Beer, Potatoes, and Sheep

Well non-existent blog world, I've been away for a while because I have been in the land of beer, potatoes, and sheep...yep, you guessed it...IRELAND. Tal and I took a wonderful vacation to Ireland as soon as I was finished teaching. We spent about 10 days in and around the cities of Dublin and Galway. We wished we could have seen more of the country, but that probably would have meant renting a car. About that...they drive on the wrong left side of the road. Something I could never get used to in Australia a few years ago and still couldn't get used to here. I had a hard enough time remembering which way to look when crossing the street, I can't imagine trying to drive on the street! 

We did so much and it although we were there for over a week, it feels like a whirlwind vacation, except for the plane rides. Let's just say we spent a lot of time sitting on the runway because of mechanical issues,  standing in line to find our lost luggage (we got it the next day), running to customs in Ireland to get home (wasn't prepared to schedule time for the) circling over Pennslyvania because of storms. Here are just a few pictures from our vacation. 

Trinity College Library--A book nerds paradise. Its a tough call now if I want
this library or the library from Beauty and the Beast in my future house.

Cliffs of Moher--Pictures cannot do it justice. Absolutely breathtaking! 

Connemara...I could live here and be a sheep farmer :) 

Kylemore Abby--I felt like I was at the Irish (way more prestigious) version of Sweet Briar.
Definitely could have gone here when it was a boarding school :) 

We did get to spend a little bit of time with my sister, Mackenzie.
She was the excuse reason for our visit after all.

Of course we had to stop by the Guinness Factory and learned how to pour the perfect pint.
I can pour it, but I definitely don't like it! Ireland is definitely a beer Guinness driven country.
I need to find myself a county all about wine :)

I'll save my favorite picture and spot for last. Let's see if anyone knows what it is...

Alright. Do you know? It's a bridge in Ireland that the tourist companies are fully taking advantage of because of the fame it got with a certain Irish dreamboat in a movie that was based in Ireland (I don't mind). Any guesses? 

It's where Gerard Butler meets Hilary Swank for the first time in P.S. I Love You! Super cheesy, super touristy, but I loved every minute of it :) 

Now that I am home and have shared some of my pictures from my trip, I am ready to get back on the bandwagon. At least I am going to try. I tried to run yesterday and my knee still wasn't having it, so I am not sure how that is going to go right now even though I have a race in September and my first Half Marathon in February. I have no excuses anymore. I am done with teaching for the summer, I am back from vacation, Tal is home to help me with Zeus. There is nothing that I can use as an excuse not to get going again. I think this summer is what I really need to get started and get in the habit of working out and eating right.