Frank/Vacation

[Bill]

Hey Frank you Lucky Dog, your packing to go to Ireland right now aren't you? I'll bet your daughter is psyched too. Don't forget to wave when you fly over Maine, i'll be out in the driveway on the left side of my pick-up truck (it's black, but you can spot it)! Send a couple of virtual post cards and tell us how well "Fintan Murphys Travel Agency" is treating you! Take lots of Photos. We will try not to abuse the board in your absence..

Have fun guy..good luck!

Bill

[Sailor3356]

Wow a vacation :shock: I thought they were a myth Hope you have a great time.

[Johannah]

Have a great time and lay off the computer while you're away! Now to begin the campaign to convince my mountain climber husband that next year we should take a family vacation to Ireland which has no mountain climbing at all.

[Guest Anonymous]

Now to begin the campaign to convince my mountain climber husband that next year we should take a family vacation to Ireland which has no mountain climbing at all.

Well, bring him to Acadia Ntl Park in Maine. Plenty of mountains there. Vertical gain may not be the most at about 1800 ft, but you can't get a better combination of Mountains, lakes, and Ocean.

[Frank Hagan]

I'm T - 2 hours to take the drive to the airport to get there 2 1/2 hours before the flight on Aer Lingus, and then a 10 hour flight there. But my daughter assures me their dial up connection works as well as mine at home, so you guys won't be able to get rid of me that quickly!

I did send an email to Fintan with my daughter's phone number. I think my daughter has a trip down Cork way planned for us (its a surprise, so I don't know exactly where we're going, and I don't care .... as long as it isn't France!) But we'll see if we can hook up sometime while I'm there.

I think we take the polar route, Bill, so I may not recognize your house ... but to me, all snow looks alike! So I'll think of you anyway! Johannah, they do have hills, some a few feet tall, and there are the Cliffs of Moher you can tell him he can scale (when he gets there he'll change his mind, according to my daughter).

[Johannah]

Accadia is just wonderful but it's not Ireland. Mr. Mountain Climber has climbed in Kyrgystan and considers the Wind River Range of Wyoming as home climbing turf. When he was younger, by a lot, he and friends did a traverse of the Presidentials in New England in the Winter every year to make it more interesting and eliminate the tourists. Now he just goes cross-country skiing in the Adirondaks at night in the Winter for an adrenaline kick. And he looks so reasonable, too. That list should give you an idea why Ireland sounds a bit tame. He likes to hike and has promised to go with me to my family's home turf for decades. It just hasn't happened yet. He is off to Isle Royale in June to count Moose bones for someone else's research. If only Ireland had weird wildlife, other than the people of course. 8) I spent a month in County Down in the North as a kid and have longed to visit the South all my life. Not much of a tourist. I'd just like to land somewhere and mosy around for a bit. Potter in a rowboat perhaps. Visit the native village, maybe. But maybe not. The locals must get so tired of the mawkish distant relatives showing up and weeping over them. :?

[Fintan Murphy]

Johannah,

I could nearly see you baiting the hook

You're right about the mountains, Ireland has only 5 recognised mountains (I think they have to be over 3000 ft to qualify). The rest are just hills. I go hillwalking in the summer, and judging by your description of John's exploits, he would find it a bit tame. But don't worry, we have other pastimes that are equally diverting.

You're also right about the wildlife. I though I had seen a BIG spider untill I went to Australia. Once you look at them, and their eyes are big enough to see your reflection in them, then the home-grown ones will never look fierce again.

We have absolutely no indiginous nasty insects, spiders, snakes, bugs, or wildlife that can harm you. No bears, big cats, mosquitos, deadly spiders, no snakes at all (thanks Patrick), or anything that you have to run away from (unless you are afraid of sheep) :shock:

"Not much of a tourist. I'd just like to land somewhere and mosy around for a bit. Potter in a rowboat perhaps. Visit the native village, maybe. "

Sounds like you would fit right in here Johannah. Personally, I find that being a tourist is a state of mind. It can be a fascinating study, watching how different visitors either try to buck, or go along with the Irish way of life. The older I get, the more I appreciate it, and how my own identity is so tied up with it.

"The locals must get so tired of the mawkish distant relatives showing up and weeping over them"

Don't worry, we've developed coping mechanisms Reminds me of a holiday program I watched last night about the market in Marrakesh. The presenter said that you get out of it what you put in. If you are agressive, you will be met with aggression, if you go in with a sense of humour and treat them with dignity, you will be rewarded with a great experience. The same thing applies here. (But, hey, you knew that).

By the way, I phoned Frank yesterday. He arrived safely after his 10 hour flight. I don't know if we will get a chance to meet up but I think we'll do our best to do so. A lot will depend on where his daughter and son in law bring them. If they are heading southwards, I should be able to catch up with them somewhere. He's only got 8 days, and I don't want to encroach if they have things planned.

[Johannah]

Thanks for the kind thoughts, Fintan. I keep meaning to say how much I like your name. It didn't make it over here, or not much anyway, where the men in my family (and most of the Irish for that matter) can choose among Francis X, Michael or Sean/John. And Patrick of course. Or Thomas Francis. But you get the idea, not much variety.

[Frank Hagan]

By the way' date=' I phoned Frank yesterday. He arrived safely after his 10 hour flight. I don't know if we will get a chance to meet up but I think we'll do our best to do so. A lot will depend on where his daughter and son in law bring them. If they are heading southwards, I should be able to catch up with them somewhere. He's only got 8 days, and I don't want to encroach if they have things planned.[/quote']

I'll give you a call tonight ... we feel much better today. The time change is really odd ... day is night and night is day as far as your body is concerned.

