A danger foreseen is half avoided.

Well... I was doing a little surfing around the web out of boredom a little while ago and found this site:

http://goireland.about.com/od/safetyinireland/a/woman_ireland.htm

It's all about women traveling alone in Ireland.

I will be completely honest with you fine readers ... I am so-freaking-beat tonight. After vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, dusting, and the sad (failed) attempt at putting away laundry... I'm just not able to put my all into this. ~Sorry~ I'll copy/paste a couple key points though...





Things to Avoid in Ireland

There are a few things you might better avoid if traveling alone as a female in Ireland:

* Avoid lingering - if you object to any contact, state so clearly and break away from it.
* Avoid ambiguity - use a clear, loud "No!" and appropriate body language to make your point.
* Avoid getting drunk - if you render yourself defenseless you are a fool, watch out for "spiked" drinks.
* Avoid physical contact until you are really sure you want any.
* Avoid being alone with (a) male stranger(s), especially with somebody wanting to show you "a short cut".
* Avoid hitch-hiking alone.
* Avoid any known troublespots, enquire at your accommodation about them.
* Avoid following any invitation to a "house party" with strangers.

And finally - never assume that all is well because you heard the Irish are all so nice and helpful. There are nutcases and potential perpetrators about everywhere, even on the Emerald Isle.


~*~ Like I said, just use common sense, lol ~*~



In an Emergency ...

... run!


~*~ and I just like this part ^_^ ~*~

Money often costs too much.

I didn't want to bother with the hassle of getting money exchanged once I arrived so I went to Rome Savings Bank and ordered some Euros. They charge a $10 fee to order them, but hey... I'll be prepared.

I looked online at the exchange rate, and for 600 USD I should have received about 435 Euros. Well, they gave me 400 Euros for 591.04 USD. Well, hmmm... I didn't think that was right.

Rome Savings orders their Euros from Bank of America because they aren't an international bank, so they have to go by their rate. Now... how can BOA charge a different rate than anyone else?!?!?! Good question.

I called RSB and they couldn't help, so I looked up BOA's number at work and called them. They told me that the rate is different for businesses and non businesses. Ahuh... right. But I guess if you have millions of dollars you're going to get a better deal? Well, I think it's bull crap.

Anywho - I have Euros, so I won't get off the plane penniless at least. I wonder how far 400 Euros will get me...... O_o Well, I'll hope and pray most places will take credit.






Pretty money, no?

See you next week.

Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain.

Well, I bought a plug converter for my electronics from Wal-Mart for $10. It turns out that it didn't convert voltage, just the plug. The US runs on 110 volts while the UK runs on 220 volts. So, without the voltage converter I would be frying all my stuff, so I took it back.

I then went to Best Buy and found one that converts voltage... but it didn't say how many watts it could handle, so I returned that one too.

Then I looked at Wal-Mart again and they had one for $20. It has two different settings. One for lower voltage items like electric razors and another for higher voltage items like hair driers. It goes up to 100 something watts, and my laptop uses 65, so it should be okay.

Here's what a converter looks like, it's in the UK setting:





With any luck I won't short circuit the hotels .....

It's late in the day when the Irish Oak sails from Cork…

An early post this week since I'm all excited.^^

~*~ Friday, April 17 ~*~

Tour to Cork by Train
(quoting the site again)


"Kiss the Blarney Stone on this tour to Country Cork. Then uncover the stories of the millions of Irish emigrants who set sail from Cobh to make new lives in America."

"Relax onboard a train as you make your way to County Cork. Visit Blarney Castle, one of the oldest and most historic castles in Ireland, and home to the Blarney Stone—said to bestow the gift of eternal eloquence upon all those who kiss it.

Continue to Cobh, a pleasant port town situated on one of the islands in Cork harbour. Visit the Queenstown Story in the restored railway station and learn about the 2 1/2 million people who sailed from here to America between 1845 and 1950."


The price (which is the same as trip to Clare) includes:

* Guided coach tour to Blarney Castle and Cobh
* Roundtrip train transfer from Dublin to Cork
* Reserved seats and host on the train
* Admission to Blarney Castle
* Admission to the Queenstown Story
* Information pack, including detailed itinerary

This trip is 13.5 hours.

We leave Heuston Station at 7am (again, we have to arrive at 6:40) and return at 8:20pm.

Some phoooootos --

Blarney Castle:





Cobh:





A statue of Annie Moore
(she became the first ever emigrant to be processed in Ellis Island)






Until next time ...

Limerick gained a reputation for piety, but we knew it was only the rain.

First, a small update... I had been spelling it Columnkille and it is Colmcille. Perhaps that is why I couldn't find it, haha. Luckily a very helpful person told me where it's located (about 30 minutes from my hotel according to Google maps).

Okay - now for the first train trip offered by Expedia!


~*~ Wednesday, April 15 ~*~

Tour to County Clare By Train
(I'm going to copy/paste what the site says.)

"Experience the lunar landscape of Burren and dramatic coastal views from the Cliffs of Moher on this tour to County Clare. Get a taste of ancient and modern Irish life with a visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and a tour of the revitalized city of Limerick."


"Catch a train from Dublin to reach Limerick in just over two hours. A short city tour of the setting of Angela's Ashes will reveal a city revitalised by new developments. Get a flavour of the more traditional way of life when you visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The 15th-century fortress has been carefully restored and is set in the middle of a recreated 19th-century Irish village. Wander the village streets and pick up some traditional handicrafts before lunching at an atmospheric Irish pub at Doolin on the Atlantic Coast.

Hop back on board your coach and head to County Clare's dramatic coast. The Cliffs of Moher stretch for miles, with the roar of waves crashing below and the call of seagulls from above. Driving back to Limerick, you'll pass through the strange, lunar-like region of Burren, and along the shoreline of Galway Bay, considered one of the top 10 coastal drives in Europe."


It will take 14.5 hours for the whole trip.

The price ($139.41) includes:

* Guided coach tour of Limerick, Bunratty Caslte, and the Cliffs of Moher
* One-way train from Dublin to Limerick
* One-way train from Galway to Dublin
* Reserved seats and host on the train
* Admission to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
* Information pack, including detailed itinerary


The train leaves Heuston Station at 7am, but they are asking us to arrive at 6:40, and we will return to the station at 9:20pm.

Here are some photos:

The Cliffs of Moher





Bunratty Castle





Burren