Cork and the Journey to Dublin!

Up and at it! The night’s sleep at the Anchorage B&B was a good one for me. Matt said he didn’t sleep all that great, and Cherie for some reason didn’t have any hot water when she showered that morning. Brrr!

We actually met three girls from DC who were also staying at our B&B. They had their breakfast at the table just behind us and while we waited for our food and told us about Dublin. One of the girls is studying at Trinity College there and said she really enjoys the city. We’re all ready to get there and begin exploring!

Now about Cork… we were disappointed. We’d all heard good things about it, but we were not impressed. Matt really wanted to go to the Cork City Gaol (pronounced “jail”), and that was fairly interesting. I thought it was supposed to be old, but it’s only been around since 1824 and was only in use for 99 years. At first it was co-ed, but from 1878-1923 it became an all-women’s jail. In all honesty, it was pretty hokey. Interesting, but hokey.

Well, surely the good things we’d heard about the English Market were true, right? After a few more adventures in driving around the city center of Cork, we at long last found a place to park and went in search of this market. Eh. It’s like Reading Terminal in Philly or Eastern Market in DC; fresh meats (we saw a man walk by with a whole pig and there were whole fish out in the booths for the pickin’s!), produce, baked goods, novelties, souvenirs, etc. We debated where to eat and what our next thing should be.

We decided on the bell tower Matt had heard about, but we couldn’t remember the name of it. Matt and Cherie seemed afraid to ask anyone about it, but you know me… Take Charge Marge! I went into a bank and asked a nice man in one of the offices. He seemed more than happy to help, which we certainly appreciated! We ate lunch at a deli and then went in search of the Shandon Bell Tower. A few more adventures in driving later, we made it! Matt got to ring the bells! Mission Accomplished.

And then we started the three hour drive up to Dublin! Matt is the best ever because he used his Hilton points to get us a room at the Dublin Hilton in the historic district. Woohoo! The B&Bs were definitely cute and quirky, but I think Matt and Cherie are more comfortable in the Hilton—they cater to Americans. ;)

The first night in Dublin was fine. I got to Skype with a couple of mom’s classes (she teaches jr. high), then we went off to return the car. We got a hefty refund for returning it early and downgrading to a smaller car when we started the trip, so that made for a good night! We got a cab to a restaurant we’d heard was good (called Shack Restaurant in the Temple Bar district), but when the cab driver dropped us off, we weren’t sure exactly where to go. He dropped us off on the correct street, but he didn’t know where the restaurant was exactly. So we walked around a bit until we found it. We got a sure glimpse of the bar scene in Dublin—people were already stumbling around at 9:00 pm!

We found the restaurant and enjoyed a lovely meal there—very traditional, as promised! I got Irish stew. I’m glad I waited till now to get it. Mine looked much more authentic than others I’d seen around at the more tourist-laden restaurants.

We’d been told that the restaurant was walking distance to our hotel, and the map made it look like a manageable distance, but an hour later, when we finally got back to the hotel after a walk in the rain, I think Cherie and Matt began to understand that “walking distance” is a relative term. ;) Those who know me know I don’t mind the walking, but we were all pretty pooped by the time we got back!

And that leads us to day one in Dublin. What will we get into this time? We’ll have to see! =) 

I know, I know. I haven't posted pictures yet. That will come. I promise! 

Kissin' the Blarney Stone! Mwah!

The adventure continues! First of all, I have to tell you that Noreen O’Mahoney, the owner of Mystical Rose B&B, is lovely, kind, and so much fun! When she greeted us last night, she was happy to see us—she said she’d thought we weren’t coming since we didn’t get there till around 8:00 or so that evening. She gave me a kiss and pulled us all in. She even let us have two rooms—one for me and Cherie and one for Matt—since we were the only guests there that night! Talk about hospitality!

The next thing I have to tell you is that each and every time I think of Killarney, and especially while we stayed there, the song “Christmas in Killarney” by Bing Crosby gets stuck in my head! Google it if you don’t know what I’m talking about. =)

Wednesday night was a cold one for us because there was a snafu involving the heat. But never fear! I brought my hand warmers and ended up being snug as a bug in a rug with one in each hand and one between two layers of socks on my feet! The covers were very effective in keeping the heat in!

Thursday morning, we awoke a bit late and sat down to a lovely breakfast around 9:00 or so. The tea was delicious (I should have asked her what kind it was), orange juice was waiting for us at the table, and again we had the traditional Irish breakfast, guaranteed to last us the day: two poached eggs, three slices of thick bacon, two sausages, tomatoes, and Noreen’s homemade brown bread, which she said was mostly nuts. She giggled when she told us that once a man asked her what the green things were in the bread, and she told him MOLD! Of course they’re really pumpkin seeds, but we all had a laugh over that!

