GolfHos

So we're back, sometimes I think the best part of going on vacation is coming home, I missed my own bed, the dog, and the kids, not necessarily in that order but pretty close. It's hard traveling to Europe when your money is as depressed as it is, but there you have it. It was hard work haulin' the old peoples luggage and keeping them in line, they are as bad as 12 year olds "where we goin...are we there yet...should I stand over here...what time is the bus" Ugggggh.

Some highlights.

Leeds Castle built in 1066 and renovated by (I'm) Henry the VIIIth (I am, I am).
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_2872.jpg)

In Cove and Cork, Ireland I found these plaques everywhere, evidently our friend Uisce is some sort of "God" there.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3129.jpg)

Those witty Irish I just love 'em.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3142.jpg)

This is our tour guide in Dublin, I had just asked him if "Nothing really ever changes on New Years Day"
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3161.jpg)

I've always been fascinated by revolutions, this is just one remnant of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, this is a bullet hole in the statues breast, bullet holes were still everywhere, it's a reminder.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3301.jpg)

This is inside of Kilmainham Jail, where all of the leaders of the uprising were executed, 15 of them were shot where this cross is. One of them one so sick he was brought in on an ambulance, wheeled in and shot on the opposite side of this cross, there is another cross just for him.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3277.jpg)

And of course I had to pay homage to one of my rock idols. They all seem to die to young.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3313.jpg)

I like this, I'm thinking of making it my new avatar.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3656.jpg)

And of course Holland.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3636.jpg)

If you visit Amsterdam the Anne Frank house is a must, it too is a reminder.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3747.jpg)

And last but not least the coffee shops, it's amazing to walk in a country that legalized marijuana and prostitution years ago, and the crime rate is low, except for stealing bike, bikes are everywhere, and not a fat Hollander did I see. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3737.jpg)


So, there you go, it was fun, it was hard work at times, it was tough traveling from Seattle to Holland by plane, but all in all it was memorable, Europe is so old in comparison it's just amazing, I stood in a castle that was built 700 years before we ever even thought of becoming a nation.

But it's good to be home, did I say that I missed my dog and my own bed and the girls.

I thought I did.

Great pics! :)

Nice pics, Seamus! :)  Especially like the castle and the pic in Holland.  8)

Excellent Seamie.   [sm_thumbsup]

The last prisoner executed at Kilmainham was James Connolly.  He wasn't just sick.  He was on his deathbed due to injuries sustained in the Rising.

Those executions did more to turn opinion against the British than anything the eventual martyrs did previously.  Historians generally consider the Rising to be ill-conceived, amateurish and essentially looked at as bothersome by most Irishmen.  Until the executions.  At that point Irish and world opinion turned against them.  It was the catalyst for bona fide revolution and directly led to the War of Independence.

Glad to see you found Phil.  That statue wasn't there last time I was in Dublin.  You beat me to the photo-op.   ;)

Do they only sell products there? Or do they also offer polishing services?

why do you hate 'merka ?

Yeah, I got that, but I was in a state of awe when the tour guide was telling us the story. Uisce is quite right though, Mr. Connolly was dying yet they brought him in on a wheelchair transfered him to an executioners chair and shot him.

This is his cross.
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3275.jpg)

I guess I have to rent "In The Name Of The Father" with Daniel day Lewis now, some scenes were filmed at Kilmainham.

Yeah but I wouldn't have if you didn't suggest it...Thanks!

They do offer polishing services, the lady on the left is Maggie McGill, she's the main polisher, something about her and chrome trailer hitches...she also soaks corks for the wine service they offer.

There are two black crosses in a court yard facing each other about 50 feet opposite, separated by an Irish flag and this plaque. Sorry about the camera date.  :-\

(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/Europe%202007/100_3281.jpg)

neat pix.  [sm_thumbsup2]

Nice pics


Oh Amsterdam  :'(

Nice pics Seamus, sounds like you had a great time.

Is it good to be home! ;D

 [sm_rolling]

Karma.

Seamus, I really thought that you would have at least one photo of the girls in the windows in Amsterdam for the boys here!!!! ;D ;)

Oh yeah! Where my dollar is worth a dollar.
Pictures of the "girls" is verboten, they will do nasty things to you.

Thanks for reading...I'll be here all week.  ;D

Welcome back... (just jumping on the bandwagon)... I didn't realise you'd taken a holiday.

I've been flat out like a three legged dog digging a hole lately, so I seem to have missed some goings on around here... ;)

He got roped into being a responsible chaperon for some **** fueled geriatric group on a wild fantasy bender through openly progressive, yet well regulated free Europe.

Thanks!


Hey that's good  [sm_thumbsup2] I'll see if the SIL can put that in the next travel brochure...giving you full credit of course.