Thu - December 29, 2005
Jamaica 2005: deja vu!
We returned to Couples Swept Away again in 2005.
Without even trying, we ended up visiting during the same exact dates, 10-14
December! I reread my journal entries while there and it was amazing that,
unknowingly, we pretty much did the same exact stuff we did last time around!
Jamaica was excellent, yet again. We had a ball, even though I had a cold while
I was there. It didn't impact anything we did. We ate, drank, swam, cruised,
and had just as much fun as we did last time!
Posted at 04:04 PM Read More
Tue - December 14, 2004
Final day
Last day in paradise. Up at 8:15, waiting on
continental breakfast from room service. We should have been out of the room by
11, but Diane got it extended until 1 PM. The Nebraska couple passed our
veranda and we talked for a few. They invited us to come to their wedding at 11
and we showed up and talked with them and another couple they'd met. A French
couple that's lived in DC (off Connecticut) for the last 15 odd years. It was a
beautiful wedding, and once it started, the overcast clouds cleared and the sun
beat down on all of us.
End note: It SNOWED on the car drive home from BWI.
End note: It SNOWED on the car drive home from BWI.
Posted at 07:29 PM Read More
Mon - December 13, 2004
Day four
Diane got a massage at 11 AM, which was very
good. I swam 12 laps and read my book, waiting for her to finish. Off to the
beach for drinks, swimming, and reading. Then, walked to town via the beach.
This took about an hour. We walked around, stopped in some shops [very souk
like], and then walked back to have more frozen drinks at our
resort.
It's Monday, so no pizza pie. Humpf! Mais, we played pool and drank three each of Red Stripe and wine. I won a few games and Diane won our final game.
Back to room to shower and off to dinner. Aside: Fantastic holiday. Back to the grind by Wednesday morning. Vacation high to work low. Mon to Monday.
It's Monday, so no pizza pie. Humpf! Mais, we played pool and drank three each of Red Stripe and wine. I won a few games and Diane won our final game.
Back to room to shower and off to dinner. Aside: Fantastic holiday. Back to the grind by Wednesday morning. Vacation high to work low. Mon to Monday.
Posted at 07:27 PM Read More
Lemon Grass
Joined Diane for a romantic swim, very Danielle
Steele. Then, off to the sports bar across the street. Rowdy Americans
watching football and being typical ugly Americans. Diane & I had some
seasoned fries and a nacho platter. We talked with Chris and Dan, from the
catamaran, who were waiting to go to Feathers for dinner. They were on their
pre-honeymoon. Both were from Nebraska and both were heading into their second
marriage. They were really nice folks. Diane schmoozed with a South Carolina
couple on their honeymoon. Then, back to our side of the street for dinner at
Lemon Grass, the Thai restaurant on top of the main dining
room.
Oh, before discussing that, Diane & I played pool above the dining area and drank wine and Red Stripe. Played 8 ball (we both lost due to scratches) and then played 9-ball, which Diane won all three of the games we played!
Back to dinner...had to wait awhile for a seat, so we sat @ the martini bar and had some drinks. Then, off to a fabulous and really spicy Thai meal. We started with a sampler appetizer plate for two, then a hot (very spicy) and sour soup. This was followed by a nice salad that cooled things off. Diane had a Red beef curry and I had their pad thai. Very good. Diane had a tapioca pudding for dessert while I had a mocha and papaya crème brulée.
We went back to the room, very exhausted, and got to bed early.
Oh, before discussing that, Diane & I played pool above the dining area and drank wine and Red Stripe. Played 8 ball (we both lost due to scratches) and then played 9-ball, which Diane won all three of the games we played!
Back to dinner...had to wait awhile for a seat, so we sat @ the martini bar and had some drinks. Then, off to a fabulous and really spicy Thai meal. We started with a sampler appetizer plate for two, then a hot (very spicy) and sour soup. This was followed by a nice salad that cooled things off. Diane had a Red beef curry and I had their pad thai. Very good. Diane had a tapioca pudding for dessert while I had a mocha and papaya crème brulée.
