the rest of Ireland... finally

This is a HUMONGOUS post. There are over 90 pictures! You may need to take a bathroom and snack break ... if you last that long...

I can't believe we've already been back for almost three weeks! It was a bit of an adjustment coming back. I turned into oncoming traffic TWICE the first weekend back. We definitely miss it and feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to live there for six weeks.

Below are the last two weeks of our time in Ireland. We lived in Galway the first four weeks and then travelled all around the island for the last two weeks that Ben had off.

Now remember we didn't have a CAMERA because it BROKE. So these were all taken with Ben's iPhone.

We headed straight north to the UK and saw Giant's Causeway. It's a bunch of basalt columns from a volcanic eruption. Back in the 16th century a Spanish ship sank after trying to attack the Giant's Causeway, thinking it was a city.

We thought this sign was pretty stinkin funny.

Afterwards, we drove along the Antrim Coast scenic drive. It was at sunset and GORGEOUS. This was Ben's favorite scenic place. It was super twisty and steep in some areas where I had to gun it in first gear and still barely made it.

Then we headed to Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

Below is the city hall with Queen Victoria's statue (her name/face and also of her husband, Prince Albert, is everywhere in Belfast). Also below is a cathedral we wanted to see a service in. As we sat there waiting, we realized they were having a special mass for soldier's who recently died and returned from Afghanistan including their families. We felt a little intrusive and snuck out before the service began.

Oh Guinness, Guinness, Guinness... it was everywhere

Prince Albert's tower (which leans slightly to one side).

We went on a boat tour and saw where the Titanic was built then went on the

Black Taxi Tour.

One of my favorite things we did in all of Ireland.

This was our taxi.

It's a political history tour of the city and depending on what type of taxi driver you get (Loyalist or Unionist) - determines the type of tour you receive.

Ours was a Unionist. A very strong Unionist.

We learned all about the Troubles.

It was supposed to be an hour and 20 minutes and he took us around for 2 1/2 hours. It was really interesting to learn about the uprisings, hunger strikes, and violence that just recently stopped. Over in the public housing neighborhoods are murals (mostly Unionist) painted on most walls and buildings.

Below is part of the wall that used to divide the Catholics and Protestants, but is more to divide the Unionists and Loyalists now.

Next, we drove through Dublin when Obama was in town. There were cops and soldiers in groups of three every 100 yards or so on the highway. It was nuts, but those Irish LOVED Obama. Or O'bama as the t-shirts would say.

Bru na Boinne was an ancient burial site built hundreds of years before the pyramids. At the winter solstice a beam of sun lights up one of the chambers for 17 minutes (below and to the right), otherwise no light or water can/has gotten inside for thousands of years.

This is how poor Charlotte would take her daily nap.

What a trooper.

Up next is Powerscourt Estate. It's where the Count of Monte Cristo was filmed (not that I went because of that reason). It's biggest attraction are its gardens that surround the house for miles.

Charlotte has a thing for rocks. Whenever she'd get a little restless we'd let her throw some rocks around and she'd be happy as a clam.

Another way she'd get her daily nap - in the car in between the next town we'd be traveling to.

Glendalough is an ancient monastic site we visited right after Powerscourt Estate. It was founded by St. Kevin who went there in the 6th century as a hermit. He had many followers which became a thriving monastic village.

We enjoyed some ice cream. Apparently the monk did as well.

I can't even express how grateful I am that Charlotte is such a good traveller and goes with the flow. If ever she got cranky we'd give her some rocks to throw, a dandelion to blow, an apple to munch on (she had two a day), or put on Finding Nemo on Ben's iPod.

Watching Nemo before we headed out again.

One of our hotels in the coastal town of Bray.

Wicklow had a really creepy jail (or gaol) that was in use until the 1920s. Below is a wheel they would make the inmates turn for hours just for the heck of it. It didn't grind wheat or force water anywhere, it just spun in a circle. I would have died!

