Ireland/Scotland Trip with Adult Children- A Report
May 28th, 2005, 10:26 PM
#21
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You guys are so very nice and supportive to have come over and read my posts.....I really am touched and hope I can continue to offer reasons to come back......right now I'm recovering from a night in NYC and contemplating tomorrow's (todays!) BBQ, but I will be back.
May 29th, 2005, 05:06 PM
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marshacarlin,
I was doing research on London and ran across your trip to Ireland report. I think it was your title that made me want to find out more about it. Your trip report is absolutley wonderful! And funny! My husband and I toured Ireland by ourselves in a rental car in 2001 just like many others here so we can relate to sooooooo many things you describe in your report. I was reading some of your driving report outloud to my husband and we were both chuckling!! He still remembers how narrow the roads were! We lost a hubcap one day because the oncoming driver was a roadhog! And we actually hit the wall with our car because another driver swerved at us! Thank God we took out all the insurance converage.
I keep checking everyday to see if you posted more of your report. Can't wait to read the next chapter. Keep on keeping on!
Ginny
I was doing research on London and ran across your trip to Ireland report. I think it was your title that made me want to find out more about it. Your trip report is absolutley wonderful! And funny! My husband and I toured Ireland by ourselves in a rental car in 2001 just like many others here so we can relate to sooooooo many things you describe in your report. I was reading some of your driving report outloud to my husband and we were both chuckling!! He still remembers how narrow the roads were! We lost a hubcap one day because the oncoming driver was a roadhog! And we actually hit the wall with our car because another driver swerved at us! Thank God we took out all the insurance converage.
I keep checking everyday to see if you posted more of your report. Can't wait to read the next chapter. Keep on keeping on!
Ginny
May 29th, 2005, 08:46 PM
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Very funny & very informative! I want to take the kidlets to Ireland someday soon and have been planning it for about 2 years. I was a little uncomfortable with the idea of driving but I think you've eased my mind a bit. I love the mantra!
Actually, Rick Steves mentions that there is some sort of magnet you can put on your car to let people know you are an inexperienced driver but I can't remember where you might pick those up.
Your son is an adventurer! Imagine a deserted castle on a moonlit night!! Reminds of one of the Brontë sisters (I know, wrong country).
I'm glad I popped in!
Actually, Rick Steves mentions that there is some sort of magnet you can put on your car to let people know you are an inexperienced driver but I can't remember where you might pick those up.
Your son is an adventurer! Imagine a deserted castle on a moonlit night!! Reminds of one of the Brontë sisters (I know, wrong country).
I'm glad I popped in!
May 29th, 2005, 10:24 PM
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marshacarlin,
I have been reading your trip report and checking back for the next installment. I love it and only have one complaint...I don't want to wait...I am hungry for more...right now!
The information so far, as well as the story itself has been wonderful and makes me impatient for my own first trip this October.
Thanks!
I have been reading your trip report and checking back for the next installment. I love it and only have one complaint...I don't want to wait...I am hungry for more...right now!
The information so far, as well as the story itself has been wonderful and makes me impatient for my own first trip this October.
Thanks!
May 30th, 2005, 07:02 AM
#25
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Well, we have just dropped the NYC-teacher son, the fiancee and various others at the train after the weekend BBQ; and today I get to be a guest at two more, so there will be some delay in the next installment. I did spend the time "interviewing" the aforementioned about their opinions of the trip, and will include them in my further evaluatons of Travels with Adult Chilren.
I can't believe I haven't yet gotten to Day 2 of this adventure. You are all very patient, but I think that I have covered the wordy essentials of the aborted take-off, the car, rental, and driving so the rest should go quicker. I better get to it before I don't remember the details. I do find that my VISA bills (stamped with date and TIME!!) do help reconstruct the days. I've got them in a semi-neat pile by date next to me for a refernce.
So, I will get back to the tale tonight, I also think there will be additional topics of: "Clothes I'm Glad I Brought or Wish I Hadn't," "Joys of a Digital Camera" (I do mean it),"Shopping--of course," "Traveling with Literature," and "How to Ask Directions When Your Husband Won't Stop the Car."
But by-the-way:Is it only moms who think of all of the gory possibilities? My husband would never give the moonlight castle adventure another thought; but aside from enjoying the castle the next day, all I could think of was that I had no idea THAT my son had gone exploring; and, that if I had awoken the next morning to find an empty bed, I would have had NO idea WHERE he had gone exploring. So while saying, "I'm so happy you found this wonderful castle, dear," I'm thinking: how can I deliver the message, "What if you had fallen and we didn't know where to look for you? The next time maybe you could ????...leave a note??"---!--duh, mom!!!)
I'm always thinking of the possibilities...It's something my mom did to me and it always dampened my excitement about my discoveries, so I try to hold my tongue...It's definately a good thing that my children don't live with us any more because, although I think we have given them wings to have wonderful adventures, I can't stomach the "what-ifs" on a full time basis. Thoughts?
P.S. I guess I have to just count on their good sense and karma to get them through and meanwhile enjoy the ride.
I can't believe I haven't yet gotten to Day 2 of this adventure. You are all very patient, but I think that I have covered the wordy essentials of the aborted take-off, the car, rental, and driving so the rest should go quicker. I better get to it before I don't remember the details. I do find that my VISA bills (stamped with date and TIME!!) do help reconstruct the days. I've got them in a semi-neat pile by date next to me for a refernce.
So, I will get back to the tale tonight, I also think there will be additional topics of: "Clothes I'm Glad I Brought or Wish I Hadn't," "Joys of a Digital Camera" (I do mean it),"Shopping--of course," "Traveling with Literature," and "How to Ask Directions When Your Husband Won't Stop the Car."
