Back Home - Happy Tuesday!A big New York HElLO to you! I'm back home. I can't say I'm glad to be home instead of Italy, but all good things must come to an end. There's always the next trip!! (Of course, don't forget to continue following Tanya through Ireland this week - she is now on Day 21 of her fabulous trip!!!) Isn't technology great! We were able to do our entire check in online the night before, so all we needed to do was go to "baggage drop off" at Alitalia and head on through security on the Italy end. I wish I was as happy with JFK. What a nightmare that airport is. there is no order, no clear communication about where to go upon entering the country; they implement new rules to what I assume, is to make things more efficient, and somehow, it ends up being more confusing, less efficient and more stressful. We got a warm welcome from Rebecca, when we returned home. She made an adorable "Welcome Home" sign with fresh flowers! I was so happy she liked the Murano glass pendant and bracelet I got her! It was so sweet watching all three sisters reunite and catch up! Gianna and Kelsey were so happy to see their big sister after 3 weeks! Liberty also gave us a great big tail wagging welcome and lots of barks and kisses!! Today I will be catching up on some household chores like laundry and grocery shopping. (SO MUCH LAUNDRY!!!) I need to plan dinner for the coming week and get back in the swing of being home. Need I also forget to pack a few last minute back to school items in the girls' back packs. Caught up with my sister Danielle in real time last night from her mini vacation in Washington D.C. The kids are eager to get together and I have been promising them one last trip to Adventureland in Farmingdale this week, before the school year begins. Don't forget to check in next "Travelin' Tuesday" when we are back on track posting to Tanya and Elisa's New Mexico Road Trip BLOG. I'm headed out to get myself back in shape with a morning bike ride to work off all the gelato and pasta from the past three weeks!! See you back her tomorrow! -E | Killarney, Ireland - Day 21"Maidin Mhaith" Good day! A warm and friendly Irish greeting to each and everyone of you! So happy to be back in Ireland! It's such a special place; dear to my heart. So magical! We spent yesterday in Galway, and I finally got to spend lots of time doing some proper shopping and looking around! The after a lovely alfresco dinner (so many wonderful alfresco meals in Europe), we started for Killarney. As you may already know, Killarney is one of my favorite towns in the world - so of course I would be thrilled to be back! For today, we had another very special UNESCO site on our itinerary - -Skellig Michael A towering sea crag rising above the Atlantic Ocean almost 12 km southwest of Valentia Island, County Kerry. Skellig Michael is known throughout the world of archaeology as the site of a well-preserved monastic outpost of the Early Christian period. And being one of the most incredible and fascinating places in the world! Not to mention how difficult it can be to actually get there! We were very lucky this morning to have such an opportunity! We left out of Portmagee, which can be found of the Skellig Ring, right off of the very beautiful Ring of Kerry - - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! The only note that must be made - and wasn't told me is that there are NO bathrooms on the entire island! So you've got to hold yourself for several hours! I learned the hard way. Please take my word for it and pee before you get on the boat and head out to Skellig Michael! You'll thank me for that tip! We'll be heading back to Dublin tonight. Really only got to wet my whistle on this trip to Ireland. Had a few surgical strikes to make and to finally check off of our list. Our next visit here will certainly be more lengthily! Hopefully, I'll have the opportunity to upload some photos later this evening. I'm writing this from the car while still on the Ring of Kerry - with a most amazing view! Not bad for working on the road! Until tomorrow, -T |