Slainte! DH’s first trip back home to Irland in 8 years and he’s bringing his wife and MIL PTR! About This Page:

[Lorelei528]

Who: Lori (42-this will be my 5th trip to Ireland), DH (32-he’s from Ireland, but hasn’t been home in 8 years), my mom (84-has been to Ireland once back in ’97)

What: A Welcome Home/Congratulations trip to Ireland which will include an American Thanksgiving at my Irish inlaws!

When: We leave on Thursday Nov. 19 (arriving on the 20th) and will return on Sunday Nov. 29.

Where: We will be taking Aer Lingus (Ireland’s national airline) and landing at Dublin Airport. DH is from Portlaoise, Co. Laois in the midlands, so we’ll be based out of there. My mom wants to go to Galway and we didn’t go back in ’97, so we’ll be there for 2 nights (with DH’s parents). DH and I will travel up north to Derry for one night as one of my best friends from college lives there with his wife and amazingly cute little baby. (My friend is American though, went to Derry to get his PhD.) We’ll also do a day trip to Dublin as DH has family there.

So, I’m trying to think of what has happened so far…

We decided to rent our own car for a number of reasons. First of all, our flight lands in Dublin at 5:30am and DH’s parents live like an hour and a half from there, so I didn’t want them having to wake up at 3 am or something to come get us. Also, I knew we would need a car in order to get up to Derry. Thirdly, I just thought it would be handy since we’re three extra people...I mean, I didn’t think all of us would fit into one car to go to Galway or even out to the shops or whatnot.
I did drive in Ireland and Scotland back in ’97 and found it pretty easy actually (my mom still talks about it to this day. About how I just got in the car at 6am after our flight, buckled in and just drove off. LOL…she cracks me up sometimes, she’s so cute) Plus on all my other trips to Ireland I never got to drive. I love to drive and I really loved driving over there, I don’t know why to be honest, maybe because it was an adventure, or maybe because some of the roads were small and different than what we have here. I can still remember driving up in the Highlands in Scotland….just beautiful. It took my breath away.

Anyway, so yep, we’ll be renting from Enterprise at Dublin Airport. I think I got a pretty good deal, but there was definitely some confusion when I booked it. Plus, the insurance was just recently figured out when I called my mom’s AmEx and found out about a program that costs $19.99, so I’m glad that’s all sorted, because DH and I are paying for the car and I would hate to have to spend another $300 or $400 just for insurance!
I think the only other main thing I can tell you right now is the night we get there, DH’s parents are throwing us (him) a party. I think there’s going to be a LOT of people there! And his mom told me they were having a band and some sort of Irish Dance troupe with audience participation! Ugh. This is sooo not us! . I hope she is not expecting me to get up and dance because I totally won’t and I don’t think DH will either (most Irish mothers are totally in the dark about the fact that their sons would take the $ they got each week to go to dance class and just buy cigs or beer and go hang with their friends!)
But, who’s to say? The party is probably more for them than for DH or us I guess. I do want to meet all his family and everyone though. Hopefully it’ll be a good time. I will tell you all about it when we get back and I’ll take loads of pictures!
We leave 3 weeks from today! OMG! I have so many things to do still! (well, maybe not, but it seems like it). I wish I could tell you more about the trip but I can’t think of anything right now…oh wait! There is one more thing!
DH and I are going to do a “Hawk Walk” on the grounds of Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo. I’m very excited about it! Here’s a link to the site:
www.falconry.ie
Basically, during the “Hawk Walk” you learn how to handle and fly one of the school's Harris hawks, a species renowned for their easy-going temperament and unusually sociable nature. The instructor will introduce us to your hawk and, within minutes, we will be setting off around the magnificent woodlands to fly our hawks free.
As we fly the hawk around the gardens of Ashford Castle, our instructor will explain about the history of falconry, the hawks exceptional eyesight, their speed and agility and how the hawks are trained.
It’s about an hour’s drive from Galway, so according to DH’s mom, we’ll go to Galway on Monday, stay over, then on Tuesday take a side trip so we can do the Hawk Walk and then back to Galway for another night of entertainment etc….

Let’s see, also…I finally got my passport with my new married name on it, so thank goodness as I sent it in kind of late….
I’ll call a car service a few days before we go to take us to the airport, the pet sitter is arranged…I have to bring stuff for DH’s mom which included wedding pics, so I have to work on that as well…
Can anybody think of anything else I need to do? LOL… I haven’t travelled overseas since like ’04 I think, so it’s been awhile (even longer for DH and my mom). If fact, the only trips I’ve taken (except a weekend in DC) since my last trip to Ireland has been to WDW!! LOL And the packing is not quite the same, you know?
I guess that’s it for now! I’ll update with anything that comes along in the meantime.
Thanks for reading! J

[duck addict]

Can't wait to see the TR afterwards.