We went back to the room, very exhausted, and got to bed early.
Posted at 07:22 PM Read More
Sun - December 12, 2004
Day Three
We got up at 8:50 (lost power during the night,
so our alarm never went off). We got up, I shaved my head, and we went off to
breakfast. A quick meal and then off to the water sports shack.
We waded back into the ocean and into a boat to go snorkeling out on the reef. Great snorkeling. We saw a sea turtle (a German woman on the boat pointed it out) and lots of other fish. Even saw an eel-like fish. We held a baby star fish and a sea urchin. Our guide retrieved them from the seabed for us. On the way back, we passed a capsized hobie cat & retrieved the woman who was sitting on a pontoon with her boyfriend. The crew helped right the cat and one of the crew sailed it back in with the boyfriend. The girlfriend came aboard our boat, none too pleased.
Three people on the boat had had open heart surgery, members of the zipper club. One old man, one youngish-man, and the young German woman.
I'll close this entry out noting that I'm enjoying a Red Stripe on our first floor huge veranda overlooking the beach (about 2 meters away) while Diane lounges in the ocean. I'll join her soon!
We waded back into the ocean and into a boat to go snorkeling out on the reef. Great snorkeling. We saw a sea turtle (a German woman on the boat pointed it out) and lots of other fish. Even saw an eel-like fish. We held a baby star fish and a sea urchin. Our guide retrieved them from the seabed for us. On the way back, we passed a capsized hobie cat & retrieved the woman who was sitting on a pontoon with her boyfriend. The crew helped right the cat and one of the crew sailed it back in with the boyfriend. The girlfriend came aboard our boat, none too pleased.
Three people on the boat had had open heart surgery, members of the zipper club. One old man, one youngish-man, and the young German woman.
I'll close this entry out noting that I'm enjoying a Red Stripe on our first floor huge veranda overlooking the beach (about 2 meters away) while Diane lounges in the ocean. I'll join her soon!
Posted at 07:14 PM Read More
Post Feathers
Last night was fantastic! Dinner @ Feathers was
awesome. We had a 5 course meal and a bottle (plus a bit more) of Negro Gato
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Portions were perfectly sized. You got a great
taste of flavor but nothing overwhelming. I would rate the food A and the
presentation A+.
For my meal, I had: Smoked Salmon carpaccio, cantaloupe and papaya chilled soup, a peppers & tomato salad, a Caribbean lobster tail and beef tenderloin, and finished with a beautiful lemon meringue tart. Blue Mountain coffee & a glass of Jameson Irish Whiskey finished off the meal. Diane started with crab cakes, had the same soup as me, then a Caesar salad, same entrée, and then a chocolate dessert. She had coffee and a Bailey's Irish Cream to end her meal.
We finished about 10:30 and went back across the street to watch Shrek 2 on the beach. Lounge chairs and blankets complemented a great screen and sound system. It was cool to watch the movie while seeing the waves crash in the background, hear their sweet song, and watch the moon and stars. There was a full bar on the beach, so more Rum and Pepsis. Plus, fresh popcorn served in little bags completed the picture!
For my meal, I had: Smoked Salmon carpaccio, cantaloupe and papaya chilled soup, a peppers & tomato salad, a Caribbean lobster tail and beef tenderloin, and finished with a beautiful lemon meringue tart. Blue Mountain coffee & a glass of Jameson Irish Whiskey finished off the meal. Diane started with crab cakes, had the same soup as me, then a Caesar salad, same entrée, and then a chocolate dessert. She had coffee and a Bailey's Irish Cream to end her meal.
We finished about 10:30 and went back across the street to watch Shrek 2 on the beach. Lounge chairs and blankets complemented a great screen and sound system. It was cool to watch the movie while seeing the waves crash in the background, hear their sweet song, and watch the moon and stars. There was a full bar on the beach, so more Rum and Pepsis. Plus, fresh popcorn served in little bags completed the picture!
