Back from Ireland...

They're back!

J and K skipped across the pond a couple weeks ago with their Grandma for a 7-day bus tour of the Irish coastline.  The three have vacationed together before, but this was the first extended overnight trip sans parental or aunt.  Although K was homesick quite a bit, they all had a wonderful time.

They started and ended in Dublin, exploring a different city each day.  The only exception was Killarney where they happily bunked for two nights at a magnificent hotel overlooking a beautiful lake (aptly named the Lake Hotel).  It was a magical place with its very own ruin no less, and so it seemed just right that they should stumble upon deer grazing at night during their stay.

J and Grandma breathed in the ancientness of Ireland where centuries-old ruins dotted the greenery like old farmhouses in Indiana.

K, being 11, delighted in the jacuzzi in their room at Killarney, the unexpected Kit Kat bar on their tour bus and the storytelling that went into their tour of Smithwick's brewery in Kilkenny (no, she did not sample the ale at the end).  She made friends with a calico cat named Houdini whom she met in a little shop on one of their stops.

I was disappointed to learn that Grandma did not get to kiss the Blarney Stone.  Apparently, there was a huge line and not enough time so they instead explored the gardens and woods of Blarney Castle.  With names like Fairy Glade, Witches' Stone, and Witches' Kitchen, the grounds of Blarney Castle are steeped in folklore, right down to a wishing waterfall.  The waterfall sits at the base of a steep rock staircase and, according to legend, grants the wishes of those brave enough to walk backwards down the steps with their eyes closed.  K made her wish and braved the steps.  When she opened her eyes, she was mildly disappointed to find she still could not fly but chalked it up to 'not doing it right.'

All came back tired but happy to be home.

Sure, there were some trying times and homesickness, but memories of a lifetime were made in the little moments of each day: the laughs, the funny Irishisms, the food, the people, the bus, the giggly times, the wildlife, the flights, the shops, the tour guide's accent, the castles, the ruins...and the sheer beauty of it all.

This trip allowed the girls to experience another culture and how to be a considerate guest in another country.  Most importantly, though, they got to spend unfettered time with their grandma, just being.

And for that, I am most grateful.

Maybe someday they'll go back to Ireland.  And if they do, whoever goes, I love knowing that they'll bring with them fond memories from this trip.