Day Two, Part One: Clare to Connemara

I usually forgo the traditional Irish breakfast and fill up on brown bread and toast (with much butter and jam). Toss in a yogurt and I am happy. For my first breakfast of the trip, I included a huge bowl of porridge. The rest of my party enjoyed their inaugural bacon, sausage, eggs, and puddings. High marks to the baked goods.

We lingered in Ballyvaughan most of the morning. I liked the Hylands Central Hotel - free wifi, comfortable beds, tasty breakfast. Ballyvaughan is a great town, too. Regan mentioned that it reminded her of Ireland in 1995 (our first trip to Ireland together). We would like to return, probably purchasing this property.



The only item on our day's agenda was tea with the McDonaghs in the afternoon, so we leisurely made our way to Connemara. It was a perfect, sunny day for the drive. As we drove through Galway City on our way to Spiddal, I felt like J.M. Synge. Well, I would have felt like J.M. Synge had I read his "Aran Islands and Connemara" before the trip. I had never been to this corner of Galway. Spectacular scenery along the north Galway Bay coast.

Regan snapped this photo outside of our lodging, Pádráigns in Furbo (a "suburb" of Spiddal). 80 km/h? Yikes.

First Day

We arrived at Shannon airport around 8:30am and once in our cars we headed to Ennis with the intention of configuring our phones for use in Ireland. Why we thought we should try to figure anything out is beyond me. After about an hour in Ennis we gave up on the phones and took our bleary-eyed, somewhat spacey selves to the Cliffs of Moher.

If you fly in to Shannon, the Cliffs of Moher are a natural stop on the first day. The air at the Cliffs feels fantastic on my face that has been made clammy and greasy from 8+ hours in nasty, bacteria-laden recycled plane air.

Fifteen minutes of standing on the edge of the country and I was ready for a nap. Off for the Hylands Central Hotel in Ballyvaughan, County Clare. I have always really liked Ballyvaughan and looked forward to dinner at Monk's after a little relaxation.



Monk's, located at the pier, was excellent. My food was overshadowed by my first pint. Back to the hotel and to sleep.

Apparently Dad couldn't sleep, so he went out into one of many sitting area scattered throughout the hotel to read. He then managed to fall asleep, only to be awoken by a frightened woman who passed by and thought he was dead. I think that is how it happened, anyway.

Eighteen Days in Ireland

Can't believe it is only two weeks since I've been home. It could be ten months. It was cold and crummy when we got home and it will get colder and crummier. Kind of depressing. As if returning from a great vacation isn't depressing enough.

I didn't keep a journal on this trip so I thought once Regan gets the pictures to me, I will put something together here.

Your brother may have been the King of Pop...

but you guys are just dorks.

Katie Couric, in a most somber manner:
"As a tribute to their brother, all of the Jackson brothers are wearing one glove".

The camera pans to the family in the front row of the Staples Center.

This comment in and of itself made me laugh. It was like a SNL skit. And then I laughed even more when I looked at the brothers. One had the right glove, the next the left, the next the right, then the left. And the gloves looked kind of tight. So, my guess is, Marlon picked up two pair of sparkly gloves from the little girls section at WalMart before the memorial service and told Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine to put them on.

I am not sure he deserves any greater tribute.

It's coming together

I am very excited about the latest confirmed accommodation for our Ireland trip. The Old Parochial House looks absolutely wonderful - I can't wait.

As soon as Eeny comes up with a title, I will start a family trip blog. It is shaping up to be, what should be, a great trip.

Real athletes don't wear beards.

While watching the Twins game tonight at Fern's, Regan observed:

"I hate when baseball players have beards. It makes them look like fake athletes."

I completely uderstood this.

And what's with the chains???????

Nanci Griffith

Regan and I went to see Nanci Griffith at the Guthrie last night. This was my first visit to the "new" Guthrie. Very cool building, but I didn't really feel like I was in a theater. Regan said she felt like we were at the airport; a really nice airport. I agreed, but there was something a bit odd about the place. It was like a 1950s version of what an airport would be like in the 21st century.