Posted at 07:08 PM Read More
Sat - December 11, 2004
Day Two!
Up my 9:30, mon! No hangover, we be jamming!
Off to excellent buffet breakfast with poached eggs for Diane and a tomato &
green pepper cheese omelette for the other D.
Signed up for Catamaran cruise and off to the beach. We hung out in the water on body-length floating things (cushions from beach lounge chairs). Drank Piña Coladas (Diane) and Jamaican Brownings (Drew) while floating in the ocean. C'est bon!
Off for a walk on the beach. Passed Sandals, Beaches, then local beaches. Back to room to read a bit and get shower head fixed. It trickled for the 1st day, but was fixed by the 2nd and works fine now). Drank Red Stripe and wine from the fridge. Mini-bar restocked! Oh, there be rejoicing here, mon! Irie!
Off to Veggie bar and ... <drum roll please> ... more Jamaican sushi! Smoked Marlin sushi rocks. Then, back to the room to get supplies and off to the Catamaran cruise @ 3:15.
We waded out to the boat (~ waist deep) then sat, drank, and watched the coast go buy. Stopped at cliff diving area. Two from the boat might have gone, but I didn't see anyone do it. It was a 35 foot drop and as the captain said, "Listen boys, you'll crack your peanuts if you do it wrong." That was good enough for me.
But, for the less inclined for the holiday-appropriate Nutcracker Suite, the catamaran had a slide off the side. Drew was the second one down the slide. I didn't lean a bit forward so once I left the slide, I rotated backwards and got salt water up my nose. But, hey, it cleared my sinuses! On my second time down the slide, I leaned too far forward and did an inverted U into the ocean. The third time, I got better, but the fourth time was stellar... perfect vertical drop. 9.8 and 9.9s all around! :-) Diane did the slide twice, perfectly both times. I guess I pressured her into doing it. While she enjoyed it post facto, I'll be more careful and considerate next time.
We met two couples on the boat, one was getting married the next day and the other were just engaged. The later were Dan and Chris, and Dan & I both had gone down the slide 4 times (egging each other on). All three of us encouraged Chris to go down the slide, and she eventually did...twice!
We all swam around the boat for awhile and then got back on board to watch the sunset. They did a limbo contest which an engaged woman won as we got near the resort. We waded back onto the beach. Showers, relaxing, and fun in the sun prior to heading to Feathers @ 9 PM.
Signed up for Catamaran cruise and off to the beach. We hung out in the water on body-length floating things (cushions from beach lounge chairs). Drank Piña Coladas (Diane) and Jamaican Brownings (Drew) while floating in the ocean. C'est bon!
Off for a walk on the beach. Passed Sandals, Beaches, then local beaches. Back to room to read a bit and get shower head fixed. It trickled for the 1st day, but was fixed by the 2nd and works fine now). Drank Red Stripe and wine from the fridge. Mini-bar restocked! Oh, there be rejoicing here, mon! Irie!
Off to Veggie bar and ... <drum roll please> ... more Jamaican sushi! Smoked Marlin sushi rocks. Then, back to the room to get supplies and off to the Catamaran cruise @ 3:15.
We waded out to the boat (~ waist deep) then sat, drank, and watched the coast go buy. Stopped at cliff diving area. Two from the boat might have gone, but I didn't see anyone do it. It was a 35 foot drop and as the captain said, "Listen boys, you'll crack your peanuts if you do it wrong." That was good enough for me.
But, for the less inclined for the holiday-appropriate Nutcracker Suite, the catamaran had a slide off the side. Drew was the second one down the slide. I didn't lean a bit forward so once I left the slide, I rotated backwards and got salt water up my nose. But, hey, it cleared my sinuses! On my second time down the slide, I leaned too far forward and did an inverted U into the ocean. The third time, I got better, but the fourth time was stellar... perfect vertical drop. 9.8 and 9.9s all around! :-) Diane did the slide twice, perfectly both times. I guess I pressured her into doing it. While she enjoyed it post facto, I'll be more careful and considerate next time.
