tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71590710678932286932024-03-19T04:00:39.454-07:00Where Are We NowMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159071067893228693.post-48775731867281394242009-06-06T11:31:00.000-07:002009-06-06T11:35:10.435-07:00Wines of IrelandWhile staying at Castle Dromoland (more on that later) we had the following exceptional wines;<br />Collioure (France) and Beerenauslese (Austria)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159071067893228693.post-66657605382212718912009-05-19T07:50:00.001-07:002009-05-19T07:51:44.718-07:00Ireland journal to returnNow that I've completed the Poem a day challenge, I'm posting them here <a href="http://melaniethink.blogspot.com/">http://melaniethink.blogspot.com/</a> and will then resume the Ireland trip journal. Just in time to start the Arizona one!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159071067893228693.post-26527933746621473362009-04-02T19:29:00.000-07:002009-04-02T19:50:48.554-07:00Day 2 (October 20th) Kilkenny/Waterford<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinriUlwqZ3Qslv9ynvzHLJvUWbweEdiWX58EGO6Arw0rsFgbmxZNfgDNPUiaueo1h_WLlIejeio2M2E5StdfUjMvib8q0EOoIoBsyQtxx_4rsGfJ_NlfhQX-HOEkFTWbvUCuBCBOLiK_30/s1600-h/Kilkenny+02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinriUlwqZ3Qslv9ynvzHLJvUWbweEdiWX58EGO6Arw0rsFgbmxZNfgDNPUiaueo1h_WLlIejeio2M2E5StdfUjMvib8q0EOoIoBsyQtxx_4rsGfJ_NlfhQX-HOEkFTWbvUCuBCBOLiK_30/s320/Kilkenny+02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320287288463533874" border="0" /></a><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="address"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">A delicious breakfast and we began our quest for a cell phone. The phone was pretty easy to find – the problem was getting someone to take a large bill. The bank that changed our money gave us 500 Euro notes and no store would accept them. Even when spending 100 Euros. Not even the banks in Kilkenny would change it. Eventually we realized we had to let go of the phone idea for the day if we wanted to see anything.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">On we went to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Kilkenny</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Castle</st1:placetype></st1:place>. We missed the tour and would have waited hours for the next one. But we did walk the grounds and took pictures. It was beautiful! The stonework will probably not come through on the pictures as well as it looked in person. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglEVH392UuOd7yBy8zXOx8Rq9nfDRJWoPZRrhj0RlkglSv9lXiCkLsLnrcCQTmgr6pU65UOUSQt5XLwiLwNCx_lNtXlGg0jEnmhlF1VN5mogYLx328yGMb3DgOEyNFmlaCpHOAROc82yE/s1600-h/Kilkenny+06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglEVH392UuOd7yBy8zXOx8Rq9nfDRJWoPZRrhj0RlkglSv9lXiCkLsLnrcCQTmgr6pU65UOUSQt5XLwiLwNCx_lNtXlGg0jEnmhlF1VN5mogYLx328yGMb3DgOEyNFmlaCpHOAROc82yE/s320/Kilkenny+06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320287902470805746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi_SxkGE5mlxCipOVcOfTWn-osKmkwvpoep5Y1ajOMKOc5I168sNJPt4zEQsk-hMcYQxh_OpTc9xI0SNiYZiqGfGzm8IKDuac4UzPF4k3zznhG1EjVafwRhXNZxQXbz_Tj0dyJRSgyRkv/s1600-h/Waterford+25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi_SxkGE5mlxCipOVcOfTWn-osKmkwvpoep5Y1ajOMKOc5I168sNJPt4zEQsk-hMcYQxh_OpTc9xI0SNiYZiqGfGzm8IKDuac4UzPF4k3zznhG1EjVafwRhXNZxQXbz_Tj0dyJRSgyRkv/s320/Waterford+25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320289071793537362" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then on to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Waterford</st1:place></st1:city>, where we toured the crystal factory. One of the engravers did a demonstration. Truly amazing! He made it look so easy – of course these guys train for 10 years for this job. We bought a number of things and they will ship them home for us. <u style=""><o:p></o:p></u></p> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXTH6zGkC_efFLLP37OV3DmX_FyYAJXb6RLUhuUydWELXqZMJFFrYZJW_B30tmncO-qcsHVk7Q76Mc_OcF9Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">We checked into the B&B – <st1:place st="on">St. Albans</st1:place> on <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Cork Road</st1:address></st1:street> and went to Revolution for dinner.