Heading Out, O'Hare Chicago, IL

Precheck is awesome, especially with only five minutes in security. Also why do I always forget that wraps and things are never as good as they look, especially in the airport.
Breakfast 05-06-16 Keogh Cafe', Dublin

Yummy yogurt, porridge, and tea as we plan our day.
Historic Walking Tour - Dublin

Alex, first year PhD student at Trinity College, was a great guide and the 2+ hour tour turned into 3 hrs with great stories and funny jokes... Awesome in such a beautiful, warm, sunny day!
(Sooo manyLes mer
Westin Dublin, Ireland

Awesome old hotel with great staff, and funny pigeons (window opens, yay). Across from Trinity College, old Parliament, and a casino (among other things).
...I think the bathroom is especiallyLes mer
The Old Mill Restaurant Dublin, Ireland

Beef stew with mash and Guinness; potatoe-leek soup, bangers & mash and Bailey's coffee. Large portions, good atmosphere, nice wait staff.
Ghost Tour - Dublin, Ireland

Met (John) at The Church Bar and walked around for about 1.5 hrs listening and joking about history, urban legend, and gnarly tails... Ending at the Brazen Pub (oldest in Dublin).
... Also put my/ourLes mer
Westin, night cap - Dublin, Ireland

One free drink (yummy Lightning Rose for Danielle, I believe), beer for Tim... Too late for pudding sadly, but got rough planning honed for day one of the country tour tomorrow. And got very ready forLes mer
Killkenny, Ireland town

So when you first start to see beautiful old things in a foreign country it is amazing how many churches can be mistaken for a cathedral, and how many towers can appear to be castles when you don'tLes mer
Killarney, Ireland

Full day of driving, and exploring in Kilkenny, but we made it around to Killarney! Unfortunately, McDonald's had to do for a late dinner. Since, even with a very happening bar scene, no one servesLes mer
Driving the Dingle Loop

Our first glimpse of the ocean, realization that the shrubs along the side of the narrows road are all covering stone walls, and discovery of many neat landscapes and historical wonders.
Minard Castle

Stumbled on by stopping for bathrooms and tea... Went slightly off route and found this pure gem. Cromwellian troops tried to destroy it by using explosives on the corners, but they only dented it andLes mer
Cliffs of Moher

Breathtaking view.
The puffins alluded us however.
Athlone, Ireland

Getting in late, enjoying a weird kabob dinner by the river, and a drink at Sean's Tavern before resting well.
Athlone Castle

Great exhibit, interesting history at a crossroads in center point of Ireland, creative and neat recreation of wardrobe with leather and metal, etc.
Flew over to Bristol, UK

Took a while to get off, but beautiful flight and we got some rest waiting to take off. We were over an hour late, and for no apparent reason. There was a ton of fog but the pilot didn't mention thatLes mer
Touring Bath, UK

Pippa took is in by train. Walked around the Abbey, River, steers and markets as it first experience of an older England settlement.
(Learned from James much later the English cathedral=city, versusLes mer
Lunch in Bath

Good, and strong cider from a barrel and a ploughman's (Danielle), as well as nice, tap cider and bacon & cheese sandwich (Tim). Pippa took us to this quant, old place with a great atmosphere, (whichLes mer
Bath Abbey

Beautiful but closed for a function when we had time to actually go in to view it. Then we didn't go back since we wanted to catch the train (after the Baths) and meet up with James.
Cool to see a guyLes mer
Bath Covered Market and Streets

Neat things in all kinds of niche markets, including licorice!
The Roman Baths - surface level

The ground/surface level of the Roman baths shows the communal area with somewhat isolated cubbies, for people to sit and drink in the surroundings. Said to be much like the same of a modern publicLes mer
The Roman Baths - museum

Well done exhibit.
The Roman Baths - underground & covered

Avebury

Not quite Stonehenge but much more attainable and impressive in many ways.
Tapas and drinks with the Sundquists

What, we are and didn't take photos?!? Too hungry and enjoying conversation I suppose. Or even perhaps not being keen on documenting how will we all clean up.
Either way, the food was really great atLes mer
Kenilworth Castle (picnic & out bldgs)

Even from the entrance it was a stunning site, and only got more intriguing as we ventured through the entire ruins. Good we had such a nice picnic, and filled our energy reserves before exploring.