Jack found out that when you are traveling on the Government's dime for home leave you can add a little detour on your flight for a side trip and then just pay however much extra it costs for the detour. So we thought about it and decided to give Dublin a try. It cost about $150 to fly there all thanks to the US Government and Jack's ever scheming mind.
Speaking of Jack's scheming mind, I thought I would include his trip plan for our time in Dublin so you can get a glimpse into what it is like to be in Jack's Army.
July 20 Arrive from Baltimore at 07:35, pick up car at 8:15
Drive to Bru Na Boinne Visitors Center (48min)
Drive to Monasterboice, high crosses (18min)
Drive to Old Mellifont Abbey (13min)
Drive to the Hill of Tara (35min)
Drive to Trim, see castle (21min), Trim
July 21 Drive to Dublin airport (39min), drop off car at 9:00
Take Airlink bus (#747 or 748) to Busaras Central Station (35min), walk to hotel
Trinity College Tour/the Book o’Kells
National Museum
Walk—St. Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street, Dublin Castle, Christ’s Church cathedral, dinner in Temple Bar area, Dublin
July 22 1916 Rebellion Walk (11:30)(2hrs)
Cab to Kilmainham Gaol
O’Connell Street walk, Dublin
July 23 Fly Dublin to Ankara
This is a paired down schedule as we were only there for a few days and were a bit jet lagged. I tease him a lot and Trum and I complain about wanting to cut our aching feet off every night but really it is so nice to be organized and because of that get to see so much cool stuff. So here is how we followed the schedule.
July 20th
Picking up the rental car. Freaking out a little bit about remembering to drive on the left again.
Bru Na Boinne
Bru Na Boinne is a complex of Neolithic mounds, chamber tombs, standing stones, henges and other prehistoric enclosures, some from as early as 35th century BC - 32nd century BC.
So cool! Loved it.
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| We went in that tomb. Not for the claustrophobic. |
Monasterboice
Historic ruins of Monasterboice are of an early Christian settlement in County Louth with a round tower and high crosses.
For some reason we didn't go to the old Abbey. I can't rmember why that didn't work out. Hmm...
Anyway,
Hill of Tara
An archaeological complex that contains a number of ancient monuments and, according to tradition, was the seat of the High King of Ireland.
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| Trum shows us how Saint Patrick explained the Trinity to the Irish. |
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| Whose kid is that in the grass? |
Gorgeous Irish countryside.
Trim
We saw the castle. Jack ate fish and chips. And the next morning we had a full Irish breakfast, including black pudding. Which I tasted but then gave to Jack to finish.
Charming town.
July 21st
Dropping off the car.
This is what jet-lag looks like on Trum.
Waiting for the bus into town from the airport.
Tour of Trinity College.
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| A student tour guide complete with robe. Fun times! |
1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic
The Long Room
St. Stephen's Green
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| Trum, let me take your picture in front of this drunk guy, surrounded by empty beer cans, sleeping it off in the park. |
National Museum
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| Ooooh, thrilling! |
Jack's Walking Tour of Dublin
Dublin Castle
Temple Bar District
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| Trum, let me take your picture in front of this crazy Leprechaun. |
One of the many beautiful spots on the River Liffey.
This is what jet-lag looks like on Jack. Sleeping during daylight hours! Well, I never!
July 22
1916 Rebellion Walk
Before our guided walking tour we went over to see the Molly Malone Statue. It was mobbed by American tourists. Including these college aged kids who were doing a scavenger hunt that included taking a selfie with a stranger by the statue. Truman was asked to participate in several of these fine photo sessions.
With our silver-tongued tour guide in front of the General Post Office with it's bullet holes from the stand off.
Garden of Remembrance at the end of our tour and O'Connell Street.
We actually took the bus to Kilmainham Gaol and then guess what. You had to have reservations made in advance so we didn't get to go in. Jack was VERY upset. He had to have some alone time. While he did that Trum and I enjoyed the gardens outside a museum nearby.
Shut out is better than shut in, I guess.
Famine Memorial
More sites along the river.
So glad we stopped by!
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