She told us before we left that we needed to not miss the Lakes of Killarney before we left, so we were on our way! Next stop: Muckross House and gardens. We’re so glad we stopped there! Not only was it beautiful in the final weeks of the fall-colored trees, we also got to take a lovely “Jaunting Car” ride—or horse and buggy—to the beautiful Torc Waterfall! We got lots of pictures there! Robert, our guide, and Suzie, the horse, made the experience wonderful.

I believe Robert said he’s 68, and he looked like a true Irishman in his sweater, corduroy pants, driving cap and curly red and grey hair; bless his heart, the man had almost no teeth, but he sure was a sweetheart! He sang bits of Irish tunes and told us all about the Muckross grounds. He even knew all the tree names and knew exactly where the good places were to stop for pictures. Apparently, there’s a vein of brown marble somewhere in the lake of Killarney, and he pointed out the general area to us. He stopped at the base of a pedestrian trail and told us where to walk to get up to the Torc Waterfall. It was well worth the trip!

Then it was time to head back! We saw a few more sights along the way, and Robert got a picture of the three of us sitting in the jaunting car with Suzie in front of the Muckross mansion. Time for County Cork!

We’ve experienced some rather narrow roads throughout the trip of course, but none quite like the ones we experienced on the drive from Killarney to Blarney! The scenery was lovely, but we were definitely getting friendly with the stone walls! ;)

Onward to kiss the Blarney Stone! To me, this is one of the most Irish things we had to do while in the country. The castle isn’t the only thing to see there. I was surprised when we looked around at how much else there is to see! The flora all around was very pretty, with lots of moss to make even a dreary, overcast, fallish day seem pretty! There are some “wishing steps” that are supposedly bewitched. The Witch of Blarney Castle takes firewood from the castle grounds for her fire each evening. As payment, she grants wishes to those who walk up and back down a set of stone stairs—with their eyes closed! Matt and I tried it out. Our wishes should come true within a year!

We also saw the witch’s kitchen and a rock bearing her likeness. Quite the bewitching place! We also saw a glen where “faeries” live, and a druid’s hut, which made my first studio apartment in Old Town look like a mansion! Please enjoy the pictures. =)

And finally… into Blarney Castle! We found out that the difference in “baloney” and “blarney” is that “baloney” is a flat out lie disguised as flattery; “blarney” is the varnished truth! An example they gave was this:

See the difference? ;)

Up and up and up we climbed the tiny stairs. The passage up to the top of the castle was quite the tight squeeze, but we made it with minimal difficulty! All along the way there were signs to explain what certain rooms had been, as well as bits of history scattered about. When we got up to the top, we assumed we wouldn’t be able to take our own pictures. But this must have been our lucky day! The man helping people lean back to kiss the stone was not only allowing folks to take personal pictures, he was also telling them exactly where to stand to get the best shot! He seemed to be a sweet older gentleman who just enjoyed his job. I love the jovialness we’ve seen among the Irish throughout our stay so far!

And back down we went! We bought a few souvenirs and went on our way. We passed by the Poison Garden (didn’t linger too long there!) on the way out and found a cave where supposedly some people had dug tunnels to escape from the Castle in days gone by. All in all, it was a successful day! Next stop: Checking in to our B&B, eating supper, and meeting up with the church folk!

Now those who know me well know this is one of the very best things about traveling for me. It’s such an eye-opener and an encouragement to me to see how Christians in other countries worship. We’re all using the same book, and we all have the same examples, but there are always little nuances brought on by culture that leave an impression on me. For example, Ireland is predominantly a Catholic nation. That holds much weight in their approach to religious discussions with their neighbors and with each other. What’s really funny is that they were doing their Bible study using materials from Gene Taylor, the preacher at the church where Cherie grew up in Tallahassee, FL! Small world. =)

We stayed a while after for dessert and to talk. They seemed very happy to have visitors, and we were happy to be there! It’s so nice traveling the world and truly having family just about anywhere you go. Carrigalin is the name of the congregation, and Mic and Glen are the men to get in touch with if you’re ever in the area and want to find a church!

And then it was time to drive home! The drive back to the B&B was much better than the drive out. There are much fewer cars out at 11:00 pm and thus fewer cars to avoid! I got to drive again, which was actually quite fun! Hehe.

And for our next adventure: Cork City! We’ll visit the old jail (called a “gaol”), do some shopping at the English market, and head on up to Dublin for our final few days! Please join us! 

Pictures to come! 

The Cliffs of Moher!

Pictures of days one and two have arrived! 

Day two started well! I was surprised at how well my body had already adjusted to the time change. At 7:00 am Ireland time (2:00 am DC time), I felt like it was time to get up! Cherie said she just never wants to get up in the morning, so it was no different to her, and Matt took Sleep Aid, so he was passed out before either of us and said he didn’t have much trouble waking up. Hopefully it won’t hit us later!

We all met the lady of the house, Ena, who was such a cute, sweet Irish lady! She asked if we were the group that got lost… yes, we said. She laughed and said she was glad we found them there and asked if we wanted a hot breakfast. We got the full traditional Irish fare, including a fried egg, bacon, sausage (which had a different look and texture than what we’re used to in the States—it was softer, maybe?), a broiled tomato half, baked beans with ketchup, and toast with butter and jam. It was delicious, but it was a lot! She sent us off on our way with full bellies and smiles on our faces!

