O' Ireland!!!
Ireland Adventure
My daughter, Sara (23), and I (53), recently had the opportunity to explore the south side of Ireland over the course of seven (7) days. I run a Luxury Travel and Transportation Agency and have grown accustomed to taking advantage of upgrades, such as ordering a private ride vs taking an Uber; First or Business Class vs Coach; Guided Tours vs Personal Exploration. My daughter is by far WAY more adventurous, opting for walking or public transportation; Flying on Standby (the real lottery); and avoiding "tourist traps" and seeking out her own adventure through the use of local contacts or just exploring on her own.
As we began planning our Ireland adventure, we opted for a wide arrangement of all of the above and more - creating a truly epic adventure for the both of us.
We crossed the pond on a United Airline flight from Denver to Newark to Dublin. George from ProBus & Car met us in the lobby and I have to say, it's exciting seeing your name on one of those iPads held by professionally dressed drivers. More importantly, they had our names as "Mr. Jim Becker and Ms. Sara Becker" - which may seem insignificant to most but meant the world to my daughter. George swiftly moved us to a BMW 7 series vehicle (right side driver), to which I immediately was glad I was NOT in the drivers seat as I likely would have not even gotten us out of the garage area without being damaged. George provided us a private 3.5 hour tour of Dublin - Both Sara and I were extremely grateful for his local knowledge of where to go, where not to go, and what to completely avoid. We made several stops, where we were able to stretch our legs for a brief moment, grab some breakfast treats and espresso's, and learn about several off-the-beaten trail historical land marks. The tour was so thorough that the following morning, without using a map, any GPS aid or even stopping to ask for directions, we returned to the same breakfast location (the corner of Wicklow St and William St - where you can chose from Butler's Chocolate Café', Lemon Crepe & Coffee CO, or Laduree) for a second dose of deliciousness.
Upon arrival to our first lodging arrangement, I persuaded (didn't take much) my daughter to the treat of a luxury 1.5 hour massage just blocks away from The Dawson Hostel. Jet lag was kicking in and hard sleep arrived like a lead brick. The hostel was clean, quiet, respectful, and one of the best I have been in the last 40-years of traveling. Yes, we slept in bunk beds in a shared room with 8 other people, but honestly everyone kept to themselves and the experience was great.
The next day, we checked in early to the Travelodge Dublin City Center and then ordered a taxi through the app, FreeNow (similar to Uber but typically a bit cheaper and no surge pricing) and visited the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin. Open 9 am to 4:30 pm daily, the entry price: Always Free! The exhibits were amazing, the glasshouses full of interesting topiaries, and the garden walks - extensive. We absolutely got our steps in. Little did I know that THIS was just the beginning.
On Monday morning we met with the Kerry Tour Group with three other couples, led by Anna-Marie. Over the course of the next seven days we would embark on a journey that encompassed six nights of high end accommodations, continental breakfasts, an English speaking guide, and Luxury Van transfers between: Dublin; Kilkenny; County of Cork; Blarney Castle; Cliffs of Moher; Galway; Athlone; and back to Dublin.
My daughter's favorite place to visit was the grounds of the Blarney Castle. We could have easily spent days there and still not have had enough time in the parks. At that point our feet were killing us from all the walking and her words were, "I'd still find a way and time to go there." She did enjoy the castle, but found that the steps up to the Blarney stone lived up to their reputation as not being the easiest to get around as they are narrow and slick (and we were there when there was no rain).
In addition, we also visited the Guinness Factory, McDermott's Pub, The Titanic Experience / Memorial, Scoozi's, EPIC Museum, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey distillery, Bloom Brasserie, Marsh's Library, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, many of them quickly becoming my favorite as I'm a history buff and was drinking in way more than just the alcohol.
It was a small, local vendor who specialized in making candles; Douglas Higgins with Wired Irish Crafts Candle that stood out to me the most. First and foremost their candle products are AMAZING and I brought several of them home - all receiving rave reviews from my Lovely. Secondly, their establishment and demeanor, to me, are a true representation of Ireland's spirit of perseverance, dedication, attention to details, and taking care of the people. Keep it up!
Finally, the food of Ireland is incredible! Yes, it does taste different from American food as it doesn't have preservatives in it. Sara will attest I quickly became addicted (again) to my espresso shots and macchiatos. And it did not matter if we ate in a urban Chinese market diner, in an upscale hole-in-the-wall boutique steak house, or a rural pub. ALL of the FOOD was amazing (and surprising healthy). This trip was one for the ages and lived up to our motto of "Creating Transformative Experiences."
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