[chezp]

Oh wow, what a great trip you have planned! I can imagine that driving in Scotland or Ireland would be a lot more relaxing than driving in the States - just don't try one of the cities over here, like London - that is not relaxing at all. :

[Colexis Mom]

Great plans Lori!

[Sandra Bostwick]

These are great plans! I can't wait to hear how they turn out.

[BeckiO5]

Lori, great plans! Looking foward to hearin all about it!

[Nimros]

Great plans - can't wait to hear about your 'Hawk Walk', too! (And the photos!!)

Not much longer now...

[OhToodles!]

How exciting!! I can't wait to hear about this trip!

[MGW]

How exciting! I can't wait to read all about it!

The Hawk Walk sounds great!

Have you exchanged money or told your bank and credit cards you will be out of the country? That always helps, you don't want them thinking your cards were stolen!

[pamcarey]

Sounds like a great trip! We plan on going to Ireland (and England) in 2012 or 2013, so I hope to learn a lot from your TR!

[Lorelei528]

Originally Posted by duck addict

Can't wait to see the TR afterwards.

LOL...Thanks Don! Then I'll be writing 3 TR's simultaneously! (sp?) eesh!

Originally Posted by chezp

Oh wow, what a great trip you have planned! I can imagine that driving in Scotland or Ireland would be a lot more relaxing than driving in the States - just don't try one of the cities over here, like London - that is not relaxing at all. :

Cheryl-Thanks! Yeah, I found the book I used the last time I drove over there and I'm re-reading it now. It really helped a lot actually the last time. Got me all ready for all the roundabouts etc...It's called "Driving in Britain-A North American's guide to the ins and outs and roundabouts of driving over there". It's written really well and it's very funny. Although it's not written about Ireland per se, most of the driving is so similar I found it didn't matter so much. I plan on reading it a couple of times before we leave next week...

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great plans Lori!

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

These are great plans! I can't wait to hear how they turn out.

Originally Posted by BeckiO5

Lori, great plans! Looking foward to hearin all about it!

Thanks! I'm getting kind of nervous or something... LOL

Originally Posted by Nimros

Great plans - can't wait to hear about your 'Hawk Walk', too! (And the photos!!)

Not much longer now...

I Know!!! We leave a week from today and I am kind of freaking out!! This reminds me...I have to e-mail the hawk walk people again to make our plans more concrete etc.

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

How exciting!! I can't wait to hear about this trip!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by MGW

How exciting! I can't wait to read all about it!

The Hawk Walk sounds great!

Have you exchanged money or told your bank and credit cards you will be out of the country? That always helps, you don't want them thinking your cards were stolen!

Well, my mom called her cards, me and DH have to call ours (which we need to do like tomorrow)! I don't think I'm bringing any cash, the last few trips I didn't really need that much. My mom is changing some $ before we go though...I really hope I'm not forgetting anything!

Originally Posted by pamcarey

Sounds like a great trip! We plan on going to Ireland (and England) in 2012 or 2013, so I hope to learn a lot from your TR!

I hope reading my TR when I get back helps you out some! Makes me wish I had done TR's for my other trips to Ireland now...

I just remembered this morning I still have to get to the toy store to buy my friend's baby a truck to bring when we visit! Eesh! Something else to add to the list!

Not much else really, I'm just starting to freak out and we haven't started packing (this weekend). I'm more freaking out about meeting DH's rest of the family and friends etc.....sigh...plus I'm thinking it's going to be a little weird for me and my mom since everyone will be welcoming DH home and we're like complete strangers!

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Lorelei528

Cheryl-Thanks! Yeah, I found the book I used the last time I drove over there and I'm re-reading it now. It really helped a lot actually the last time. Got me all ready for all the roundabouts etc...It's called "Driving in Britain-A North American's guide to the ins and outs and roundabouts of driving over there". It's written really well and it's very funny. Although it's not written about Ireland per se, most of the driving is so similar I found it didn't matter so much. I plan on reading it a couple of times before we leave next week...

That sounds like a great book!

[OhToodles!]

I hope you're having a great time Lori!

[chezp]

Hope you're having a wonderful time!

[BeckiO5]

Hope you're having a magical time in Ireland Lori!