And then it was my turn to drive—woohoo! We put the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center into the GPS, and off we went! Matt was a little freaked out being in the passenger seat (which to the US is the driver’s seat), but I only came too close to the left footpath (shoulder) once, I only started down the right side of the road once (no one was coming—no worries!), and only once did Matt think I came close to hitting another car. =) Overall, I think it was a good experience to have!

We had a bit of time on our hands, so we took the opportunity to stop when we came upon a random castle on the side of the road. It had been drizzly, but I didn’t think it was rainy enough to need an umbrella… until about 5 minutes into our venture when I realized I was soaked! That slow, steady drizzle is pretty effective! I learned my lesson and took my umbrella with me next time! The castle was nice. =)

And finally, with a bit of time to spare and only one other miscommunication between me and the Galway Tour Company, we made it to the Cliffs of Moher! They have a nice visitor center built right into the side of a hill, and inside they’ve made it look like a cave, which was pretty cool. We learned all about the natural wildlife, including a bird that swims (Puffins), a fish that is born female but can turn into a male if need be (the Cukoo Wrasse), and the fastest animal on the planet, which is a bird that can go 300 km (185 miles) per hour (the Peregrine Falcon). There are also many legends about the Cliffs, one of which is about a mermaid. A fisherman was out working one day, and he saw a beautiful mermaid. While they were talking, he stole her cloak that she needed to wear while living and swimming in the water. He hid the cloak and married the beautiful mermaid, and they had two children—a boy and a girl. One day while the fisherman was out at sea, the mermaid found the cloak hidden away! She put it on and left, never to return. So there you have it. Mermaid in the water, half mer-children walking the cliffs, and a heartbroken sailor who should have just done the right thing to begin with. Lesson learned!

The cliffs themselves were quite beautiful, but unfortunately the fog wanted to hog the views. We were able to get a few pictures when the fog rolled out, but it would quickly roll in again when we weren’t looking! For those who may be thinking, “What’s the significance of the Cliffs of Moher?” Why do I care? Perhaps your interest will be piqued when I tell you the Cliffs were featured in The Princess Bride, and Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince, as well as others!

And we set off again! This time headed to Killarney! We found a good place that served hearty Irish fare (and LOTS of potatoes with a side of potatoes!) called Caragh Restaurant in the city center. Matt and I got shepherd’s pie again. Really good! Cherie got the fried cod—fish and mash instead of fish and chips. Speaking of mash, I knew there’d be lots of potatoes at every meal, but potatoes with a side of potatoes? Impressive! Other vegetables were present as well, but we all got three extra scoops in a plate in the center of the table. That’s in addition to the two-inch layer of mashed potatoes on top of my shepherd’s pie. WOW!

So then our next adventure was… finding the B&B! No one around here really uses addresses much it seems. I think it’s pretty cool that they don’t need to, but for outsiders, it’s a bit bewildering! We had to ask directions twice, but we made it! So far things are good at Mystical Rose B&B. Noreen, the owner, is incredibly sweet. She loves animals and has several. She has at least two donkeys, a cat, and the cutest dog ever (next to Sophie, Brian and Jen Stuckert’s dog) named Lucky. He’s tiny and adorable. Matt and Cherie went into town to find a pub with live Irish music, but I think the jetlag finally hit me (maybe that five-hour energy I drank yesterday finally wore off). I’m headed to bed at 4:30 pm US time/9:30 Irish time.

And for tomorrow… Dingle! We’ll see what’s there, then make our way to Cork! Lord willing we won’t get lost and we’ll find our way to the B&B there and on to Bible study with some people there Cherie found out about. Nice that it worked out for us to be there on their weekly Bible study night! =) More tomorrow! 

Galway and the Great Escape that Wasn't

An economist, an engineer and a communicator rent a car in Ireland. They begin to drive on the “wrong” side of the road (the left). And off they go on the Great Gaelic Experience! I’ve been itching to write for some time now! Have you missed me? =)

Somehow, all the rental car people at Enterprise could tell we were American, so we got asked multiple times, “Have you ever driven on the left before?” We were warned of inadvertently driving too close to the footpath (the shoulder) on the left of the road. Apparently, this is a common problem they face when Americans get behind the wheel around these parts! Now before we go further, let me introduce you to the players. You know me, of course.

Matt is a friend I know from church at Annandale. He lived in DC and worshipped there for just over a year before moving for a new job. He and I remained friends. When Matt mentioned needing to get his passport, I told him to let me know when he gets it and where he wants to go. He said Ireland, so here we are!

Cherie is a friend of ours from Tampa, FL. She, Matt and I have mutual friends, and Cherie and I have traveled together in the past. When I heard she needed a break from work, I asked if she wanted to go to Ireland with us. She’s never been out of the country before either, so she said YES! We all met up at baggage claim in Dublin and started in on our adventure!

