The Smiths are Heading Back...For 10 Days of Disney Magic! (Updated 8/16)

[Tnkrbelle565]

Anyone else watch Wizards of Waverly Place in their house...if they ever make a movie about our family, the little girl who is playing Maxine, Bailee Madison would so play Aisling (She's also in that new Adam Sandler movie)

 

[tinytreasures]

Anyone else watch Wizards of Waverly Place in their house...if they ever make a movie about our family, the little girl who is playing Maxine, Bailee Madison would so play Aisling (She's also in that new Adam Sandler movie)

My kids love that show.
heck even dh and I watched it last night after everyone was alseep

Glad she has some height on her. We are all shrimps here. Hayden may have some hope for height but the rest of us are little

 

[Jennifer48]

I'm baaaaaaaaack!

What do you do with all those fabulous outfits when Aisling grows out of them? If I ever have a daughter, could I buy them off you?!

Love your ADRs! Are you going to stick to WW while down there or take a break? I really need to get back on WW

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I'm baaaaaaaaack!

What do you do with all those fabulous outfits when Aisling grows out of them? If I ever have a daughter, could I buy them off you?!

Love your ADRs! Are you going to stick to WW while down there or take a break? I really need to get back on WW

ugghhh I totally missed your post and I've actually SEEN you since you posted this. The clothes are getting handed down. Get hurrying up on that girl!!! OH and make sure she's tall

And you already know about WW but for those who did NOT join us for dinner Thursday - I will NOT be doing WW at WDW. I know that some do but I'm not that person. I will actually be taking a break on the cruise too. Pina Coladas are 5 points a piece...and I'd like to have something more a day than 6 pina coladas

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

So Jen reminded me that I really need to get my butt moving on finishing my mini-TR to Ireland.


So I left you at the end of our really long touring day. We started the next day but sleeping in a bit. We got up, went downstairs, exchanged the rest of Randy's American cash for Euros and went down for our free breakfast!

Again, since we now had some cash but it was limited, we decided to walk back into the city. So we strolled through Stephen's Green again. Again...not warm enough for shorts

We walked down Grafton St where I was extremely tempted by an autographed copy of Maeve Binchy's newest book but I resisted

Walked by my street again- as you can see, it was a little grey out. Not at all raining but windy, grey, and chilly. But any day that it's not raining in Dublin is a bonus

Our plan for today was to head to the tourist office and book the remaining tours we wanted to do (the hop on/hop off and the Haunted History tour). Now, here is a tip for touring that you may not think of...the hop on/hop off tours are typically cheaper than taking cabs around. So sometimes it's worth is to pay for the tour and use it as a cab to the tourist locations...even if you have done the tour before. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've done this tour. And it really hasn't changed much. BUT at 19 Euro/person so 2 days unlimited use...it was WAAAAAY cheaper than cabs. So on we hopped.

First up with Christ Church Cathedral. Christ Church was built in 1030. If you go to Dublin, there is a cool exhibit about Viking and Norman ruled Ireland inside. And there a pretty good view of the city from the tour of the tower.

Next up is St. Patrick's Cathedral. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the Celtic cross to help convert the Druids so there are some gorgeous Celtic crosses on the property. Jonathan Swift and a bunch of other non-famous people are also buried in the Cathedral. Further trivia is that Ireland is predominantly Catholic country and their two most famous Cathedrals are actually Protestant churches

And this is when the tour gets slightly less "religious"

However, we skipped Guinness this day (don't worry...we are coming back)!

We also didn't stop at the smallest Pub in Dublin (don't think we'd fit!)

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Instead on this day, we went to the National Gallery (sorry...no pics allowed in there) and to Kilmainham Gaol (jail for the non-Irish speakers).

If you've seen In the Name of Father or Michael Collins...both were filmed at this jail. The jail was used as a regular jail in the 1800s but it's most famous for being the place they held all the prisoners of the 1916 rising (attempt to united north and south Ireland)

This next one was kinda sad. They had us all sit in this chapel and think about the prisoners. Some were treated kindly by the warden and were allowed to marry hours before their executions in this chapel. As children as young as 7 were also prisoners in this jail- they would be allowed to attend mass here.

Rooms were pretty small and held up to 5-6 people at time (men, woman, and children were all held together)

This part was scary to walk on but on our guide assured us that we would not fall through. The was the "luxury suite"...all those involved in the rising were given private rooms

Downstairs we got to walk around the cells-

prisoners cut eye holes to show that they knew they were always being watched

The wife of one of the uprisers was caught and imprisoned here as well. She did a beautiful mural of the Madonna on her wall

The work yards

The cross marks the spot were all those involved in the rising were executed

When we came outside, it was less grey so we decided to continue on with a trip through Phoenix Park. Phoenix Park is 1750 acres...I still haven't seen it all but it's gorgeous. It's also home to Deerfield (home of the US Ambassador to Ireland)

and Áras an Uachtaráin (President's House). You may find that it looks a little familiar

Phoenix Park is still completely lined with working gas lamps that are lit each night. It's so cool

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

We finished up with a trip to my old stomping grounds and a bit of shopping. There was a beautiful sunset on the way

So off to Gogarty's we went for a drink. Now the famous story I mentioned at the beginning is that we lived upstairs from this bar (they owned my flat). At the end of the year, they tore up our bar tab. So I never paid for a single drink there.

