Car models seen in Ireland.

I tried to get a picture of all the different car makes I saw, but I missed: Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Saab, Fiat, MINI, Honda and Subaru.  I had not seen a Peugeot since I was a kid, while the Skoda was new to me.  Opel I had only seen classic collector vehicles.  Of note is that all of the vehicles, be they vans or cars or trucks, were small.  Our 5-series 4-door BMW was enormous in comparison.  Luckily it had idiot-proof parking aids.

Not a make, but a model.  I thought it was a sticker.

Drinking in Ireland - no surprise, Guinness was a favorite

Gravity Bar, Guinness Storehouse

Smithwick's draught in Kilkenny (brewed in Kilkenny)

On tap in Kilkenny

Guinness in Cork

Smithwick's in Cork

Ballygarry House, Tralee

Dingle (hehe) vodka

A pint in Annascaul, Dingle Peninsula

Pint in Ennis

My last pint and Jameson

No reading required Exit signs

Got it?

Guinness draught (I kept the pint glasses) at the Guinness Storehouse

At the Gravity Bar.  Notice the pour in progress in the background.

Clover-licious!

Another perfect pour in the cafeteria.

Dublin - Guinness Storehouse tour

The Ashling Hotel was a great place to acclimate with comfy beds and great food.  At breakfast, I could look out the window and see the Guinness Brewery.  It looked close enough to walk for our Guinness Storehouse tour, so off we went.  We didn't realize that the Storehouse and the Brewery were different places, but luckily they were close, so no harm there.  It helps if you read stuff before you set out.  Who knew?
The weather was sunny/muggy/gray.  Kinda like Seattle area in the summer, so no surprises there.

Not too far...

Almost to the Storehouse (this was the actual brewery)

The deed.

So close!

The Gravity Bar

Dublin

Yep, that's the brewery.

The Tildens Do Ireland: Sleep

Sleep eluded me and the kiddos, so when we arrived at the Ashling Hotel in Dublin, we effectively passed out.

Traveling Monkey likes to travel.

He's gone international!

The Tildens Do Ireland: The Journey Begins

Our journey to Ireland began mid-morning 21Jun2014 in Seattle, and we arrived in Dublin, Ireland midday 22Jun2014. We flew Delta Airlines for the domestic portion (SEA to JFK) and KLM Dutch Airlines for the bit over the Atlantic Ocean (JFK to DUB). Delta kinda sucks, but KLM was lovely. I found JFK to be an unpleasant experience, tempered only slightly by the numerous drinking establishments available. It was loud, dirty and crowded. Also, the people who worked there were not terribly cheery and at times incompetent. Avoid the place if you can.

Ridiculously expensive, but totally worth it.