Seeing shamrocks in the distance...

Well well....lodging decisions! Where would we be staying for our 11 day stay in Ireland??? We had reached a bit of crossroads concerning lodging choices. My choice - bed and breakfasts, to be in different places getting to meet the people....Mom's choice - resort, so we could unpack once and make day trips. After mom sorted through her tabs on Rick Steve's guide book and we discussed a little more....the decision was made, we would be staying in Bed and Breakfasts for our journey. YIPPEE!

Mom and I were now on the hunt, with the help of Mr. Steve's to find our B&B choices along our route through Ireland. One of the first B&B's we had decided upon would be further along in our trip, but we fell in love with the owner, Gretta. Her emails alone had made our trip a reality....very kind and inspiring, just couldn't wait to meet this lady!!! From that point a rush of email inquiries began and the trip detail began falling in place. It was just unbelievable!!!

Let’s see….details for the trip….we would be flying out Saturday, August 20^th from Dallas around 10:30am with a layover in Chicago then leaving there around 6:30pm. Our arrival in Dublin, Ireland would be around 8am on Sunday, August 21^st.

Our planned travel itinerary by day:

August 20^th

Travel day – DFW-Chicago-Dublin

August 21^st

Land in Dublin, Kildare (Irish National Stud), Enniskerry (Gardens of Powers Court) and first B&B stay at Brook Cottage B&B.

August 22^nd

Drive through the Wicklow Mountains, Glendaloch, Kilkenny, Rock of Cashel and Waterford Castle accommodations.

August 23^rd

Waterford Crystal Factory, Ardmore, Middleton, Cobh, Cork, Kinsale and stay at Jo’s B&B.

August 24^th

St. Charles Fort (Kinsale) and ending the day in Kenmare to stay at Willow Lodge B&B for 2 nights.

August 25^th

Muckross House and Traditional Farms (Killarney) then back to Kenmare for the night.

August 26^th

Charted driving and stops were to be determined but we would be ending the day in Dingle and staying at O’Neills B&B.

August 27^th

Slea Head Drive, Connor Pass, ferry across from Tarbert, Cliffs of Mohr and stay at Carraig Beag in Salthill, Galway.

August 28^th

Connemara Drive, Cong, Trad on the Prom (Salthill Hotel) and end the evening at Carraig Beag in Salthill.

August 29^th

Trim Castle and end the day at Tigh Cathain B&B in Trim for 2 nights.

August 30^th

Trip into Dublin & use Hop On Hop Off tour bus and end evening at Tigh Cathain B&B in Trim.

August 31^st

Trip into Dublin for 2^nd day of Hop On Hop Off tour bus, Howth and end the evening at a hotel close to the airport in Dublin.

September 1^st

Travel day – Dublin-Chicago-DFW

So exciting….can’t believe things were all planned and we were about to embark on both of our first trips abroad. It would be just a hop skip and a jump to the day that we would be flying on a jet plane (doesn’t it just make you wanna sing that song “I’m leavin’ on a jet plane…don’t know if I’ll be back again!”). HAHA

That’s right I’m signing off singing…..I’m leavin’ on a jet plane!

~Curls~