We rented a GPS because, well, someone needs to know where we’re going and we sure don’t! The interesting thing about this is that apparently the Irish don’t use specific addresses. The guy at the rental car place said that would be too easy, of course! He said even if there was a specific address, the GPS might take you a few doors down. So, we’re making do with what semblance of an address we have!

First stop, Galway! Matt is an excellent wrong-side-of-the-road driver! He got us through Dublin and all the way into Galway with minimal difficulty. Cherie and the GPS helped things along, and we only went around one roundabout twice because we missed our exit. I'd say that's pretty good! 

We'd planned to spend several hours in Galway to experience true Gaelic, old-world Irish, and I think we did pretty well! We stopped for lunch at a great little pub. We thankfully missed the lunch rush and had the place almost to ourselves! Cherie and I both got the Shepherd's Pie while Matt decided on the Irish breakfast. We were all in need of refueling and left quite satisfied with our meals. We were ready to take on the city! We found a few of the historic sights like the Spanish Arch, several pubs in buildings that are 500-600 years old or more, the Claddagh (we think it was a church; the signage was not wonderful), and several memorials and churches around town. The streets are belgium block, which sort of looks like big gray brick, and while it was overcast and drizzly most of the day off and on, we enjoyed ourselves! I am very impressed with how friendly everyone is here! 

And then came the foiled escape. That's right. I messed up our exit plan. But all turned out well in the end! So I like to send postcards. I think it's fun, and people like getting mail that's not a bill, right? So I had stopped into this little store and got 5 Euro worth of postcards (15 of them). One small problem: I forgot the cards int he shop and didn't realize it till we were already in the car heading out of town. Since we were sitting in traffic, both Matt and Cherie asked if I wanted to go back for them, since we weren't going anywhere. I think maybe they were joking, but you know me... Sure, why not? 

Please be aware that Matt's and my phones don't work in Europe. Cherie's does, but I didn't take my phone with me, and thus I did not have her number with me. I said for them to stay in the nearly stand-still traffic, and I'd come back there (we were maybe 2 kms from the store where I'd left the cards). If they started moving before I got back, I mentioned that they could pull over into someone's driveway or into a parking spot along the road and I'd be back asap. Or at least I thought I'd said that. I meant to say it. 

See, this is why I typically travel alone. When I mess up like that or get lost or do something stupid, no one is effected but me. No one knows the stupid things I do except me and the folks who read my blog--after everything is all fixed and good again. :(

I found the store lickety-split with no problems and got back relatively quickly, I thought, but by the time I got back to where we'd separated, they weren't there. So I walked around that road for a bit, then I walked another way, then I walked down another road, then back to the place where I'd left them... I looked in every VW Golf that passed by, but to no avail. 

Finally, I decided to go into a B&B and ask to use their Internet. The first one I went into said no, but thankfully the next one, called Aran House B&B, said yes! I thought I'd be able to find Cherie's phone number and we'd be back together in no time. But nothing I tried proved fruitful for a couple of hours. The guy at the B&B was so nice! He let me right in and showed me to his computer at the front desk and let me use the Internet literally for hours so I could try and locate my friends. I told him what happened, and he was just plain old kind about the whole thing! I told him I would probably need to go back to the town square and wait for my friends there, but he said no, I needed to wait there in the warm (DRY) B&B and it would all be just fine. He even made me a cup of hot tea! I sat there writing my postcards and waiting for someone to respond to me with Cherie's phone number. I couldn't believe I didn't have it in any Facebook messages, e-mails, contacts, nothing! And my stupid phone was in the car and not with me! Even if it didn't work for calling, I could have at least had her number with me. Less than 12 hours in the country and already we were on the verge of an international incident involving three crazy Americans. This type of thing never happens in countries where I don't speak the language! How do I do these things? 

By 6 that night (we'd been separated now for about two hours), I was still calm, but was growing more concerned for Matt and Cherie. Here I was, supposed to be the experienced traveler, and Matt and Cherie were wandering all around Galway worrying about me! I felt so guilty for not worrying! I knew we'd find each other eventually, but in the meantime, I was just hoping they wouldn't panic or hate me when they found me again! The B&B guy suggested we stay there at Aran House instead of driving another hour and a half int he dark rainy night to Lahinch, and was already thinking the same thing--we'd had enough adventure for one day!

Eventually, the guy at the B&B and his friend suggested calling the police (called the Garda here). So that's what I did, and as soon as I stared explaining the situation, the lady on the other end of the phone said, "You lost your friends, right? They've already told me about it. I'll give them a call." After only a bit more confusion about where the B&B was, Matt and Cherie and I were reunited at last! I only got a bit of a scolding. I will never do that again, at least not when traveling with others and not having cell phone access. We've all grown way too accustomed to plans changing with little notice and the convenience of constant communication. As a communicator, I feel quite ashamed! 

