Well..I am here in my last night in Ireland and I thought I would update you a bit. The day of my last entry I drove down to Doolin for lunch and drove around the coast and also went by Lahinch (spelling?). I had lunch is this small pub there..which I think might have been the same place where I ate last year when I was there. I headed down to Dublin from there. On Thursday I drove up to Northern Ireland to see the Giants Causeway and the Carrick-a-rope bridge. Absolutely beautiful..but quite a long drive for a roundtrip in one day. And I got a bit confused when driving in Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland the posted speeds are in kilometers..but I didn't realize that changed when I crossed over..so I was driving 60 kilometers an hour when I should have been driving 60 miles an hour. I am sure some drivers were cursing me..but my car only gave me kilometers as well. Also I expected there to be like a big sign when you crossed over the border..like "Welcome to Northern Ireland"..like when you cross a state line in the states.."Welcome to Kentucky.the Bluegrass State". Not so much. Anyways..the Giants Causeway is breathtaking. I sat on the rocks there for quite awhile just listening to the waves. Then just as I was getting ready to leave I slipped on one of the rocks. It was so embaressing first of all..I hate being clumsy sometimes..really. I jumped up as it made a scene and was like I am ok..but then the pain hit me so bad in my right knee I thought for sure I was going to pass out right there. I sat and then walked back up..driving back 3 hours was pretty difficult. I had a place the size of half a golf ball on my knee..and you don't realize how much of your knee you use when you are driving until it is sore! Anyways, I did indeed make it back to Dublin where I spent Friday seeing the city there. Dublin doesn't really have that much to see to be honest. It is nice enough but I can't imagine anyone needing more than 2 days there unless you are doing tours based from there. Anyways..then I spend some time with my friend James and drove back to Shannon today. I am staying at a hotel across from the airport..and just waiting till its time to go home. Seriously the last night alone is miserable and long after a long trip. I wish tomorrow would just come so I can get home. I am tired of traveling at this point and emotionally drained from other things. I don't know when I will make it back to Ireland to be honest. I have a feeling it may be awhile. Lisa joked that maybe we can come over for our 50th birthdays. It makes me really sad to think I won't be back here for awhile but I know it is for the best. I hate how when you know something in your head..it still takes your heart time to catch up. Thats me..my heart thinks for me way too much sometimes. Wish me a fast night and safe journey back to home..the USA..home of the free refills and home of my family and dear friends that I have missed so much.

Greetings from beautiful rainy Ireland (really..is 3 or 4 days of some clear weather on one of my stays too much to ask!:-). We arrived in Ireland on Sunday. We got the car and in a very scary experience drove into dublin to our hotel. Now when I first start driving over here (on the incorrect side of the road and the dang roundabouts) it takes a bit for me to get more (notice the more) comfortable with it (I never get comfortable with it) so driving in a huge city not so fun. We have a GPS system but at times she confused more than helped. I was so tired of hearing turn left..turn left..then when you do the wrong thing "recalculating". She (I am giving the GPS system a female gender as her voice is female) took us down a one way street the wrong way..yeah..and the police happened to be sitting there. Thank goodness the Irish are so nice! They just gave me proper directions (which were very lengthy and not easy to remember or follow) and sent me along the way. I mean really the irish customs were joking with us as soon as we arrived in the country and in the middle of Dublin a taxi driver stopped and gave us directions when we wandering for our hotel with our suitcases. Such a friendly country..especially compared to where we have been recently! O.k. Sunday night we got settled in..at some burgers and went out to meet my friend James. We went to the Temple Bar and another close by bar. Next day we headed down to Cork. I was reminded how much I love Cork. It is really a great city to live. Before getting to our hotel we went and saw the Blarney Stone (Megan and Matt passed on kissing the Blarney Stone - probably because the rumor that the Irish pee on the stone) and then it was into the city. We had dinner at Bully's this little restaurant I often frequented when I stayed there. Then after some resting we went out to a pub (you must make frequent visits to pubs when in Ireland..its a rule). We got up on Tuesday and I drove down to Killarney where we did some shopping and ate lunch at this fast food place Den Joes. It is nothing amazing but I always eat there when I am in Killarney - fries with stuffing and curry.:-) Then we drove around the Dingle..which is beautiful..but we could only see it from the car for the lovely rain. This morning I put Megan and Matthew on a plane back home and now I am trying to figure out what to do with myself. I am thinking of driving to Doolin as it is only an hour away however I am certain as soon as I get there it will start raining with my luck! Either way I will be in Dublin for the evening. So..be praying for me as I drive in Ireland..I surely do need it! Post again soon!

We are in Rome currently. I am doing some laundry (yeah...nearly 3 weeks is hard to pack for otherwise!) and this nifty place has laundry and internet at the same time. Ok..I will quickly fill you in on some details.

Venice..We spent three days in Venice. Picturesque and overpriced as always. When we arrived we were the tourists lugging our bags down the cobblestone streets of Venice and across 5 bridges (although...Lisa not as bad as the metro incident...I didnt feel like I was in a car accident the next day!) Yeah..poor Lisa and I going through the tube with our lugggage.We did San Marcos square, Murano..and walked around alot. We had dinner on this small island Lido that I usually stay on. I like to visit Lido because alot of people actually live there..so you can get less of a touristy feel. Unfortunaly Villa Laguna was under major construction..so we stayed at the Hotel Galleria. It was ok..good location..but it hurts how much it cost for things over here right now. Yes the dollar sucks majorly. I got lots of lovely pictures..however I have so many favorites from there that I am not sure if I have a new favorite.