</span>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159071067893228693.post-84425005247690546592009-03-22T16:57:00.000-07:002009-03-22T17:28:06.336-07:002 days for 1 and borrowed pictures<span style="font-weight: bold;">IRELAND<br />October 18 – November 1, 2008</span><br /><br /><br />October 18 was not counted as this was a travel day. The flight left O’Hare at 7:15 PM and arrived at 8 AM local time on the 19th.<br /><br />Day 1 (October 19th) We arrived! Unfortunately the charge in the batteries did not. Not a single battery had any power left in it when we arrived. To make matters worse the car we got from the rental place had a broken cigarette lighter so no car charging for us. We didn’t think to check the power in the car because there were already all sorts of delays getting into the rental car that we were anxious to get on the road. They warned us that there would be a toll on the way out of Dublin. The only good thing about that is that you can pay it ahead of time at the airport. You can also pay the tolls on the internet later!<br />Finally on our way, we headed to Enniskerry. We had lunch there at a place called Poppies. My first authentic Irish breakfast. Yum! We drove around the town a bit and then headed to Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains. Driving through the Wicklow mountains was an amazing experience. Truly beautiful scenery, if only we had the camera (of course that would have put us well over 700 pictures I’m sure.)<br />Glendalough is a 6th century settlement started by St. Kevin (no wonder Kevin wanted to stop here! :-) ) Very striking ruins including a large tower and many tombstones. We walked through the ruins of the church as well. There’s even a building known as St. Kevin’s kitchen – they say it’s because of a structure that looks like a chimney.<br />For two excellent pictures of the ruins follow this link <a href="http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/MonasticCity.html">http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/MonasticCity.html</a><br />We made it most of the way to Kilkenny before the GPS battery died. Fortunately we were close enough that we found our way. We stayed at a lovely little Bed and Breakfast called Knockavon (on Dublin Rd.) We settled in early since it had been a long day for us (close to two actually!)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159071067893228693.post-26652424964912876682009-03-08T17:18:00.000-07:002009-03-08T17:53:50.751-07:00Ireland previewCliffs of Moher video should have been first but it's a 10 minute video so it's WAY to big for posting right now. More Ireland stuff to come...<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwxmJtNxVR9CGmUk2rf9XRRqWIUGgCgRavOYRx63n0OVKbkcss2OsT4JZXWCZHUVuwJfK_v2XgRHyPBbOKYvQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159071067893228693.post-27521332146745298772008-07-03T07:55:00.000-07:002009-03-08T19:05:29.466-07:00Philadelphia, PA areaThe Windsor Suites<br />1700 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103<br /><br /><ul><li>cheapest</li><li>walking distance</li><li>charge for parking</li><li>breakfast</li><li>fridge & microwave<br /></li></ul>Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel<br />17th & Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103<br /><br /><br />Crowne Plaza Hotel PHILADELPHIA-CENTER CITY<br />1800 MARKET ST., Philadelphia, PA 19103<br /><br /><br />City Pass and Philadelphia pass available through orbitz<br />http://www.philadelphiapass.com/<br />http://www.citypass.com/city/philadelphia.html?id=Eq6sA22B<br /><br />Hershey - <a href="http://www.hersheypa.com/">http://www.hersheypa.com/</a> *museum closing 9/2<br />Kitchen Kettle Village <a href="http://www.kitchenkettle.com/kitchenkettle/iehome07.php">http://www.kitchenkettle.com/kitchenkettle/iehome07.php</a><br />Good N Plenty Restaurant <a href="http://www.goodnplenty.com/">http://www.goodnplenty.com/</a><br />Willow Valley Resort <a href="http://www.willowvalley.com/">http://www.willowvalley.com/</a><br />Red Caboose Motel <a href="http://www.redcaboosemotel.com/">http://www.redcaboosemotel.com/</a><br />Strasburg Railroad <a href="http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/">http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/</a><br />Corn Maze and