DoDublin Tour

Today was a bit rainy in Dublin so we opted to try the bus tour (DoDublin) of Dublin today. I am thankful we did so because the driver really gives so much of the historical context behind the city. Our tour ranged from the famous block of Georgian homes that once housed Oscar Wilde, to portions of the city once completely under water, to the expanse of Phoenix Park, to cathedrals, to the new homes of Google, Amazon and Facebook. From the slums to areas of royalty. Several hours and 31 stops later we realize there is so much to Dublin that warrants a longer visit next time! I would label all of these and give more details, but there is little down time. If you want info on a particular picture just ask!

We also were able to cheer on all the swimmers in the 100th Liffey Swim! Quite chilly to be in these waters but thousands swim this tidal river every year. The water quality was tested yesterday and considered to not be of the best quality bacteria wise. I won’t mention the things floating in the water. I imagine the hospitals to be quite busy tomorrow! But kudos to these troopers!

We absolute loved Dublin but are excited to start our journey tonight to Northern Ireland/UK and begin seeing the countryside!

Dublin Nights

It doesn’t get completely dark here until almost 10 pm which gives ample time to explore the city. We finally grabbed our first real Irish fare and I had my first Irish Guinness at Madigan’s. I know, I know, it’s cliche, but when in Rome…or Dublin.

We visited the Garden of Remembrance, designed by Daithí Hanly and dedicated to the memory of all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom.

Just a quick note, people here walk like they drive. To be left of oncoming traffic. I do not. I have walked into more people than I can count while gaping up at the architecture here. You can walk for hours and see the most amazing design and mix of color on buildings throughout the city. I am especially addicted to the window flower boxes and unique lamp posts that are scattered everywhere.

The streets have come alive tonight with live music all over the streets and pouring out of the bars. The people here are so incredibly friendly which works well for this extrovert! We’re signing off to go enjoy the rest of our night!

Center City Dublin

We made it to Dublin! I have to say, I fell in love as soon as the plane turned into the sunrise to land at the airport. The view was amazing.

After a 7 hour flight, the kids have retracted their requests to fly to Australia next summer. Our bodies felt it was 2:40 am when we landed yet the city was just coming alive here. We had been up for almost 24 hours and since we couldn’t check in for another 6 hours, we heading out on foot to site see as if we had slept all night. Our appearance probably said otherwise.

It was a smart move to NOT have my first driving experience in downtown Dublin. Plus the cab driver was entertaining and a wealth of info.

We picked up a few interesting facts during the car ride. Beyond agriculture, Ireland is the European center for IT and Pharma. Cops in Dublin do not carry guns. Street signs are not on the lights, they are on plaques on building walls which is a little challenging when you are trying to navigate.

We had prepaid for the Hop-On Hop Off Bus but the weather was perfect so we opted to tour on foot. You can cover a lot of Dublin’s biggest attractions easily in walking distance.

We stopped by Trinity College and the Book of Kells exhibition. The Book of Kells is a 9th century manuscript that documents the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ. The Book of Kells is Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure and the world’s most famous medieval manuscript. The Exhibition provides access to the Long Room that houses 200,000 of Trinity College’s oldest books.

We hit the Dublin Castle and the Christ Church Cathedral. These make my kids look so tiny. Actually most of these buildings do. These places are incredible and likely the least of what we are about to see as we move across the country!

Of course it couldn’t be too early in the morning to hit Temple Bar right? Ok, so maybe 9 am was a little early for a drink. We did take a walk through the cobblestone streets and will swing back through when it’s bustling with live music later.

We do look like complete tourists, but the city is flooded with them so I guess technically we fit in. For now, we are wiped out and sneaking a mini nap to fuel up for tonight and tomorrow. Tomorrow we are tackling St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery and whatever else our feet may find. From there we will head for our rental car and take off towards Belfast!

12 South, the Gulch and Broadway

Yesterday we covered several areas of Nashville. We started out in 12 South and checked out the Draper James store and hit Embers Ski Lodge for some lunch cocktails and to study the Whiskey Bible.

We booked an afternoon tour of Hatch Show Print which was far more interesting than I had anticipated. All of the promotional printing done today is still manual and executed by only eight designers. There are absolutely no digital aspects of the production process of over 260,000 posters last year. The most interesting part was how the development of the company was directly tied into the history of downtown Nashville itself and how their vision influenced the country music industry.