Rome..We took the train to Rome and just finished our second day here. It was crowded at the Vatican area..as I figured and some of it even roped off due to Easter being just around the corner. We had an amazing dinner last night (thanks Catrionia) at this place close to the Spanish steps. I feel like we were official european travelers as we got lost in the streets on our way back to the hotel. Lots of rain we are getting..but we are dealing.

Thoughts on Italy..believe it or not after nearly a week I am getting tired of Italian food a bit. Haha. I can only handle so much pasta and pizza I suppose. I think we are eating McDonalds tonight (yes..gasp). Italian men are HOT..I had forgot that. Yes...nice sights indeed. I probably could fall in love with an Italian man..if only I could speak the language...sigh. Tomorrow we are finishing up random stuff around Rome and maybe doing some shopping. I need to at least look at the Italian purses..even if I cant afford one. And then Sunday..ie Easter..we head to Ireland. No drama this year..I promise. Besides driving on the wrong side of the road..but many of you know what I am referencing..oh well..no more Meg Ryan movies with a bad ending because technically the movie has already ended. Ok now I probably confusing some of yall with my code talk...so Chao..till I get to post again. (And I apologize for misspellings or randomness..I am not checking over it with the limited time!)

We are still alive! Getting on a train from Venice to Rome in a few minutes. Venice was beautiful as always! I will blog more when we get to Rome.

Bonjour again.

We are finishing our last day in Paris. It is Saturday night and to be honest a bit scary here. We were going to go down to the Moulin Rouge area this evening..but the metro was a bit scary..so I thought it might not be a good idea to go to a place known for pickpocketing and a few blocks away from a redlight district. So..it became a McDonalds and back to the room night..still not that early thought at 9pm. Last night we went and saw the city some by night..and then had a dinner at this small French restaurant. The food was pretty good and I am proud of us for venturing out (although..they did have parts of the menu in English..I will confess). It was this small place..smaller than the room I work in (for those of you reading at the Ridge) and we shared a table with some other people. Old menus..and seemed like pretty authentic food. I stuck with the beef..as did Megan, but Matt ventured out with the lamb. We then of course finished it off with nutella crepes. Yes..I do believe crepes might be my favorite part of France. Today we went and saw the cementary where Jim Morrison is buried..visited briefly with Jim..then headed to the Louvre. Of course we made a bee line for the Mona Lisa and saw a few things..and then spent some time relaxing there in the courtyard. We had a mini-photoshoot actually. Dude..the amazing wedding pictures, bridal sessions, and portrait sessions I would have in Paris! I posed Megan and Matt for a bit..haha and then we walked around a bit. We have gotten in a bad habit of taking these naps in the evenings. Really..we aren't in Spain but we sure have been have ciestas (sp?) Anyways, it is off to Venice tomorrow. A few notes about Paris as we leave though. If I make it back I want to make sure I do two things: 1. Make it back to the Montmartre area, loved it before and didn't go today because of the rain and scariness in the metro and 2. Come when Monet's garden is open and in bloom in giverny. As for the hotel...may I say it was excellent..good location, clean, and excellent price! For real..trip advisor will here from me. As those of you who travel know..the feet are aching..but I am still loving it. Till Italy..

Bonjour! (See me throwing in the french:-)

We are here safely and alive. For once I had no problems with flying out of the lovely Lexington airport. The first flight was..rough to say the least. Congrats to the pilot who made me truly sick from flying for the first time. I had a seat on the small plane at the very back..right beside the bathroom. The landing felt like we were on a rollercoaster...I thought I was going to throw up right there..but instead just cold sweats and scaring to death the poor man beside of me. I was actually not sitting next to Megan and Matthew..but I think they did fine for their first flights..especially with a bad one. I slept most of the long flight..but it was one of the nice planes. It was the one where everyone has their own individual tv monitors and can choose between like 12 movies (remember Lisa..I think it is just the French flights..and we got the handy eye covers as well:-). We arrived yesterday..took an expensive cab to our hotel..walked around for a few hours..nearly about to fall asleep on benches. Finally we could check in the hotel..took a long nap..then had dinner. Wow..it is more difficult to eat in Paris than Italy not knowing the language. I eat so much Italian that I know the words be default I think. We survived dinner last pm...but probably only because it was a Tex-Mex place. Yes..I know in Paris, but it seemed the safest. Today we mastered the metro...saw the Eiffel Tower..the Rodin museum...the location of Princess Di's memorial (well sorta), and tried to see Jim Morrison's grave (go there too late). My feet of course ache but it's an European vacation..so to be expected! Paris is...busy, expensive, and rainy.:-) But I am enjoying myself..and I think Megan and Matthew are for the most part. They are handling the culture shock in different ways. Matthew is quiet as he is overwhelmed by it at times and Megan gets frustrated at not knowing what to do. I am alive though..and trying to figure out what in the world we are going to eat tonight...sigh. People are looking at me funny as I take pictures everywhere but it's all good. I will keep you posted as I need to stop rambling because this is costing me an arm and a leg here in Paris! Au revoir (spelling?)

Sorry for the lack of blogging..but and update..I am going to Europe finally tomorrow. Hence being up at 5 am still trying to get things done before leaving. Craziness I tell you . Anyways..I promise to keep you updated on the trip. So check for trip updates.:-)