We are planning to go down to Kilkenny on Tuesday and stay there over night, so if that's not too far north of you, perhaps we can buy you a pint Tuesday night!

[Fintan Murphy]

Thank you Johannah,

it is an Irish name, the Gaelic version is Fiont

[Frank Hagan]

Frank' date='

give me a shout on the mobile if you call tonight. It's 8.30pm and I'm still in the office. I'll contact you anyway as I should be able to meet up on Tuesday night. I have a few hours coming to me so I'll head up in the afternoon.[/quote']

Oops! Sorry, didn't call! :oops: Vacation tends you make you into a flake, you know.

"Day is night, and night is day", yea that happens to us when we come out of the pub in the summer and it's still bright. :shock:

Yeah, that could be part of it. Guiness is actually very good here, much better than the canned variety they make in New Jersey for sale in the states. I have never had a beer with a head on it that creamy in my life!

[Fintan Murphy]

Well,

I'm delighted to say that we managed to meet up. They were coming down to Kilkenny yesterday (Tuesday), I managed to get out of work at 3:30 and drove up to meet them.

A good time was had by all, and it was great to finally meet the maker of the best web site on the net, his long suffering wife, two lovely daughters, and son-in-law.

We had dinner and sat in the pub talking until 10 o'clock when I regretfully had to bid farewell, and drive the two hours back to Cork (no speeding tickets on the way back Frank!) :oops:

It was great getting to share opinions and stories face to face and I enjoyed getting an American view of Ireland (apparently we're a friendly bunch). I hope I was able to enlighten them about various Irish idiosyncrasies.

When I arrived back my wife asked if we spent the whole night talking about BOATS (her emphasis, and not complimentary :?

Funnily enough, they were hardly mentioned. I think Frank and I should claim the moral high-ground and say that it was in deference to the company present.

[Frank Hagan]

We had a great time, Fintan! And I'll confirm we did not talk about boats much, showing that we have superior self control.

I'm afraid we kept you too long, though. Jan was concerned that you had such a long ride home that late.

We ended our day in Kilkenny and took in the glass blowing shop you recommended. The folks there were great. Turned out to be a good side trip out into the country, and exposed us to some more "real Ireland", stopping in Thomastown for lunch at a little pub.

[Fintan Murphy]

Frank,

tell Jan not to worry, it was a nice night and I really enjoyed the spin home, with a bright moon, clear skys, and the heated handlebars turned on.

I think I found the bird your daughter was describing (The black and white striped bird). It is probably the Pied Wagtail, also called a Willie Wagtail. They are quite common and very distintive. They are about the size of a finch (as she said), and when they land on the ground they wag their tails up and down (hence the name). They are fly and insect eaters and have a hunting method thats fun to watch. They will walk around in the grass flushing out the insects. When an insect takes flight the wagtail will launch itself in a flurry of loops and twirls to catch it. It was the only black and white bird I cound find in the bird book I have, and I didn't think of it at the time as I remembered them as being grey and white (my mistake).

Have a good flight home, and if you are reading this after arriving back, I hope you had a good trip.

Let me know what you think of the whiskey by the way.

[Frank Hagan]

Frank' date='

tell Jan not to worry, it was a nice night and I really enjoyed the spin home, with a bright moon, clear skys, and the heated handlebars turned on. [/quote']

Its in her nature to worry ... she's a mom after all.

Now, what I want to know is how you picked me out so easily as I was standing on the sidewalk in the city of Kilkenny!

I think I found the bird your daughter was describing (The black and white striped bird). It is probably the Pied Wagtail' date=' also called a Willie Wagtail. They are quite common and very distintive. They are about the size of a finch (as she said), and when they land on the ground they wag their tails up and down (hence the name). They are fly and insect eaters and have a hunting method thats fun to watch. They will walk around in the grass flushing out the insects. When an insect takes flight the wagtail will launch itself in a flurry of loops and twirls to catch it. It was the only black and white bird I cound find in the bird book I have, and I didn't think of it at the time as I remembered them as being grey and white (my mistake).[/quote']

That's probably it. If its the same bird I've seen (we haven't seen them together), that's a perfect explanation!

Have a good flight home' date=' and if you are reading this after arriving back, I hope you had a good trip.

Let me know what you think of the whiskey by the way.[/quote']

We leave tomorrow morning, so today is a 'catch up' day. I hope we haven't completely outworn our welcome ... my poor son-in-law has had to be our driver all the time we were here. Kind of the Irish version of "Driving Miss Daisy". We may go up to Dun Logheoire (sp?) or the Killruddery House and Gardens, or may just hang around the Bray harbor. Its glorious weather, and I'm sure anyone with a boat (completed!) will try to sneak out for a sail. Unless they have to work :wink:

[Frank Hagan]

I think I found the bird your daughter was describing (The black and white striped bird).

Yep' date=' that's it ... found a picture on the 'Net, and my daughter verified it ...

[img']http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/images/pied-wagtail.jpg[/img]

Oh, and the whiskey ... I plan to record my reactions here, live, when I get back to the states. :wink: Thankyouverymuch, by the way.

[Johannah]

Sounds like you're having great fun (or "crack" as the natives would say), Frank. Stories, please!