. The long walk was worth it--that was one of the best Sundays I've had.
Overall all Ireland was pretty but not what I expected. I expected rolling hills and rock fences with castles and open green farm land. Nope- this isn't was we experienced. We were probably on the wrong side of the island but Ireland is so commercial. Everywhere you turned there was a KFC, Subway, McDonald's, Burger King, and Starbucks. It was like you were walking down a street in the United States.
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