I'm actually typing this on the plane and the iPad shows 5:22 AM, but not sure what time zone, probably Dublin.

Made it home at 11:50 PM!  Our body clock is 8 hours ahead of that time (nearly 8AM tomorrow) as we got up at 7:00 a.m. Dublin time, had breakfast, and got on the bus at 8:30 for the ride to the airport for our late morning flight. 

Went through security and US immigration in Dubiln and took off a little late heading for DC. We were diverted to Syracuse NY because of weather or short on fuel as things were backed up due to weather. 

The flight out of DC was also delayed and a little bumpy to start.  Pam pretended to sleep and we have an empty seat between us so that helped some.

I think we are ready for a vacation or a staycation!!!

PowersCourt and Dublin

We made it from up north to south of Dublin and found a very nice room!

Shower and toilet on the left

Yes a TV in the mirror

Our room is on the top floor which have a deck to sit in the rain.  It's sunny now!!

We decided we had enough driving so we took the car back to the Dublin Airport a couple days early and went to Trinity College and the Guiness Tour.

Inside the library ala Harry Potter

 We had the most expensive beer in our life according to the cab driver.  And he was right!
Caught the Jones shuttle back to the hotel and grabbed a bite in their pub.

I went golfing with the guy that I sat next to in training classes back in St Louis 24 years ago.  He came out 10 days early and golfed with some buddies every day.  
I will need to post my score.  Walked over 5 miles, but I can say I played golf in Ireland and it was less than $1 per stroke. . . way less!

Then I went to the Powers Court Garden as Pam had gone shopping in a small village and wanted a break.

Powers Court Gardens

Dahilias

Then back to the Hotel and an hour later, back on the bus for a dinner at Castle Ward where some of Game of Thrones is filmed.

I just shot the apple of Jeff's head!

And had to pay!

The next day's breakfast before driving to Dublin via Belfast.

We saw the Titanic Exhibit which was well done showing the planning, construction, outfitting, voyage, collision, and finding the ship 100 years later.

Then off to Dublin on good highways and pretty heavy traffic.  So far, we have driven 1349 km or about 840 miles!  That's too much so we are turning the car in early, today, Wednesday(?) and catching the Jones shuttle back to Powers Court this evening.  We will take their bus in on Friday instead of fighting traffic and lugging our own bags.

Hillsborough Palace

I started this post 12 hours ago, but it wouldn't publish.  So after a long day in Dublin, returning the car as we are done driving and finding the shuttle back, I'll try again!!!!

After our 2 hour business meeting (one hour + one hour of introductions)  we hopped on a bus for a tour Hillsborough Castle which is the place the Queen stays when she visits Northern Ireland.

Not particularly old and we could only tour the first floor and gardens.  Reminded me of our back yard only no squirrels!

 

After the palace tour and high tea we strolled the gardens.

Then we stopped by the bus to drop off Pam's jacket before exploring the small town.  Three of the drivers were in the bus goofing off and joking with each other, so I explained we stayed at a house of a famous hurler.  "You mean hooler player," they corrected me.  I told them is name was Paudi Fitz something from Limerick County, probably 70 years old.

"Oh that would be Paudi Fitzmaurice they won the All-Ireland Championship in 1973."  That's the Super Bowl of hurling!  They pulled up a picture, and sure enough that was our brush with greatness.  

Pam said, "Last time I saw him, he was in his pajamas."  (as we left early in the morning)  The bus drivers looked at each other and said,  "I don't know if I would be saying that with your husband standing right here!"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paudie_Fitzmaurice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_c17BmZCCs

Two of the bus drivers

 I'll try to attach the rest on the next episode

Off to Dublin via the Bunratty Caslte

The Bunratty Castle was only 3 km from where we were staying, next to Headley Court (that's Headley for you Blazing Saddles fans) it took us 30 minutes to find it.  We had a 2 for 1 coupon thanks to Jeannie from her recent trip to Ireland, the senior discount was denied again because it couldn't be used with any other discount.  Still saved $5.

The castle was cool.  You had to pass through the 'village' that was made up of different trades and houses from different periods.  People inside explained stuff and answered questions.

The castle itself had many narrow spiral staircases and we went to the top.  Not very crowed as it was early and had rained so hard the night before people may have stayed home.  The bus parking lot was empty.

Fishing boat, pots, and net

They called this the murder hole as only one person could pass through the narrow passage and would be picked off or doused with boiling water.  Fun days!!

From the top

 

Maybe the first baby walker as it had wheels on the lower ring.

After about an hour it was off to Dublin area.  A few pilot and navigator issues, but getting better.

We decided to stop in a city in West Meath County as that is where Simon Hadley and Joshua Hadley came from according to 2nd cousin on Dad's side, Jan Edwards.  So we stopped at Athlone with heavy traffic and found a parking space.  Stopped in the castle/fort on the River Shannon and checked with the information lady.  She suggested we go to the library and they had a room dedicated to ancestor hunting.  We had an hour left on the meter so we found the library and the longtime librarian got us started after saying he had not heard that name in his 42 years there.

I said I thought they may have been Quakers as they moved to Pennsylvania, so he looked in the Quaker cemetery records and came up blank.   He looked at the 1901 and 1911 census and only came up with 3 Hadley's in all of Ireland.  A widowed man his son and the man's sister.  The British had destroyed all earlier records as they needed fire starters.

So our in depth search was abandoned and back on the road for more frustration.  Our GPS app takes the shortest route without regard to the size of the road.

Imagine a bus, truck, or BIG farm tractor pulling something at way too fast kph.

We managed to find our place by 5:00 and met our hosts who showed us the 'casita'.  Big enough space, but no ice, tv, hair dryer, or dish washer, and the bathroom light wouldn't come on.

We went to town for dinner and ended up bringing Chinese home.  I had packed some ice I made in the muffin tins and ice cube trays that survived the trip.

Pam watched the news on the iPad via the Dish Sling.

After a crummy night sleep, soft bed and light coming in at 5:30 we hit the road to our Hotel. Made an hour stop at a big shopping malign Blanchardstown and Pam bought . . . .

a scarf!!!

We found the place somehow and check into a good sized room and large bathroom on 3rd deck with partial views of stuff.

 Some water view

 I think those are golfers

View of town and hillside.

We walked into town this Sunday morning and it appears to be like a Seaside with lots of amusement rides, games, multiple bumper cars and lots of slot casinos.  I tried my luck and put in a coin that I thought was a pound and got 10 credits.  I tried to cash out at 18 credits and had to get an attendant to help.  It only paid 10 back as that is the minimum payout he suggested I play the remaining credits, but I said I want to quit ahead. Off he went to get change.  Apparently I won 8/100th of a Pound or about 10 cents!

Tomorrow is our business meeting and a tour of some palace that is a 45 minute bus ride away, so we may pass.