Matt and Cherie said they'd gone up and down the streets of Galway, chased down a police officer, driven around, even passed by the B&B where I was waiting! What a day! We ventured out once more for dinner (Matt threatened to put me on a leash), and made it back without incident. Whew! And then it was time for bed at long last. I slipped under the covers and discovered my favorite thing about sleeping in Europe: the duvet... yes, we're in Europe! I love a warm, cozy duvet. =) 

Pictures to come. One thing at a time... ;) Next stop: Lahinch and the Cliffs of Moher! For those who would like a point of reference, that's the cliffs where part of The Princess Bride was filmed! With any luck, we'll be staying in Killarney tonight as planned! But to see where we really end up, you'll simply have to follow along! 

Please join us for the next bit of adventure! Love, Quick Whit

Occupy the Motor Expo! The 99% came to visit!

Life in New York goes fast. I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow! 

Back to the adventure. Getting to church Sunday morning was quite the journey! Walk to the Path Train station (one of the subway systems from NJ to NY), take the Path Train to 33rd Street in NYC, get out, walk to NY Penn Station on 34th, take the Subway to 103rd Street, then walk to International Hostel a block away on Amsterdam Ave. Whew! It was a lot of steps, but I made it with no problems... I was even early! =) Church was great. Class was excellent, and they were studying II Samuel, which is what my daily Bible reading schedule includes this week! People were very friendly and welcoming, and I even met two women from as far South as Kentucky! =) 

I had to jet out right after church to get down to the World Financial Center for work, and I stopped at a hole-in-the-wall little place to get something to eat on the way. Since I'm in New York, I decided I better get something super New York-y, and this looked like just the place. It was packed inside (thank goodness they had a separate section for take-out!), and the accents were STRONG! I went for George's Breakfast Bagel: smoked salmon with herbed cream cheese and capers on a massive and DELICIOUS bagel. It was awesome! I actually couldn't believe how good it was! I'm sure I'd never be able to find the place again, but it sure was a hunger saver on Sunday afternoon! 

I'd already been to the venue for set up, but finding it on foot from the subway with no one to follow was trickier than you'd think. I thought surely I'd just be able to walk toward the Freedom Tower, but from the ground, all the other skyscrapers obstructed the view of even the tallest building in the area! Anyway, I finally made it (after crossing several lanes of traffic and stopping to talk to a couple of ladies who asked me where I got my awesome lunch), and we got to work! Others were there already, just talking to people about the cars and answering questions. We didn't play the Platinum Code game Sunday afternoon, but we sure did talk to a lot of people. I got to work with lots of people I was familiar with from previous events, so it was nice to see some friendly and familiar faces. =) We closed up about 5:00, and that was it! I had some trouble finding the right Path Train to get on so I could go back to my hotel (they change the routes on the weekends and there is ZERO signage! Super irritating!), but I finally made it and picked up something to eat before going back to my room. 

Speaking of my room, I have a lovely, large King sized bed all to myself. I realized after a couple of nights that I'd only been using the left 1/3 of it. So that night, I decided I was sleeping in the middle! It was fabulous. =) 

Monday! I found out I didn't have to be at work till 10, which is pretty great since I thought I had to be there at 8. That's an extra two hours to explore! And explore I did. I got to be honest, I'm not impressed with Jersey. The area I'm in now is better than Newark, the only other place I've been in New Jersey, but it's just not my preference. Anyway, I wandered around for a while looking for a good breakfast place before catching the ferry, but it was kind of a bust. Oh well. The ferry ride was nice! 

Work on Monday was quite the New York experience, actually. All these awesome cars are set up inside and outside of the World Financial Center, and it was a nice day. People were coming over asking questions and playing our promotional game (the prize is a $500 AmEx gift card--woohoo!), and then around 1:00 or so, the Motor Expo leaders came over and told us to lock all the car doors and keep the keys close at hand. Then we started to notice all these people dressed in hippie clothes, cheap suits, costumes, masks, etc., holding signs and shouting something unintelligible, and then we notice police and security people hovering around them, watching to see them make just one wrong move... 

That's right, we were front-seat witnesses for the Occupy Wall Street, 99% one-year anniversary! 

Yes, they were as unorganized as they look there. No one could understand what exactly some of their chants were, but a few people walked by holding signs and looking disgruntled saying, "We're going to find democracy for you!" Nice. Pretty sure that's not a democratic attitude. ;)

Anyway, the police and security guards had things all under control. One of the officers in front of our Lincoln tent  laughed when he told us they know who all these people are--they use facial recognition technology to find out who the "99%" are, and they know all about them, including who has trust funds and what kind of money these people actually have. At one point, about 20-30 motorcycle cops were in formation and ready to rock and roll as soon as someone got out of line. Others walked around looking intimidating with handcuffs and other weapons of mass crowd control hanging down from their pants. 

The rest of the day, security and cops and even some undercover people walked around to make sure no one came and bothered us. There were Occupy floaters walking around the rest of the afternoon, but we didn't have any problems where we were. Around the other side of the building, though, 80 protestors got arrested. SO bummed I missed it! 

