Tuesday 12/30/2014

The walking begins with a big long walk to Dublin Center and back. Muscles that haven't been used in a while, were quite strained. Thank goodness for drugs!

Abby, Becca, & Scout in front
of the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

Dublin, the population slightly smaller than South Dakota at just over 500,000. The city is on Dublin Bay and the tides do affect the water ways. The scenes are similar to the other European cities. The bridge in the back ground does show some uniqueness to the sky line.

As we get closer to city center, we find more people out and about. We walk across the Beckett Bridge and we see a man with a hacksaw working away to free a bike. I'm sure it was his, lol.

Memorial from Canada in
regards to the Great Famine. 

Like all large cities there is historical markers, like the one to the left, a gift from Canada in regards to the Great Famine. Old architecture marks the sky lines, mixed with the new sky line. Along with Air B&B, Google, Facebook, and others have chosen Dublin as their European base.

Pram time is nap time for Scout
in the afternoon.

Pram time is nap time for Scout. Our daily routine is walks in the morning, letting her run around, and then a little lunch. After lunch will be Scout's nap, as we walk today, to find some Oyster's for John and Prongs for Abby for our New Years Eve supper. Not sure what the plans are for NYE in Dublin, however, we'll venture out to see what's going on. I'm sure it'll be nothing like last years NYE in Berlin.

Plans for the weekend includes a road trip to the West, Galway area, lodging and transportation is secured. More to follow...

Time for a rest in a Irish Pub, Grabby with
a Pint and Scout with "Jamisons" LOL

Well we are off again, this trip to Dublin, Ireland, off course to spend some time with Jesper, Becca, Scout, & Pillar. Before we get there we enjoyed a little side track with some friends in Sioux Falls, SD.

Thumbing a ride and Lady Di picks us
up.

The trip this year begins with AT(alternate transportation). Lady Di gives a lift to Sioux Falls, she is heading for a enjoyable week in the opposite direction of us. Seattle to be more precise, to spend time with first her cousin Carol and then her son Zip and his family. I'm sure she'll have a great time out west.

Larry, John, Abby, Di, & Mary
at Wiley's in Sioux Falls.

Our first stop in Sioux Falls of course is at Abby's favorite store Kohl's, thank goodness it is a short stop. Then off to the Hotel, Holiday Inn, and we thank Julie Wittstruck for the accommodations. Not wanting to venture to far, we find a place to eat supper within walking distance. "Wiley's" at 6th & Main is the pub we choose and our friends Larry & Mary come to meet us.

Having a "Domestic" Beer in
Toronto.

Our flight is on time and we leave Sioux Falls at 10:30 am for the start of our long day. Stops in Chicago, Toronto, & then Dublin is our itinerary for the day. A short lay over in Chicago, with a longer one in Toronto. We have time for a Molson,

Grabby and Scout in the airport.

The only "hitch" to our trip is leaving Toronto, with a delay of at least 1 hour, we finally get boarded and take off. A big 767 300 passengers is a full flight. We arrive in Dublin at 10:30 am, and that in "John time" is a 24 hour day! Through customs goes quickly, picking up the luggage and then meeting our family, with hugs and kisses is great!

A short rest, a walk to the park, our "Irish Christmas Dinner", and our 2nd Christmas of the year concludes the day. Scout enjoyed the opening of the presents, which she got to open of them! It's great to see her enjoy this! More "Irish" stories to come, until then....

Christmas with Scout, words
cannot express this moment.