After the tour we hit Martin’s BBQ for some incredible whole hog BBQ, brisket sandwiches and Redneck Nachos. Our hair still smelled from the smoker filling the beer garden this morning but it was worth every bite!

After filling up on some BBQ we made our way through the city to Broadway to visit the Ryman Auditorium, original home of the Grand Ole Opry, and to witness the row of Honky Tonk bars and Nashville nightlife. The street is full of celebrity owned bars with live performers rotating hourly through the stages, all waiting on their big breaks. Each bar has its own unique quirks, rooftop bars, and plenty of interesting people to watch. Just beware that after hours of ongoing festivities, this street smells a little ripe.

There is no shortage of great music on Broadway, however we found this amazing artist at our last stop at the Alan Jackson bar. It’s no secret that I am not a huge country music fan but this guy’s voice was unbelievable. Check out Eric Holmgren online as the next up and coming country artist.

We wrapped up the weekend with brunch at Silo before we hopped a plane back to Pennsylvania. This weekend went by so quickly and there is so much more to see and do in this beautiful city so I guess we’ll have to plan another visit. Beyond the sights, great food, this visit was more of a testament to long term friendships and the ability to always pick up right where we left off. Till next time Nashville!

Speakeasy

Nashville has a number of Speakeasies buried throughout the city. We found a great one nestled next to our dinner destination for some happy hour spirits. I think these were well deserved after getting lost in the mountains! Read more about the history behind Old Glory!

Dinner was at the Barcelona Wine Bar which was an amazing tapas restaurant. I highly recommend the sangria pitchers, bacon wrapped dates, chorizo and figs, pork belly as some top choices. But oddly enough I left almost hungry when we left after stretching the meal across a few hours.

I found this little gem, No Baked Cookie Dough, next door while waiting for the Uber. We hopped to midtown to grab some bushwackers from the originals! I must say I am a fan of the midtown vibe.

Nashville Trails

We took off to Nashville this weekend to visit one of our best friends from school for a little pick me up. We started our trip off with a delayed flight through some stormy skies but made up for the lost time by killing 3 bottles of wine till the clock ticked past 3 am. It was a slow roll morning for all of us and the coffee was flowing, sunlight was in full force and Orion was ready to go!

We hit Percy Warner Park for a 7-mile morning hike. The stair entrance up to the trails far prettier in person. The heat and humidity here is a bit miserable but we were able to sweat off the over indulgence in wine from last night. Parts of the trail were a bit steep and it was really hard to capture the beauty and depth of the mountains in pictures. We got a bit disoriented on the mountainside and started to plan for our dramatic mountain escape by moonlight. But alas we found the car and eventually some well needed showers before our next excursion.

Bama Burgers

This week my travels took me to Montgomery AL for work. Not a leisurely trip by any means, so I normally wouldn’t post on this trip, but I felt the to share this unique hot spot buried in Montgomery.

Vicki’s Lunch Van has been declared one of the best burger joints in Alabama. To pass by it, you probably wouldn’t look twice. This tiny little place originated as a van protected only by a small awning. Over time, and due mostly to regulatory requirements, the “Van” because an enclosed building.

Vicki’s Lunch Van Before Its Opening

Located not far off the Gunter Maxwell AFB Annex, I decided I had to give this place a try. If you plan to go, go early! This places get packed for lunch. We arrived at 11:00 and before we finished eating, the line was back to the door.

Happy Customers
The Eatings

I almost took on the 8 ounce burger until I saw one walk by. I did partake in the 4 ounce combo. Definitely enough to keep a growing girl full. I recommend if you visit Montgomery that you grab one of Vicki’s burgers even if it’s for the road! Check them out on Facebook for more info!

Bama Burger

The Aftermath

Tracing Our Roots

My cousin Anne has done an amazing job of pulling our family history together. As we make our way through Ireland and more specifically Waterford/Cheekpoint, we will share more photos that capture our history.

For now, here are some pictures of where we begin for this reunion. These are some photos of my paternal grandmother. Anna Louise (Nancy) Keough Moriarty. These photos capture my grandmother’s classic beauty. Even in her older years she never missed a day without her hair styled and her red lipstick. And that smile!

Grandmom on the right with her sister Teresa
Grandmom and her Philadelphia crew. Back Row Second from the Left
Grandmom on the Top and her sister Birdie on the Bottom
Grandmom Far Left and My Grandfather Thomas Moriarty Sr
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