That was really the most exciting thing that happened, as you may imagine. Got to love a good protest! I almost felt like I was back home in DC for a minute. =) 

And today was much the same as yesterday, protestors excluded. More exploring this morning (found a better breakfast place, but not much else), set up for work, talked to some people. It rained and we even got a tornado watch up here due to high winds, so we closed up shop about an hour early and headed out. Just one more day and then I'm off again! 

I have to be quite honest with you. There are not many places in the world where I feel absolutely uncomfortable, but the New York area is one of those unique places where I just feel completely out of my element! It's just not my favorite place to be. Just one more day! I can make it! =) Please keep me company along the way! 

PICTURES! 

Quick Whit Loses Her Mind: Driving in NYC!

Hello from New York City! Again, I'm traveling for work, this time to help out at the New York Motor Expo. I've only been here two days, and it's already been full of firsts for me! Please join me on this latest adventure...

Those who know me well know I like to get up and at it--woohoo Morning Person! So when my boss told me to get there any time on Thursday, September 13, I took an 8:26am flight and arrived around 9:30. My kind and considerate boss said for me to check in at the hotel in Jersey City, NJ, first, then she'll call or text when she's ready for me to go into the city. I did as ordered, then hit the ground running... time to go exploring!

First order of business: get a map of Jersey City and Hoboken! I got one from the hotel's front desk and started in that direction. There's a nice river walk that is unfortunately broken up with lots of construction and an entire train station, but for the most part it went right along the Hudson River from Jersey City to Hoboken. Speaking of, Hoboken is just about a mile from where I'm staying, and that happens to be Frank Sinatra's hometown! Next order of business: find his house.

I found it! OK, I stopped at the Old German Bakery first, but it was on the way. =) I wish it had been a museum so I could go in and see some Sinatra keepsakes and memorabilia. I know, I'm such a tourist.

Onward! I'd seen a "castle" on the map, so of course I needed to check that out, too. A castle in New Jersey? Right on the water? Hmmm.... upon further examination when I arrived at the site, I found out it's the Stevens Institute--an engineering school! Someone had a sense of humor. =)

So now I was hungry and I decided to go back to the hotel to wait for my boss' call. On the walk back, I found a fabulous smoothie place called Rejuiceanation. Think about it, laugh. I like it! And just as I was passing by the train station, smoothie nearly consumed, I got my phone call! New York City, here I come! Mary Beth (Mrs. Boss Lady) said to ride the train to 33rd and then take a cab to her office at Manhattan Ford.

Taxi riding in New York City was an experience I don't soon wish to repeat! The guy was one of the most reckless drivers ever, and I was praying the whole time that we'd just make it to the place! Thank Heavens we did. That was by far the scariest thing I've done in a very long time! Anyway, I made it unscathed.

Next up: driving in New York City. In a brand new car. Woohoo! Mary Beth, her friend Debbie, and I all went out to this place called Mahwah (the name of a township in NJ) to drive some cars into the city to get ready for the Motor Expo where I'll be working this week. I got to drive the Ford C-Max, which is a hybrid SUV that Ford is introducing in 2013. My GPS took me a really long way, unfortunately, and at rush hour no less, but I will forever remember my first drive in NYC: new car, crazy cabbies, pedestrians with no fear or respect for laws, cars with no regard for basic traffic laws, drove down Broadway, and it took me an hour and a half! Whew.

We got a few more things squared away for the Motor Expo, but Mary Beth had to wait for another car to get delivered, so we ended up being there until 9:00 or so. I needed to be able to driver her car over to the place where the other car was to be delivered for logistical purposes, so I stayed with her. We went and got a couple of cars washed and got one gassed up, so there was other stuff for us to do while we waited, too. Anyway, she dropped me off at my hotel with the promise to pick me up again at 6:45 the next morning. =)

And that she did! Friday morning was a pretty one. I got some sunrise shots of the Freedom Tower and New York City Skyline, and got some awesome breakfast at a cute little market across the street from my hotel. She and Debbie and I needed to move some more cars and get a few more things accomplished, but as usual, things tended to take longer than anticipated.

Ironically enough, all five of us car movers (MB had a couple other guys come in to move cars as well) piled into a 2012 or 2013 Ford Taurus, and I was seated in the middle back. What's ironic about this is that my dad used to drive a 1992 Ford Taurus. Then Jared, my older brother, drove it. Then I drove it. Then Joel drove it until someone back ended him a few years ago. Oh, the Taurus. Anyway, when we got to the cars, I was instructed to drive the MKZ Hybrid Lincoln back to the car dealership where MB's office is, and boy is it always fun to drive a hybrid! So that was my morning NYC rush hour adventure. This time we took a shortcut so it only took half an hour or so to get back.

