Randy and I had been talking about going to visit Jeremy in Ireland for several years and finally made it happen this summer! While we were over there, we decided to stay longer and visit some other places, too. Jeremy made it easier for us to decide by saying he wanted to meet friends in Italy and Prague. So, I spent weeks researching, planning, and making flight, hotel and tour arrangements. I delegated most of the Italy trip to Randy, Jeremy and Marissa and thoroughly enjoyed having someone else lead and guide on those days!!
With so many different hotel stays (only one night at most Ireland stops and at most 3 nights in one place), train tickets and flights, I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth the trip went. The only issue with an accommodation was in Venice, with their A/C not working; but they were able to move us to another location, which ended up being a major upgrade — so yay for no A/C! Venice was also the only place where we missed getting to a timed “tour” and lost the pre-paid money. But except for losing money, that ended working out ok, too. And Ireland had the best weather Jeremy has experienced there in three years.
We woke up between 7-9am each day, crammed in a TON of sightseeing, then went to bed before 10pm most nights. We probably walked an average of 5 miles each day, perhaps closer to 8-10 many days, rarely on flat ground. We stayed in lots of unique/interesting accommodations, including the oldest hotel in Pisa, and some with really strange bathroom fixture arrangements. We slept on a few awful mattresses, most without top sheets and with lots of flat pillows. And lived out of a suitcase for almost a month.
But the sights we saw made it all worth it!!! Amazing doesn’t begin to describe it, and photos don’t do it justice. I wanted to summarize each day to help me remember the trip. Each day’s link will lead to a post with photos and more details.
Ireland
- Day 1: Balbriggan Beach, Newgrange & Knowth, Dundalk
- Day 2: Dark Hedges, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Letterkenny
- Day 3: Slieve League Viewing Platform
- Day 4: Sky Road Scenic Loop, Kylemore Abbey, Aughnanure Castle, Galway
- Day 5: Cliffs of Moher, King John’s Castle, Bunratty Castle Banquet
- Day 6: Dingle Peninsula (Inch Beach, Minard Castle, Dingle Town, Coumeenoole Beach, Dun Chapin Pier, Conor Pass, The Maharees, Caherconree Scenic Route)
- Day 7: Ring of Kerry (Kerry Cliffs, Derrynane House, Torc Waterfall, Ross Castle)
- Day 8: Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel, Hore Abbey
- Day 9: Waterford Crystal Factory, King of the Vikings VR
- Day 10: Kilkenny Castle, Dublin
- Day 11: Trinity College Old Library / Book of Kells, Guinness Storehouse
- Day 12: Dublin Castle, flight to Pisa
Italy
- Day 13: Leaning Tower, Baptistry, Cathedral, Camposanto, Museum of Sinopias, Giardino Scotto Park, Pasta Making Class (Pisa)
- Day 14: Botanical Garden (Pisa) & Lucca
- Day 15: Cecina, Tenuta Di Vaira Vinyard, Castagneto Carducci
- Day 16: Cathedral of Santa Maria, Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
- Day 17: Venice
- Day 18: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Di Vinci Musuem, Gondola Ride (Venice)
- Day 19: Mamertinum Prison, Vittoriano, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps (Rome)
- Day 20: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Aventine Hill, Trastevere (Rome)
- Day 21: St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel (Rome)
Prague
- Day 22: Astronomical Clock, Old Town Square, Dancing House, Charles Bridge
- Day 23: Havel Market, Wenceslas Square, Underground Tour
- Day 24: Petrín Hill, Prague Castle Complex (St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane)
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