Many of the men caught rebelling against England were jailed and executed here.

In New Ross (where Pres. Kennedy's grandfather came from) we boarded a coffin ship. These were ships that would take hundreds of starving Irish to other countries (usually America) during the potato famine. They lived in such bad conditions (little food and lots of disease) that many would die and so the ships were nicknamed coffin ships.

Next up was Waterford. We went on an excellent walking tour with a local.

Waterford was one of the busiest ports in Ireland. The clock below was how all seaman would check the time on when to leave port. Then there's a Waterford crystal chandelier from a church.

The Waterford Crystal Company went out of business years ago and was bought by a Poland company and is now made there. Most of the workers were given a few days or even hours notice. Some of the glass blowers who were fired made their own business.

One of the head glass blowers was asked to create a sculpture for the five and ten year anniversary of 9/11 (below).

They invited us right in and taught us all about glass blowing and of course Mr. Obama's recent visit.

We then drove out to Kilkenny where we visited the Rothe House (a 17th century merchant townhouse) and Kilkenny Castle. It was one of my favorite villages.

We also went to a hurling match. It is such an intense sport and the fans are nuts.

We loved it.

It's a lot like field hockey.

But bloodier.

I don't know about you, but knowing that the bacon that I ate came from a happy pig makes me happy.

The Rock of Cashel used to be a fortress, but once the owners found out that their opposition was going to take over they donated it to the church.

Smart move.

The monks built it up very nicely and used it until the 18th century.

Charlotte is at an awesome age where she likes to make you laugh and be goofy. She'll copy just about any face that Ben throws at her.

She is such a crack up.

Then onto the Blarney Castle.

Yep, we both kissed it. Even after hearing about what the locals do to it.

Let's just not think about it.

It was so scary dangling down with a stranger holding onto you.

I was waiting and waiting for these two to return from the bathroom and looked over to see the tummy.

Loving her dandelions.

Cork was a quick trip. Charlotte made a friend at a cathedral. He was just about to lock up the church but let us walk around. He fell in love with Charlotte and would let her walk around blocked off areas. He even tried to teach her to cross herself with holy water.

Sorry, wrong religion for us.

But it was sure cute to watch them together like he was her grandpa.

Cobh is a nearby town we went to for their visitor center all about the Titanic. This was the last port the Titanic stopped at before venturing out into the Atlantic and sinking.

She was always tuckered out at the end of each day.

We stayed in a town called Baltimore that was having a fish and music festival. When we made the reservation the manager said the festival was close and would be loud until late. We stayed there anyway and found out that our hotel room overlooked the town square directly above the musicians. Luckily, at about 8 it started to rain and everyone went home =)

Next up was my favorite activity we did. We headed out to Killarney National Park and took a boat ride through 3 lakes for an hour and a half. Then we biked through the Gap of Dunloe. It was BEAUTIFUL and so much fun.

She fell asleep about five minutes after these pictures were taken.

Our last day was spent driving along the Dingle Peninsula which was almost as pretty as the Antrim Coast. It was the perfect way to spend our last day in Ireland. Misty, green rolling hills, rocky coastline... beautiful.

An old church and beehive tomb out in Dingle.

This is where we made Charlotte sleep the night before we flew back... hehehe... jk.

Dropping off our second car. I grew quite attached to her. I drove all six weeks (since Ben had to work the first four and it was too expensive to have two drivers).

And finally flying home. The direct flight from Dublin to Chicago is 7 hours. Charlotte slept for an hour and a half, watched 2 movies, and cried 0 times.

I love this kid.

And now we're home.

Happy (-ish) to be here.

I'll never forget the time we spent in Ireland.

It was Charlotte and my first stamp in our passports.

And since it was Ben's decision to travel there, I get to pick the next country.

It begins with an I and ends in a Y. =)

*blogger was having a hard time uploading videos so I'll have to try it again sometime