Making the Most of Milwaukee

Dublin Day Three: September 16th Finally we got some rain today! In the morning it was off and on, but by the afternoon it was a bit more steady. Have I mentioned how much I love Ireland's weather so far? The temperatures have been in the 50s and 60s, and the sun has made itself known more than I'd expected. And since we had anticipated rain like everyday, the drizzling we experienced today was no big deal. This morning Justin and I walked to another little café down the street from our apartment. This one was called Cowtown Café. I got the mini Irish Breakfast with my coffee. Not quite ready to try the black pudding yet. After breakfast, we walked to the bus stop... By the way, I love the Dublin bus system! Waiting for the 39A with my honey! The sign basically says "Don't let your dogs poop here." We got a good laugh. Terraced houses are very common in Ireland. I think they're so charming! Our first stop of the day was Merrion Sq...

Dublin Day Two September 15th After a decent night's sleep, and a shower (we both fit...separately of course!), we were ready to enjoy our second day in Dublin! We walked down the street, a little farther this time, to a cute little coffee shop called Love Supreme Coffee. I got a black coffee, and Justin got probably got a flat white. I didn't pay too much attention. As we were quietly enjoying some quiet conversation in the rather quiet establishment, a group of middle-aged American women, came loudly in with their luggage and totally altered the mood. So, we finished our coffee and went on in search of some tea and breakfast. We decided to go into a place called The National Bakery. We each got tea, and I got a yummy donut! After this little treat, we hopped on the bus to Kilmainham Gaol, pronounced "jail." The bus was fairly empty, and the bus driver chatted with us a bit. She recommended checking out the IMMA - Irish Museum of Modern Art,...

Dublin Day One September 14th This morning, after Rory dropped us off at Glencourt Apartments, we met and talked with the landlord, Liam, for a few minutes. He gave us some suggestions about what to do while in town, which turned out to be some of the ideas I'd already had! The apartment itself is quite small. It's a studio, so there's a bed, couch, small table, and kitchenette in one room. The bathroom is tiny! Not a leg shaving kind of shower. But first, we needed to nap! Between the time change and the not sleeping, we were exhausted! We snoozed for a couple of hours, and then managed to drag ourselves out of bed. We knew that we didn't want to waste the day sleeping. Plus, that wouldn't help us adjust to the new time. We got dressed, and headed out in search of coffee and a bite to eat! Tired yet excited. Our very stop was just down the street at a little place called The Mad Hatter Café. We snagged a table, and ordered. I got a latte ...

Milwaukee to Dublin (September 13) This morning Justin and I took the kids to school, gave them big hugs and kisses, and said our "good-byes." As it turned out, they weren't too broken up about us leaving. After that, we stopped at Walgreens for some snacks and cough/cold medicine for me. We then went back home to do last minute packing and answer any questions my parents had. (My parents arrived yesterday, and they will be taking care of the kids until next Thursday. Then Justin's mom, Judy and his aunt, Bonnie will be watching them until we get back.) Packed and ready to go! We climbed into Justin's Jeep, and drove to the downtown post office, which happens to be where he works, and it's right next door to the Amtrak station. We parked the vehicle, walked next door, and almost immediately got on the Hiawatha train to Chicago. It was finally starting to feel real that we were actually on our way to Ireland! We got to Union Station Chicago...

Intro Justin and I got home late on Tuesday, September 26th, from an amazing trip to Ireland. It had been in the works for about two years, and it was everything that I'd dreamed, and more. While on vacation, I made a point to write the happenings in a journal. I also took lots of pictures and videos with my phone. I've decided to use this blog as a way to consolidate my journaling and visuals. And, to share with anyone who wanted to know more about our vacation than what I'd posted on Instagram. Unfortunately, I currently cannot find my journal, which is kind of heartbreaking. So, while the memories are still fresh, I really need to get everything typed up. But I really really hope my journal turns up! I am going to write each entry as if the events had happened that day. For example, "This morning..." I hope you enjoy reading about our wonderful trip, and that you add Ireland to your Bucket List!