Next adventure: Driving in the BRONX! It was definitely a rough area, and that drive to and fromM took nearly two hours, but Debbie and I made it! We needed to drop off one of the MKXes, which is the Lincoln cross-over SUV, for a film shoot (crazy stuff!), so Debbie drive that and I got to drive the MKZ (hybrid) again, this time playing the role of "chase car"! Meaning I followed her out there, then drive us both back to the car dealership.

And then we were finished for the day! It was about 4:00 by the time we got back and got things squared away, and one of the guys drove me over to the NY Waterways Ferry so I could get back over to the New Jersey side. The ferry drops off right behind my hotel, which is super convenient! (There's a Path train station back there, too. Loving the location!) The ferry was by far the most fun thing I've done so far on this trip. It went so fast! We even caught air in the wake of another boat! =)

Whew! And then came Saturday! More car moving, but this time to the World Financial Center, where the twin towers used to be. That's where the Motor Expo is being held, and the work they've done revamping the area is wonderful. It's right on the water, and there's a fabulous view of the Statue of Liberty on one side and the Freedom Tower on the other. We moved a lot of cars, but mostly the whole day was just a lot of hurry up and wait. We got done around 4:00 or so again, so this time I wanted to make sure I got some sight-seeing in.

And what better way to see the sights than from the Empire State Building! It was expensive and not really worth it (WAY too many people and it took forever just to get to the elevators--lots of security lines and stuff), but I'm glad I did it. The pictures turned out well. =)

And then I came back to the hotel and ate and read my book. And I decided to sleep in the MIDDLE of my king-sized bed instead of the left 1/3 like I had been doing the last couple of nights! More to come. Church on the Upper West Side, first day of work, and the worst signage (or lack thereof!) in any rail system ever. The adventures just never stop!

Pictures? You want PICTURES? Here you go! 

Annapolis: Y'all Got Any Laaaaathouses?

Greetings from Annapolis, my friends! This is the story of a day trip. A trip to a major seaport... with no visible lighthouses. We'll get to that in a few minutes! 

Jill and I have been trying our hardest to find the time and place for an adventure, and it happened that September 10 in Annapolis was it! Her daughter Kayla was off school that day, so she got to join in the fun, too! Bright and early Monday morning, flowing with DC traffic, off we went! We got there in just over an hour--pretty impressive at rush hour, if I say so myself!--and set out to find the Visitor Center. 

We got some information about the lay of the land, and since we had a while before our tour was to start (and for reasons that will remain a secret between me and the Goynes girls) went in search of a t-shirt for me. It's cute and tie-dyed and says "Annapolis, MD" down the side. =) Next stop: coffee! We found ourselves sitting in an adorable, historic-looking coffeehouse across from the Visitor Center, enjoying iced coffee drinks--well, Kayla had water and I had decaf, but Jill was exposed to the full experience! 

Ok, now we're into the fun stuff! Did you know that Annapolis has the most remaining Colonial-era buildings in the nation? Who knew? Now we all know! The community was started in 1666 and was called Anne Arundel's Town, after Lord Baltimore's wife. The MD capitol was moved there in 1695 and renamed "Ana-polis," or as we call it now, "Annapolis." It was, of course, right on the water and quickly became a bustling port city, complete with taverns, businesses, and over 100 ships coming in and out of port each and every day. 

First major stop: St. Anne's Church. It's one of the oldest parishes in the area (perhaps the oldest in the town), and the road system was literally designed around it. The roads make a figure 8 around the church and the capitol building. Pretty cool design, incredibly irritating for drivers. =) Also at St. Anne's, we looked at the cemetery. Of course lots of people are buried there, but the most interesting of them is Joseph Simmons, an ornery old man who was very influential in Annapolis and lived to be 100. The poor man suffered from narcolepsy, and he was buried alive three different times! The third time, his would-have-been widow heard her husband from inside the coffin and tried to stop the grave digger, but the guy just kept shoveling and told her, "If he's not dead yet, he oughtta be!" He got out, but as you could imagine, I'm sure it made for a rather awkward situation! 

Next up, the Maryland State House! This is the oldest state house in the nation that has continually been in legislative use, and it even served as the Nation's capitol building for two years (1783 and 84). The September 1783 Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolution was signed here, and George Washington resigned his military commission in December of 1783. They actually have a copy of the written resignation speech, and our guide pointed out the writing that had been scratched out instead of erased. She said George did that on purpose because he wanted people to see that he had put great thought and taken great pains in writing his speech. A mixture of lemon juice and milk would have erased the ink back then--which interested me because I'd always wondered how all those hand-written documents back in the day had looked so perfect! 

The dome on the building is kind of an architectural marvel because it's made entirely of wood--no nails! It's a hexagon shape, so that's also kind of complicated as far as architecture, I guess. It's also haunted by Thomas Dance, one of the architects who was working on it from the inside and fell to his death. His family was never paid for his work because he didn't finish (ah!), and supposedly he's still around trying to finish the job and causing mischief. But the most interesting thing about this dome is that Thomas Jefferson and James Madison sat up inside the dome one evening, drinking with a local resident and getting the low-down on the people of Annapolis. Ha! 