The concert was fantastic. Nanci is (and always has been) adorable. I felt like such a sap because I got choked up several times during the show. She is a really good songwriter. I think my favortie song is "Trouble in the Fields". Whenever I hear that song I can't help but think of my people out in Tara Township. I wonder if Nanci will do an original song for the soundtrack? I am getting a little ahead of myself...

The perfect antidote to a rainy Sunday afternoon?

Phil Collins...Hits. All afternoon.

I asked Regan for his Greatest Hits for my birthday. "Easy Lover", "Sussudio", "Against the Odds", "In the Air Tonight"...one toe-tapping (or hear-wrenching)tune after another. Did you know Phil did a version of "True Colors"? Much better than Cyndi Lauper. I had forgotten about "Separate Lives" and "Another Day in Paradise".

Regan had some trouble tracking the album down. I didn't even know if Phil ever released a greatest hits compilation, but I hoped. She found it at the Electric Fetus and said she was kind of embarrassed to buy it. It's not like it was Cory Hart or something...

Thanks, Regan.

What is Sussudio? I am going to have to look that up.

I pity the fool...

Why is it that so many of my Minnesota Twins wear thick gold chains? I mean, really, Brendan Harris? Why a chain? You don't seem like a cheesy chain guy. Neither do you, Justin Morneau, but you wear one, too. You are Canadian, but what's your excuse Michael Cuddyer or Matt Gurrier (you had on quite a long chain with some kind of pendant)? We see them; they sneak out from under your jersey from time to time as upi stretch that single into a double or make a great stop.

What am I missing? Is there a big fashion trend that I am unaware of? Do they wear these necklaces off the field, say with a polo shirt or button-down?

Any ideas? Regan?

Can you picture it?

The winding country roads of Ireland, green rolling hills, an old guy in a tweed sport coat searching for a lost sheep, and my family meadnering along in an olde tyme horse drawn caravan.

As I told my mom and sister about this yesterday at coffee, I was in tears for laughing so hard. My mom was so embarrassed by my snorts and chortles. Just imagine how embarrassed she would be in the horse-drawn caravan!

But what an awesome reality show - "The McCormack Family: Travelers Once Again". The first step would be to get Maryn and Ainsley passports - every good tinker family has a couple of wee ones with dirt smudged on their flushed cheeks. I wonder if Matt and Jen will be up for this adventure?

IrishCentral.com

This new site has some good articles, including this one. I like how the author of the article scolds the Irish costars for allowing the offending actor to get away with such an awful attempt at an Irish accent.

My First St. Patrick's Day Parade

I wasn't irritated at all. Guess being out among the guys in green, faux-velveteen tails and huge hats with a buckles makes one more tolerant.

My favorites in the parade were the Irish St. Paul police officers and their pipe/drum. Oh,and the fire-fighters and fire engines.

This was also my niece's first St. Patrick's Day in St. Paul. I think she enjoyed herself.

We are thinking about marching in next year's parade. Of course, we want our contingent to be the best. Some initial brain-storming: pony cart, celebrity guests, a couple of 80+ year-old ringers (our oldest generation are all gone, but a grandma in an Aran sweater and tam is a sure crowd-pleaser). Regan and Eeny are fleshing out the plans.

Also went to the Landmark Center for dancing, etc. Those bouncy wigs are a little freaky, but the dancing was fun to watch.

Later, dinner at my house. Sister-in-law brought her delicious soda bread and sister made her signature Paddy O'Cupcakes.

Happy to be Irish.

Another glimpse at my true nature...

You Are Fearless

You have great dreams and unrelenting ambition. You go for what you want, and it's hard to deter you. You are incredibly competent and intelligent. You've had a very high success rate in your life. You tend to dominate people. You have a very strong personality, and others tend to heed to your demands. You're confident enough to be considered arrogant. You tend to think of other people in terms of what they can do for you.

Are You Flirtatious, Fearless, Factual, or Friendly?

My favorite part of this, "you think of other people in terms of what they can do for you". That is spot on.