June 29: On the rocky road to Dublin (1-2-3-4-5)

By the end of our time in Dublin we were feeling ready for some quiet and a slower pace; after a few days in sleepy towns we woke up this morning itchy for diversity and the bustle of commerce. We did a CrossFit-style workout in the castle gardens, showered, packed up, and headed for a grocery store for lunch on the road. We drove around looking for a shady spot for awhile, finally found a tree, parked, and lugged our food to the picnic spot, only to be told we had to move because we were on private property. We didn't mind but we finally had to pull over under a bridge. Not as picturesque as our first road-side picnic but still better than a restaurant at this point.

Then onto Dublin with music blasting in the car. We finally pulled in to a clean, new hotel, and headed to get Lindsay's and Lucy's ears double-pierced. I had gotten mine triple-pierced in Scotland and it's always been a special reminder of that trip and my best friends at the time, who did it with me. I hadn't known until recently that the girls were thinking about double-piercing but it was sweet to see those two best friends go through that bonding experience together and create a permanent memento in Ireland.

Walking in Dublin on this Friday night was like swimming upstream in a fish-packed river - it seems all of Europe between the ages of 18-28 is here, dressed up and laughing and talking outside street cafes. It's a really fun energy but weirds me out thinking that Lindsay will be joining the ranks of the rising generation in just one year.

Then the best Indian food EVER - every single thing we ordered was amazing. I love my Amber India at home, but there are only a couple of things that wow me there. This meal had so many delicious, different flavors! We were keeling over with delight and left completely stuffed.

Then home for an early bed-time - we wake up early for the ferry to Wales tomorrow!

We will never forget our night in Knappogue Castle

Picnic under the bridge

Lindsay washing Lucy's hands with a water bottle

The bookends in the hotel

Walking to dinner. It's still so warm here! We feel so lucky - one of the downsides of a UK vacation can be forfeiting summer weather, but after the first two days in Dublin we have had 70's and 80's every day.