But by-the-way:Is it only moms who think of all of the gory possibilities? My husband would never give the moonlight castle adventure another thought; but aside from enjoying the castle the next day, all I could think of was that I had no idea THAT my son had gone exploring; and, that if I had awoken the next morning to find an empty bed, I would have had NO idea WHERE he had gone exploring. So while saying, "I'm so happy you found this wonderful castle, dear," I'm thinking: how can I deliver the message, "What if you had fallen and we didn't know where to look for you? The next time maybe you could ????...leave a note??"---!--duh, mom!!!)
I'm always thinking of the possibilities...It's something my mom did to me and it always dampened my excitement about my discoveries, so I try to hold my tongue...It's definately a good thing that my children don't live with us any more because, although I think we have given them wings to have wonderful adventures, I can't stomach the "what-ifs" on a full time basis. Thoughts?
P.S. I guess I have to just count on their good sense and karma to get them through and meanwhile enjoy the ride.
May 30th, 2005, 09:49 AM
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marshacarlin, I think any good mom thinks/worries/obsesses about just those things! It's probably because we went through so much carrying them & delvering them, protecting them so much while they were little. The worries over children never change, just the nature of the worries. I do understand!
May 30th, 2005, 01:34 PM
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<<<additional topics of: "Clothes I'm Glad I Brought or Wish I Hadn't," "Joys of a Digital Camera" (I do mean it),"Shopping--of course," "Traveling with Literature," and "How to Ask Directions When Your Husband Won't Stop the Car.">>>
See, this is why I am waiting, I had a few questions about some things that most don't post on their reports..I just knew you would cover some topics I am curious about!
BTW: Did you do the "undercover" potty break? I love those secret meetings! The comeraderie of fellow female travellers gathering directional intellegence and thus leaving the husband with his illusion of navigational superiority...works like a charm!
See, this is why I am waiting, I had a few questions about some things that most don't post on their reports..I just knew you would cover some topics I am curious about!
BTW: Did you do the "undercover" potty break? I love those secret meetings! The comeraderie of fellow female travellers gathering directional intellegence and thus leaving the husband with his illusion of navigational superiority...works like a charm!
May 30th, 2005, 08:29 PM
#29
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OK you guys, I've just returned from second BBQ of the day, 3rd of the weekend, and I'm way too tired to compose the next part of this saga, HOWEVER, I had to chuckle at 12perfectdays' "potty" reference, cuz relieving yourself became a major issue, and I've been trying to decide whether to go there in this trip report.
The fact is that on any car trip, since our family was composed of 2 sons, one husband and myself, I have alway lost the battle of stopping. At some scenic overlook, when I wasn't looking, the 3 men were relieving themselves around some corner, behind some tree or bush, so that when the urge hit me, I was the lone vote for a proper stop. On this trip the numbers were 2 women, 4 men, so that although it immediately became apparent that there was conflict, this time I had an ally, the fiancee. Realizing that we were outnumbered in this area, we soon started to demand "a proper" P** place, i.e. a ladies p** stop. It took some discussion, (I can't understand how the males could not appreciate the need for a place to sit) but we got our way, and yes 12perfectdays, it was a perfect opportunity to chat up the chap behind the counter at the gas station for the best way to get to ..... I don't think we ever actually resorted to the request for a "proper P**place" unnecessarily, but we certainly took advantage of opportunities to check directions when they came along.
The other piece of practical advice that I will throw out here is that the husband brought along a compass, as part of his first aid kit. Since the roads are not marked Rte 123N or 123S the way they are in the states, it actually proved very valuable, in conjunction with the map, for checking that we were headed the right direction. Somehow, since it was a tool, as opposed to another human being, it was consulted quite often. Go figure.
I'm off to bed.
The fact is that on any car trip, since our family was composed of 2 sons, one husband and myself, I have alway lost the battle of stopping. At some scenic overlook, when I wasn't looking, the 3 men were relieving themselves around some corner, behind some tree or bush, so that when the urge hit me, I was the lone vote for a proper stop. On this trip the numbers were 2 women, 4 men, so that although it immediately became apparent that there was conflict, this time I had an ally, the fiancee. Realizing that we were outnumbered in this area, we soon started to demand "a proper" P** place, i.e. a ladies p** stop. It took some discussion, (I can't understand how the males could not appreciate the need for a place to sit) but we got our way, and yes 12perfectdays, it was a perfect opportunity to chat up the chap behind the counter at the gas station for the best way to get to ..... I don't think we ever actually resorted to the request for a "proper P**place" unnecessarily, but we certainly took advantage of opportunities to check directions when they came along.
The other piece of practical advice that I will throw out here is that the husband brought along a compass, as part of his first aid kit. Since the roads are not marked Rte 123N or 123S the way they are in the states, it actually proved very valuable, in conjunction with the map, for checking that we were headed the right direction. Somehow, since it was a tool, as opposed to another human being, it was consulted quite often. Go figure.
I'm off to bed.
Jun 4th, 2006, 10:12 AM
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Marsha, we were bumped on our first trip to Ireland, too. We negotiated for US Airways to give us 2 international round trip vouchers AND they booked us on Delta the next day first class. Our bump was weather related so they weren't even required to do anything for us.
I am loving your trip report. We have been talking about bringing our adult DDs with us to Ireland so very interested in how things progressed.
I am loving your trip report. We have been talking about bringing our adult DDs with us to Ireland so very interested in how things progressed.
Jul 27th, 2006, 05:56 AM
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Shame on me.........I was really into this report (great trip with adult children) and then life got in the way.....I feel bad because I learned so much from others' reports. I am now planning a trip to Portugal (marriage of oldest adult child to women who went to Ireland with us) and clicked on my name and realized folks had been reading this report. I promise to look up my notes and get back to this.\Sorry!