We met two couples on the boat, one was getting married the next day and the other were just engaged. The later were Dan and Chris, and Dan & I both had gone down the slide 4 times (egging each other on). All three of us encouraged Chris to go down the slide, and she eventually did...twice!
We all swam around the boat for awhile and then got back on board to watch the sunset. They did a limbo contest which an engaged woman won as we got near the resort. We waded back onto the beach. Showers, relaxing, and fun in the sun prior to heading to Feathers @ 9 PM.
Posted at 07:01 PM Read More
Fri - December 10, 2004
Beach Sushi and the rest of the first day
I once sore never to eat sushi in a warm climate.
The Cultured Pearl in Rehoboth Beach, DE, proved me a liar twice over. Now,
I've done sushi at an outdoor grille in Jamaica...it was superb. Smoked marlin
was the main item that was
delicious.
We made reservations for Feathers, the only dress up restaurant on the property. 9:00 PM tomorrow!
We did orientation: property is so huge with multiple pools, hot tubs, work out areas, bars, restaurants, etc. Martine bar, we have to try you out!
Plus, must have more sushi!
We made reservations for Feathers, the only dress up restaurant on the property. 9:00 PM tomorrow!
We did orientation: property is so huge with multiple pools, hot tubs, work out areas, bars, restaurants, etc. Martine bar, we have to try you out!
Plus, must have more sushi!
Posted at 06:41 PM Read More
First day in Jamaica
Ya mon, irie ("everything's great")! We be
jamming. Negril, Jamaica, Couples Swept Away resort. All
inclusive, baby!
We were up @ 4:50 AM, @ BWI parking garage @ 6:30, checked in by 7:25 and flying by 8:30! Had great food on the plane: cheese omelette with hash browns and sausage and first Red Stripe, free onboard! Diane had a mimosa.
We were in Montego Bay by noon and on a bus to the resort by 12:25. It was about an 1.5 hour trip there. We rode with Barrington, our driver, and another couple: Chris and Cami. They were celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary, and were married at the other Couples resort in Negril. They were from New Hampshire. He runs a software consulting company (small world, eh?) and she runs a family video store business.
Chris suggested we stop for beers along the way, so we pulled into a gas mini-mart and bought 8 beers: 6 red stripe lights and 2 regular red stripes (for me, of course!). There was a bottle opener @ the cash register. Wow, I felt like I was back in Gun Burnie, Merland. We paid USD $20 and got back $900 Jamaican dollars. Dude!
Drinking in the van was fun, talking with Barrington about his two boys and with Chris & Cami. D&D with C&C. Dude, music factory flashback or what?!?
Pee stop about 50 minutes outside of Negril. Picked up 4 more red stripes for the crew and D&D got some side-of-the-road jerk chicken. Freaking awesome! [Future aside: This was the best jerk chicken we had the whole trip. Like buying pretzels off the street in Philly.]
We got back on the road and dropped C&C off at their resort. Arriving at Couples, Ricardo greeted us as we got off the van with cool hand towels. He walked us into the covered reception area and served us really nice champagne in great crystal flutes. We drank while we checked in.
Off to the room and a mini-bar without any tab! Two rum & pepsis later, and we headed off to lunch and the resort orientation.
Bye!
We were up @ 4:50 AM, @ BWI parking garage @ 6:30, checked in by 7:25 and flying by 8:30! Had great food on the plane: cheese omelette with hash browns and sausage and first Red Stripe, free onboard! Diane had a mimosa.
We were in Montego Bay by noon and on a bus to the resort by 12:25. It was about an 1.5 hour trip there. We rode with Barrington, our driver, and another couple: Chris and Cami. They were celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary, and were married at the other Couples resort in Negril. They were from New Hampshire. He runs a software consulting company (small world, eh?) and she runs a family video store business.
