time to....Travel so much

So I went to Philly. Not on purpose, it was a 'unintended stop over' between Toronto and Dublin, Ireland. Don't ask, but its your tax payer money at work diverting airplanes and some 'liquid gel' plot to terrorize the world. Never mind that on my way back INTO the country I was able to ON THE PLANE, purchase 750ml bottle of 94 Proof Jack Daniels and bring that into the US. Keep in mind I am also allowed to bring in 4 books of 'strike anywhere matches' (but not CHECK them? Of course the recent change fixes this) so I could have ...Well, I would say but then I will be banned from flying I suppose. Either way, stupidity in action, imho.

So, I was in Philly for 12 hours of a layover so I left my luggage (apparently you CAN still do that) and went into downtown. So as much as I like to bag on our current representatives, it was very moving to see our old fore fathers spot in action. Specifically Independence Hall (many of the signers put their signatures where it counted most) and Ben Franklin's place. But before I post any 'historical' pics, the real reason I went into Philly - CHEESE STEAKS!

I can put this to rest for me, Pat's the King of Steaks beats Geno's by a short walk. Could have been an off day for the ever colorful Geno's but Pat's had less grease and better cheese. I got the same at both spots, Cheese Steak, wit (meaning WITH onions) and Provolone. Yeah, don't even talk to me about WIZ (as in the cheeze wiz type can of crap). So, without further a deux - the PICS:

Philly Pics





There, two posts, one day (night) and I have more to come. But then, I have said that before. Here are some of the things I have to blog about: Hamburg (where I want to speak on the Hamburger I had there, really, and to rant about freakin' GLOBALIZATION), getting married (and/or at least a ring comment) and a hidden fact about Vegas (perhaps these two are related?) hotel information. All this and MORE (airlines, anyone?) , check back later. Peace out. (Oh YEAH, that is the Liberty bell done up in Lego blocks on display in the Philly International terminal "A")

If I had time to Blog, I wouldn't have time to....

so the endless amount of crap I take over not keeping this page up to date! :-P Anyway, here is yet another post, as its been say, since April I think. First, let me post this picture I had to stop and take near my home, its a handsome thing.

Ireland, part 2 - Aran Islands

So, as promised oh 6 months ago, here is the second part of my Ireland trip (but not my second trip to Ireland which I also just completed) - lazy, lazy me.

I took a train from Dublin across to county Galway. What a great town! (more on that after Aran stuff)

After some on foot exploration I went to the ferry and went to Inishmore, the larget of the Aran Isles. I stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast home on the island. Let me tell you, with the salt air and some seagulls, I slept like I hadn't slept in years.

The thing about this place is there are these rock walls everywhere and no one around to claim them. Apparently built over the past few centuries, these walls were used as a sheparding system - a means to allow cattle (sheep) to graze and then move them from pen to pen. I think they are there 'cuz everyone was bored.

I rented a bike and rode around the isle going from thing to see to sea (very pun-y today). The thing was, I was alone and no one knew where I was. Which is all well and good but my contacts were getting covered in sea air and after a while, I had trouble seeing. I covered about 20km on the bike round trip and the main thing to see on Inishmore is this old celtic fort....on a cliff side...where I almost fell:

















Now, seriously, to get a shot I crept up to the edge to hang over and take a picture. I bumped my knee on a rock jutting out and it was like hitting your funny bone. My knee crumbled and I fell to the ground. 2 more feet and someone else is blogging about this camera they found ...

The other thing that you come here for is the Aran Sweater. They have all these special patterns they weave in and they are suppose to be the warmest, longest lasting thing in the world. So I hit the local shop. I could have gotten these in Dublin and spared myself the trouble BUT then I would have paid triple and wouldn't have gotten to see this lovely, isolated place.


can you spot Charlie in the picture?

The old cross - with all the celtic carvings. Turns out that those 'lines' inside the cross are all snakes. In the middle and around these 'knots' their heads are clearly visible. Weird, I thought that there were no snakes in Ireland!

There a load of old churches here from centuries past and loads and loads of rocks. After a day, I was done.

Getting back to Galway was a bit of a relief although I enjoyed Inishmore quite a bit. Galway is like a much, much smaller Dublin with nicer people. In Dublin people were in a hurry (seriously, ladies past me walking, me, Mr. Fastwalker). Galway has come great shopping and wonderful pubs. My favorite was in this hotel, Skeffington Arms Hotel. Built in 1850 with the pub redone in 1910. If you go to Galway, pop in for a pint.

I did what?!

Yeah, I bought a car - not just any car - but the car I have been lusting after for the past year - the mercedes-benz slk 55 AMG. This car is sick fast and the most lovely feature of all - retractable hardtop convertablility!

I was going to wait, you know, but these red and black leather seats drove me to the edge of sanity. So, I bought it. Didn't *need* it, but this car wasn't built for *need* so much as it was for lust - and that I had in spades. Here are a few more pics of the car and eventually, I promise, to post some pics and the rest of the story for Ireland...just after I stop driving long enough to do it!