Back to the Emerald Isle

I had the privilege to make a trip back to Ireland this past month for work. I was there for 10 days.

Oh the memories of my university days!

Though when I mention it and my staff asked me when I was last there, I realize it was when they were still young kids.

Eek! I am that much older than them. Oh my goodness…

Anyways, I have never been further south than Dublin. I decided to join my parents for a road trip around Scotland instead of joining my friends of a tour of Ireland.

So it was a treat for me to finally visit this part of Ireland.

So what are my impressions of Ireland after so many years being away?

·         Ireland is still very green. It has to be all that rain. See next point

·         It rains 90% of the time. The weather forecasters have various ways to say rain in its varying degrees e.g. a slight drizzle, rain, showers, etc

·         They serve chips with almost all meals here. Quite bizarre but I was not complaining

·         Cork is not a place with many good restaurants

·         Room service is ‘blah’!

·         Quite funny that Ireland being an island, not many people fancy fish here

·         Jameson whisky is yummy with ginger ale J

·         I still see weird looking Irish men – tracksuits, slicked hair with spikes. Oh yeah.. the bad breath. My poor co-worker that got hit on by these guys…

·         And of course the typical Irish/English young ladies – a tan that is too dark, too much makeup, etc. I guess like the Guidettes of New Jersey? While the guys are like New Jersey Guides? LOL

·         The Irish will find any excuse to drink. For example, we attended a Super Bowl party at a local pub. Almost all of the Irish attendees there had no clue what was going on, and was cheering and drinking regardless of what went on

·         But they are really quite friendly and helpful. A taxi driver offered to lend my co-worker his own GPS unit to use for the weekend after my co-worker left his GPS unit in the car. The car was at the hotel, while he was on his way to the airport to rent another car to drive to Dublin. The taxi driver was a complete stranger

·         I found out I still like Fruits and Fiber cereal. And so I am quite disappointed it is not sold here in the UK

·         Baked beans, sausage and black & white pudding for breakfast is quite yummy

Will post photos from the trip in my next post