Outside the capitol was an old cannon that had been brought over in 1634 on the first ships to what's now Annapolis. It was fortunately never fired (the Indians were friendly), and recovered from the St. Mary's River in 1822. In 1970, a mischievous midshipman from the Naval Academy decided it would be awesome to give the cannon its first opportunity to be fired. He drilled a hole, loaded it up, lit it, and fired away down the street! Not sure what happened to him, but I could imagine he got in trouble! This is the hole he drilled: 

And that makes for a fabulous segway to... the Naval Academy! Our guide made sure to get us there in time for the noon formation, which is their routine before going into lunch. I would definitely recommend a tour of the place. It's very historically significant, as far as meetings that have taken place there, it's got the largest dorm in the world, the place was used as a hospital during the Civil War, and John Paul Jones's remains are kept in a crypt below the church there. A few things I learned about John Paul Jones: he was a Scotsman, stood only 5'2", was a ladies' man, never lost a battle, received 70 medals, was buried under an apartment building in Paris before he was found in 1905 and sent to Annapolis to be buried, and he's the one whose famous quote is, "I have not yet begun to fight!" 

I found it interesting that John Barry's name was never mentioned and I didn't see any monuments to him. There's a big statue in Philly that claims Barry was the father of the US Navy, but I've always heard more about Jones. Sounds like I have a mystery to solve for my own knowledge benefit. =) 

They have a lot of traditions and rules to follow, along with going about their own studies. It's a very difficult school from an education standpoint, but their requirements there are also incredibly physically taxing. All the stuff you hear about regarding memorizing rule books, swimming 30 laps with your clothes on, jumping from an Olympic-sized high-dive, making your bed perfectly tight, not taking any shortcuts or walking on the grass, etc., etc., etc.... it's all true! The freshmen are "plebes," sophomores are "youngsters," juniors are "juniors," seniors are "firsties," and graduates are official "midshipmen." Terminology is important. 

One more interesting thing about the Naval Academy: Did you know the superintendent's house is the second most visited building by foreign dignitaries? Second only to the White House. There's a random and unexpected fact for you. =) 

On our way out, we saw Bill the Goat, the Navy mascot--quite ferocious! And then we made our way to the harbor to end our tour. And it's a good thing... we were all hungry and the restaurant where we wanted to eat happened to be at the harbor! 

Middleton Tavern happens to be the oldest tavern still functioning in Annapolis, so of course that's where we had to go! I got the seafood crepe (which was pretty amazing!), and Kayla and Jill got a burger and a chicken sandwich. I think we got the major food groups in: cow, chicken, and bottom feeders. =) There's a special flag there that none of the three of us had seen before, but we found out it's call the John Shaw Flag, and it was first used in 1783. There are a couple of different interpretations of it, but this is the one from Middleton Tavern: 

Sorry it's not a better view, but there were pesky people in the way from a better angle. ;) Still got 13 stars and stripes, but the stars have eight points instead of five, and there are seven white stripes and six red stripes--opposite of the current US flag. 

With our full bellies and renewed energy, we set out in search of more fun sights to see and things to do! There were a couple of museums and giftshops we looked in, which were pretty neat, but we sort of wanted to see a lighthouse. We thought surely this major port city would have a cool, historic lighthouse to see. So we saw a couple of locals sitting on the docks, and I asked them--intentionally, in my best and most natural Southern accent--"Do y'all know if there's a lighthouse around here we can see?" (It may have sounded like, "laaathouse.")

Both ladies looked at us in confusion, "A what?"

I repeated, "A lighthouse?" (I suppose it perhaps sounded like "lothouse.")

Again with the look of confusion, and then, "You mean a lighthouse?"

I smiled as if nothing was amiss and said, "Yes ma'am." 

She sort of looked at me funny, but at least now we were on the same page. She said, "Oh, well, not that you can see from here. If you go down the road on your way out you can see one farther out int he water." Or something to that effect. 

As we walked away from earshot, I whispered to Jill and Kayla that I'd said it like that on purpose! HA! We all had to giggle at that. I really do get a kick out of my accent in times like these! =) 

We walked around a bit more and got back to the car, but on the way out of the parking garage we decided to ask the cashiers if they knew where a lighthouse was located. (OK, it was partly for the giggle factor!) I asked, "Do y'all know where a lighthouse is?" (lothouse, laaathouse)

Again, puzzled looks. "Um, you mean the liquor store?"

HA! Again, we had to laugh and said no. I think they must have thought we were nuts. ;)

And then went on our way back to Virginia! I'd thought we'd be able to stay a bit longer, but I wasn't sure what else there was to do--we'd seen everything on our list, and I was sort of apprehensive about going back in rush hour traffic if we got back to DC at a certain time. I was actually quite surprised that it only took us a little over an hour to get back to their house! 

I hope Jill and Kayla enjoyed the trip as much as I did! Thanks for coming with me, girls, and thank you to my readers for coming along in a different capacity! =) 

Pictures! CLICK HERE.