others <a href="http://www.amishnews.com/featurearticles/crazycorn.htm">http://www.amishnews.com/featurearticles/crazycorn.htm</a><br />Hershey's chocolate world <a href="http://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/">http://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/</a><br />Shady Maple Smorgasbord <a href="http://www.shady-maple.com/home">http://www.shady-maple.com/home</a><br /><br />Philadelphia <a href="http://www.gophila.com/">http://www.gophila.com/</a><br />Lights of Liberty<br />Independence Hall http://www.nps.gov/inde/<br />Congress Hall<br />Liberty Bell<br />Christ Church (Ben Franklin's Grave)<br />Betsy Ross House<br />US Mint<br />Old City Hall<br />First Bank of US<br />Ben Franklin National Memorial<br />Franklin Institute Science Museum<br />City Hall<br />Big Bus TourMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159071067893228693.post-47145439427594036292008-07-03T07:41:00.000-07:002008-07-03T07:50:54.594-07:00Potential Trips 2008Where should we go in 2008? Can we fly or drive?<br /><ol><li>Philadelphia, PA is a good possibility. Lots to see... </li><li>Amish Country in Indiana is also good. They have theater!</li><li>Missouri has some possibilities but would need to put more of an agenda together to decide where in the state</li><li>There's always the possibility of visiting family in San Francisco.</li><li>Return to Tennessee and actually have time to enjoy the visit.</li><li>Canada - need passports :-(</li><li>Wait until fall and look at areas further south (ie Georgia, Mississippi, Carolinas)</li></ol>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159071067893228693.post-90622556461292947242008-02-14T11:26:00.000-08:002008-07-03T07:54:47.349-07:00Las Vegas, NevadaI know it's been forever since I said I would start this blog. But I admit it dropped to the bottom of the priority list for awhile. So in an effort to get the ball rolling I thought I'd try and give this a start. Pictures and details to come later...<br />So why specify Nevada, I mean EVERYONE knows where Vegas is. Well there's actually another Las Vegas in our beautiful country. It's in New Mexico, for the record. :-)<br />My husband and I went to Vegas last October, which turned out to be a great time to visit. Neither of us are gamblers and we had been to Vegas before so we were at a loss when our original reason for the trip fell through and we had non refundable tickets. We made an effort to try and find some off the strip activities to entertain ourselves. First off, accomodations. We stayed at the Grandview. It's a bit up the ways on Las Vegas Boulevard so it's not nearly as busy. Since we were there a few years ago, the new hotel/casino opened next door. While the Grandview has it's "issues" (specifically no free wireless in the rooms) it's not a bad place to stay. We had a place to heat and eat leftovers! And if we needed the internet they did have a business center with a few computers that could be used by guests.<br />The most memorable place we ate was Cafe Heidelberg (604 E. Sahara). It's a German cafe with food that made us both think our grandmas were alive and cooking! It's off the strip so it's quiet. I've seen some mentions of it lately in travel guides so that may change in the future. And not all that easy to find in it's strip mall type location. We went for lunch so we were seated right away. Dinner is usually busier (but the only have a handful of booths) but they take reservations.<br />The other wonderful dinner was Lotus of Siam. Very traditional Thai food. Also hidden and off the strip. (953 E. Sahara) <a href="http://www.saipinchutima.com/">http://www.saipinchutima.com/</a> We had reservations and were seated pretty quickly after walking in the door. The waiter was very helpful at suggesting food that would suit us. My husband has some food allergies and they were very accomodating of this.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159071067893228693.post-5832139513909298172007-12-11T10:06:00.000-08:002007-12-11T08:10:05.416-08:00IntroductionWe only travel once a year, so I would hardly call us experts. But sometimes you find that really cool place you want everyone to know about. So here they are! (Or will be...)Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05847670146869110036noreply@blogger.com0