So I went up and ordered a Guinness for Randy and a Baileys for myself. And when they gave me a total, it seemed off. I walked away and looked at the receipt and realized they didn't charge me for the Baileys. So for the record, I still have never paid for a drink at Gogarty's!

Sunday afternoon...700 pubs in Dublin...still packed!

Finally, Ireland has caught on to the dangers of smoking. When I lived there, you could still smoke in the malls and movie theatres

Advertisement for my flat- clearly they haven't redecorated

At this point, we were getting a little hungry. Now, Irish cuisine leaves a lot to be desired so we headed off to get a little home cooking at Captain America's!

We ended the night at one of those touristy shops, buying loads of junk for Aisling since really...it's the only place in the world you are going to find stuff with her name on it

So there you have it...Day 3, the day we ended up in jail but managed NOT to be robbed

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Those churches are beautiful! And I love that picture of you two on the bus. You both look so happy!

That prison is scary, and sad...I bet it would have been really interesting to visit, though!

 

[tinytreasures]

Love the sunset pictures over the water.
So glad you didn't get robbed, and were bailed out a jail fast

 

[klacey1]

Fun day! Those jail pictures are incredible-- that cross picture is very moving. So sad to think about what it symbolized.

 

[Jennifer48]

If I ever go to Ireland, I would like you to be my tour guide I bet I'd fit in well too with the pale skin and red hair

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Those churches are beautiful! And I love that picture of you two on the bus. You both look so happy!

That prison is scary, and sad...I bet it would have been really interesting to visit, though!

The churches are beautiful. Because it was Sunday, service was going on so we couldn't enter but I do have tons of pics of the inside from previous trips. I need to scan them.

Love the sunset pictures over the water.
So glad you didn't get robbed, and were bailed out a jail fast

Thank you! Randy said I looked like I was talking to myself taking those pics. He was across the river watching me and I was arguing with my camera

Fun day! Those jail pictures are incredible-- that cross picture is very moving. So sad to think about what it symbolized.

No kidding. I got chills several times during the tour thinking about all the innocent people who lost their lives fighting for their country.

If I ever go to Ireland, I would like you to be my tour guide I bet I'd fit in well too with the pale skin and red hair

I was a tour guide before and I can talk and walk backwards...I would be a good choice

 

[LuccaDrake]

I finally made it and am loving the Ireland TR. Definitely a place I'd like to visit.

~Beka~

 

[sohappy]

I'm still here! I am so glad that so many things I have made still fit! And I'm so glad that I didn't put her age in that dessert dress mickey head!!

Still getting ideas together for 1900 PF. I am positive that there will be a ton of applique. I am not sure of anything else right now though.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I finally made it and am loving the Ireland TR. Definitely a place I'd like to visit.

~Beka~

FINALLY!!!!!!

So when are we going shopping???

I'm still here! I am so glad that so many things I have made still fit! And I'm so glad that I didn't put her age in that dessert dress mickey head!!

Still getting ideas together for 1900 PF. I am positive that there will be a ton of applique. I am not sure of anything else right now though.

Wouldn't expect anything less from you than lots of applique

 

[tinytreasures]

I'm still here! I am so glad that so many things I have made still fit! And I'm so glad that I didn't put her age in that dessert dress mickey head!!

Still getting ideas together for 1900 PF. I am positive that there will be a ton of applique. I am not sure of anything else right now though.

ohh I can't wait to see it

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I just noticed your new ticker-thing (is that considered a ticker?) and I had to say way to go! I've been "sort of" dieting for a while now but I decided with only 3 months left until the wedding I need to get serious. So needless to say, I'm having a major carb withdrawal headache today.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I just noticed your new ticker-thing (is that considered a ticker?) and I had to say way to go! I've been "sort of" dieting for a while now but I decided with only 3 months left until the wedding I need to get serious. So needless to say, I'm having a major carb withdrawal headache today.

Oh I know carb withdrawal well....first time I did SB, I actually consulted a friend who's a doctor because I thought I was dying! She explained it was the sugar leaving my body. I have PCOS so I really should be doing lowcarb but it's so unrealistic for me long term. It's great for a vaca/special occassion but I always put it back on So I'm sticking with the slow way with WWs this time. I started 6 months exactly out until our trip. I'd really love to be down 40 lbs (which would make me on the high side of a "healthy" weight for me). 55 would put me smack in the middle but that is unrealistic right now. I officially discovered today that I'm down a pants size (pulled out some of my old Disney shorts that I haven't worn in a couple of trips and they not only fit but had room ) Hopefully giving up soda for Lent will also help too

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

ohh I can't wait to see it

me too

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Oddly, the tickers were down for awhile and now that they are back up...my ticker is RIGHT again! Guess I didn't put in the wrong date after all And while I'm counting down...2 more weeks til my cruise