Christmas in Ireland

I found an excuse to use my elite status on Continental --- fly to Ireland for Christmas! What a brilliant idea!

I have been home for almost 2 months and I decided to go back to running through airports across the country. This time without Alissa;( I went to Ireland to visit Duncan's family (I promised that I would no longer use Buttercup)

My stay in the Emerald Isle was brief, but jam packed with activities. I was there exactly 8 days! This is a short vacation for most Europeans, but long for Americans.

Being the cost effective person that I am, I took the most inexpensive flight that I could find. Continental to Gatwick and then Gatwick to Ireland. This mean't a 6 hour layover in Gatwick. I forgot to mention that I flew San Jose to Houston, before Gatwick -- I have seen enough of that airport for at least a year. On my flight over the Atlantic, I saw Ireland, I wished that I could have parachuted down. It would have saved me several hours. I arrived at Gatwick at 7Am --half a sleep. I went to sleep on a chair in coffee shop for 2 hours. I almost slept through the check in announcement. Of course by the time I got to check in there was some sort of luggage mishap. The line was backed up and not moving. Cheap!

Duncan's family lives in Cork, Ireland. A smallish city in the Southern part of the country. Looks very much like PA. When I was flying in, all I could see was green pastures with cows. Then I stepped off the plane and I smelled the maneur, just like home:)

Everyone in his family was very nice to me. Maybe they were buttering me up so that they could dish out the old stories on Dunks! you know, like all of the old girlfriend stories:)

On my days off, we went to small coastal city called Kinsale and Middleton. Other very cute cities. I think that the Titanic sailed from one of them. I have decided that we will return to Ireland and take our bikes around the countryside for a few weeks. I think that we would get a better look at country peeps and get some exercise. This is one of many adventures for the future.

Dunks turned 30 while we were in Ireland. He took it well, better than I will.

I was unable to spend New Years in the Emeral Isle as I had to work. Can't always live the chill lifestyle -- it was Duncan's time to hang out.

I made the trek back to the states on the 31st of Dec. My cheapness really came through on my return. I had 1.40 hours to go thru customs, get my bags, re-check, get a ticket, go thru security and make the flight to houston. There were lot of people who helped my do it...the EU passport control, the continental agents who let me check in past the deadline and some nice man in security who let me get in front of the hour long security line. Not to mention they charged me extra for the tripod because I was over the weight limit....
an adventure that might beat the Bolivia flight.

Now I am back and working like a dog! I will try to update the site more regularly. This year, I am planning on climbing Mt Whitney with a friend and Duncan and I are thinking of going to Alaska.
FYI-Yes, Duncan has put up with living with me for over 3 months:) he is a star;)