Chris suggested we stop for beers along the way, so we pulled into a gas mini-mart and bought 8 beers: 6 red stripe lights and 2 regular red stripes (for me, of course!). There was a bottle opener @ the cash register. Wow, I felt like I was back in Gun Burnie, Merland. We paid USD $20 and got back $900 Jamaican dollars. Dude!
Drinking in the van was fun, talking with Barrington about his two boys and with Chris & Cami. D&D with C&C. Dude, music factory flashback or what?!?
Pee stop about 50 minutes outside of Negril. Picked up 4 more red stripes for the crew and D&D got some side-of-the-road jerk chicken. Freaking awesome! [Future aside: This was the best jerk chicken we had the whole trip. Like buying pretzels off the street in Philly.]
We got back on the road and dropped C&C off at their resort. Arriving at Couples, Ricardo greeted us as we got off the van with cool hand towels. He walked us into the covered reception area and served us really nice champagne in great crystal flutes. We drank while we checked in.
Off to the room and a mini-bar without any tab! Two rum & pepsis later, and we headed off to lunch and the resort orientation.
Bye!
Posted at 06:40 PM Read More
Mon - October 27, 2003
How to read about our Ireland trip
Since I used my blog to put this up, you need to
work your way from the bottom of the page up to the top. The entries are sorted
in reverse chronological order. Sorry for any hassles with this!
Posted at 10:43 AM Read More
Sun - September 14, 2003
Final Drink Count
Drew:
Guinness: 16
Murphy's: 7
Paddy's: 1
Jameson: 3
Baileys: 1.5
Diane:
Bulmer's: 20
Baileys: 2.5
Guinness: 16
Murphy's: 7
Paddy's: 1
Jameson: 3
Baileys: 1.5
Diane:
Bulmer's: 20
Baileys: 2.5
Posted at 07:09 PM Read More
Sat - September 13, 2003
Last full day in Ireland
We had breakfast at a coffee house near the River
Liffey and then changed some money at the huge Bank of Ireland building across
the street from Trinity College. We walked the shopping districts of O'Connell
Street, north of the River Liffey. We ate fish and chips (fresh cod) @ Bushels
Traditional Fish & Chips. Very yummy and
filling.
After some purchases, we ended up back at the Hairy Lemon, drinking on the ground floor this time. We read our newspapers and enjoyed people watching. We walked around a bit more, did some window shopping, and then quickly recharged at the hotel.
We ate at Cafe Gertrude in the Temple Bar for dinner. I had a margherita pizza and Diane had a beef tortellini. We stopped at Reilley's on the way home to get some drinks. We listened to a beautiful local musician play songs as many men in the bar sung along. Very cool moment.
After some purchases, we ended up back at the Hairy Lemon, drinking on the ground floor this time. We read our newspapers and enjoyed people watching. We walked around a bit more, did some window shopping, and then quickly recharged at the hotel.
We ate at Cafe Gertrude in the Temple Bar for dinner. I had a margherita pizza and Diane had a beef tortellini. We stopped at Reilley's on the way home to get some drinks. We listened to a beautiful local musician play songs as many men in the bar sung along. Very cool moment.
Posted at 07:08 PM Read More
Fri - September 12, 2003
Museum of Modern Art & Guinness Factory
We got up at 7:30 and got prepped for the day.
We went to a cafe across the street for breakfast and had pain au chocolat &
espresso to get our day going. Then, we did lots of walking to St. Patrick's
and Christ Church Cathedral.
We arrived at the Ireland Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) at 10 AM and enjoyed a free visit. Beautiful pieces in exhibit of Cristina Iglesias. Wow! Her best pieces, IMHO, were of a cardboard town she built which she then photo-lithographed onto copper plates. Wow. Other exhibits were good, but check these out if you ever get a chance!
Off to the Guinness Factory tour. The facility used to be the old factory, but the inside was gutted to install a seven floor celebration of Guinness. They included how Guinness is made, how it is advertised, sold, etc. On the top floor is the Gravity Bar, where everyone gets a free pint of Guinness and can enjoy an almost panoramic view of Dublin. Diane drank her whole first pint of Guinness! Believe it or not, this was not my favorite pint ... O'Donaghue's was the best.
We walked back to the hotel to deposit our Guinness Storefront merchandise and were off again. Too late to change currency, so we went to the Hairy Lemon, an excellent pub near the Temple Bar. We sat in an alcove overlooking the ground floor and drank Guinness and Bulmer's to our heart's content!
We walked up the street to "Taste of India" for dinner. I had the HOTTEST vindaloo in my life. The owner told us it was closer to real Indian spice levels, although our waiter said it was still tame. Diane had the lamb saag and even that was very hot to the taste. We spent so much time chatting with the owner of the restaurant (who had just returned from a business trip to Las Vegas), that he bought us a round of Bailey's on the house. Very cool.
We arrived at the Ireland Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) at 10 AM and enjoyed a free visit. Beautiful pieces in exhibit of Cristina Iglesias. Wow! Her best pieces, IMHO, were of a cardboard town she built which she then photo-lithographed onto copper plates. Wow. Other exhibits were good, but check these out if you ever get a chance!
Off to the Guinness Factory tour. The facility used to be the old factory, but the inside was gutted to install a seven floor celebration of Guinness. They included how Guinness is made, how it is advertised, sold, etc. On the top floor is the Gravity Bar, where everyone gets a free pint of Guinness and can enjoy an almost panoramic view of Dublin. Diane drank her whole first pint of Guinness! Believe it or not, this was not my favorite pint ... O'Donaghue's was the best.
We walked back to the hotel to deposit our Guinness Storefront merchandise and were off again. Too late to change currency, so we went to the Hairy Lemon, an excellent pub near the Temple Bar. We sat in an alcove overlooking the ground floor and drank Guinness and Bulmer's to our heart's content!
We walked up the street to "Taste of India" for dinner. I had the HOTTEST vindaloo in my life. The owner told us it was closer to real Indian spice levels, although our waiter said it was still tame. Diane had the lamb saag and even that was very hot to the taste. We spent so much time chatting with the owner of the restaurant (who had just returned from a business trip to Las Vegas), that he bought us a round of Bailey's on the house. Very cool.
Posted at 07:03 PM Read More
Thu - September 11, 2003
To Dublin!
We drove straight through to Dublin and returned
our car at the airport. We took a 20-30 minute taxi ride into the city center
with a flamboyant driver. He was a reformed alcoholic, but told us where all
the great pubs were.
We tried out his first, O'Donoghue's, on Merrion Row, which is a famous pub for launching the careers of local traditional musicians. It is also reputed to be one of the best pours of Guinness .. and it was! This might have been my best Guinness yet. I had my 8th/9th pint and Diane had her 13th/14th Bulmer's. We walked around the shops on Grafton Street (reminded me of the Plaza del Sol in Madrid or the main strip through Lyon in France). We then walked to the Temple Bar area for dinner. We ate at Cafe de la Med. Awesome Mediterranean fusion food.
We stopped at Reilley's, next to Foley's restaurant for our 10th Guinness, 15th Bulmer's. The Guinness was "extra cold", per the emblem on the tap, so it wasn't as good as earlier in the day. But, it was a nice pub that was filled with very amicable locals.
We tried out his first, O'Donoghue's, on Merrion Row, which is a famous pub for launching the careers of local traditional musicians. It is also reputed to be one of the best pours of Guinness .. and it was! This might have been my best Guinness yet. I had my 8th/9th pint and Diane had her 13th/14th Bulmer's. We walked around the shops on Grafton Street (reminded me of the Plaza del Sol in Madrid or the main strip through Lyon in France). We then walked to the Temple Bar area for dinner. We ate at Cafe de la Med. Awesome Mediterranean fusion food.
We stopped at Reilley's, next to Foley's restaurant for our 10th Guinness, 15th Bulmer's. The Guinness was "extra cold", per the emblem on the tap, so it wasn't as good as earlier in the day. But, it was a nice pub that was filled with very amicable locals.
Posted at 06:52 PM Read More
Wed - September 10, 2003
Kinsale to Kilkenny
Got up late this morning, at around 7:45. I
slept in while Diane got prepped for the day. Breakfast in the hotel was
followed by a quick walk to the Craft, a silversmith store run by Mr. Dolan and
his son. They both make all the jewelry in the store. He's a 7th generation
silversmith and his son is the 8th. His granddaughter has her own small hammer
in the shop too. But, the son wants her to become a lawyer to make
money.
Mr. Dolan is an artist, stopping one line of jewelry as soon as it becomes popular. He is very sociable and we talked for quite a while. They have a website and use a Mac to run the site and the whole business (Go Apple!). We chatted about porno emails filling up our email inboxes! But, we'll have to send him some email once we get back to the States. Diane bought a beautiful, smooth silver ring, inset with an amethyst.
On our drive to Kilkenny, we stopped at a castle and church graveyard. No reason, we just stopped. The grounds were off-limits, but we still got some good pictures.
We arrived at Kilkenny, drove around, and parked in a multistory car park. Our room wasn't ready, so we walked to St. Canice's Cathedral, a Church of Ireland place (protestant). Then, we went back to our hotel and had some sandwiches across the street at Kafe Katt. We checked in and got a room that was insanely beautiful, immense, and very reasonably priced. It was the Hibernian Hotel. After scoping out our room, we walked around some more. We saw St. Mary's (Catholic) Cathedral, Kilkenny castle (official tour), and the Dominican Black Abbey.
We went for drinks to Syd's pub on High Street. I had my 6th & 7th Guinness and Diane had her 11th/12th Bulmer's.
We ate dinner at a nice Italian place called Ristorante Rinuccinis. Nothing spectacular, except for the insanely drunk ugly American who was harassing an old Irish couple sitting across from her.
After dinner, we went to the Hibernian's Bar. We had three Bailey's on ice and I had a Paddy's whiskey on ice. I think that Jameson's is much better.
Mr. Dolan is an artist, stopping one line of jewelry as soon as it becomes popular. He is very sociable and we talked for quite a while. They have a website and use a Mac to run the site and the whole business (Go Apple!). We chatted about porno emails filling up our email inboxes! But, we'll have to send him some email once we get back to the States. Diane bought a beautiful, smooth silver ring, inset with an amethyst.
On our drive to Kilkenny, we stopped at a castle and church graveyard. No reason, we just stopped. The grounds were off-limits, but we still got some good pictures.
We arrived at Kilkenny, drove around, and parked in a multistory car park. Our room wasn't ready, so we walked to St. Canice's Cathedral, a Church of Ireland place (protestant). Then, we went back to our hotel and had some sandwiches across the street at Kafe Katt. We checked in and got a room that was insanely beautiful, immense, and very reasonably priced. It was the Hibernian Hotel. After scoping out our room, we walked around some more. We saw St. Mary's (Catholic) Cathedral, Kilkenny castle (official tour), and the Dominican Black Abbey.
We went for drinks to Syd's pub on High Street. I had my 6th & 7th Guinness and Diane had her 11th/12th Bulmer's.
We ate dinner at a nice Italian place called Ristorante Rinuccinis. Nothing spectacular, except for the insanely drunk ugly American who was harassing an old Irish couple sitting across from her.
After dinner, we went to the Hibernian's Bar. We had three Bailey's on ice and I had a Paddy's whiskey on ice. I think that Jameson's is much better.
Posted at 06:47 PM Read More
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Published On: Aug 23, 2006 11:37 PM
Published On: Aug 23, 2006 11:37 PM
