repost

Author: Andy ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 12:44 am <BR>Message: Mina-- Again,another nite of laughter,fun and outstanding reading--You have missed your calling- You ARE an awesome writer.....right from the heart!Keep those stories coming!!! I LOVE them! <BR><BR>Author: Sonia ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 03:22 am <BR>Message: Another great read Mina. Have you read Travelling around Ireland with a fridge by Tony Hawkes, think you might enjoy it...(Might be visiting LA and San Francisco after Oz next year, if you have any tips?) <BR><BR>Author: Sheila ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 03:24 am <BR>Message: MinaThinking about this...come to Scotland next year and see if we match up <BR><BR>Author: egg ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 03:57 am <BR>Message: Those Germans were probably not drinking American Budweiser but the real thing, Budvar Budweiser. If you like beer you should try it. <BR> <BR>Author: old ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 05:20 am <BR>Message: Sorry to sound like your mum but would you have been so trusting of stange men at home?I know that a naked virgin with a sack of gold was traditionally able to walk across Ireland unscathed, but there was a case in London where a young German woman was "befriended" by a gang of boys. They were so young that she thought of them as children. However they gang-raped her and threw her into a canal. She was lucky to survive.On your next trip enjoy yourself and be friendly but as Sheila would say "ca canny!" <BR><BR>Author: nancy ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 07:18 am <BR>Message: Mina-It takes ALOT to get me to fodors these days,and usually it has to be about Italy.but, your report was great,aand reminds me of what I enjoyed so much about this site!I hope you will get to go on another exciting and fun trip soon. <BR><BR>Author: sam ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 08:08 am <BR>Message: Mina - this was so fantastic to read. I was nodding and agreeing with so much of what you said. I'm lucky enough to have friends over there and I stay and travel with them, but my experiences in the pubs have been much the same as yours. There's no describing some Irish experiences - you have to live them to believe them. It's not like any place else in the world. I completely understand the trust you place in some people, right away. I would have done the same things you did and have done them there and in Germany. Life is too short to be scared! Congratulations on a great trip and a great trip report. <BR><BR>Author: Jim ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 08:46 am <BR>Message: Mina,Great report and outstanding pictures. I was in Ireland two weeks ago, around Tipperary, the Glen of Aherlow and the Galty Mountains. About driving -- in a perverse way I look forward to getting behind the wheel with only an hour or two of sleep, on the opposite ride of the road, with people driving like lunatics. Maybe there's something wrong with me but I consider it a challenge. <BR><BR>The photos really are special. The two times I was in Galway I went to the King's Head. On your next trip you should see Mayo and Sligo. Slainte! <BR><BR>Author: Ron ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 09:28 am <BR>Message: Mina, Great Story! If you happen to keep a mailing list of people to send your stories to please add me to it. My wife and I will be in Dublin at the end of next month and we are really looking forward to it. <BR><BR>Author: aj ([email protected])Date: 10/18/2002, 09:43 am <BR>Message: Mina,I loved the report on the English Tea but this one is great! I am adding Ireland to my list of must see places. Actually the cooking show "Two Fat Ladies"? was in Ireland last week and the castles and countryside were beautiful. My only problem is that I am middle age with a husband. It sounds like Ireland is really the place for a "single" gal!<BR>

Mina

Hi everyone again.<BR><BR>Well, that was a lot of work, when all I wanted to do was reply to some of you this morning!<BR><BR>Again, I appreciate the kind words. I think what a lot of readers forget is what kind of time and effort it is to post anything here...and how daunting it can be, even when the personalities are just letters on your screen. I appreciate the gentleness of your posts.<BR><BR>Sheila, you want to know something funny? I flew over Scotland to get home (flew out of Heathrow). It was a beautiful day, and I thought..."maybe Scotland should be next. I need to go home and look up some of Sheila's posts!" Kind of sick how I've come to depend on this forum. I was going to look up your posts and Tony's (although I haven't seen him around lately).<BR><BR>Sonia: Yes, I've seen the book but for some reason I have not picked it up yet. I did pick up "McCarthy's Bar" while I was in London...another travelogue about Ireland.<BR><BR>egg: they really were drinking budweiser...they both lived in California for a year and got addicted to it then. They said it was because it was weak compared to German beer...and they loved the fact they could drink a ton of it and not get drunk!

Mina

old: I absolutely would not trust strangers here. I do believe in gut instinct though (runs in the family...my brother is a cop). There were plenty of people who approached me who I did not choose to hang out with...one included the most beautiful young man I have ever seen. But I think you have to take some risks when traveling...and I would rather die on vacation anyway.<BR><BR>sam: I agree wholeheartedly.<BR><BR>jim: driving is one of the best things about Ireland...it's a heck of a lot of fun, even with a few mirrors missing!<BR><BR>ron: yes I do have a list, but currently it is just people I know...with the exception of two fodorites, but they are from the Australia board. I will keep that in mind though. <BR><BR>Sandy: I think these reports are enough for now. I'm glad you enjoyed them though. <BR><BR>Have a great day everyone.

Michael

Mina,<BR><BR>Thank you for your great report. Hope to read future ones. I just spent two weeks in Florida with my 8 "crazy" Irish relatives over on vacation. it was a blast.<BR><BR>Regards<BR>Michael in Ventura

mimi taylor

Lucky me! you reposted for I had missed the first one. what fun you had made me wish I was there. I found the gentlemen in Wales as kind to me. travelling alone does bring special treatment I have found.

Guido

Mina, fantastic trip report. It was a joy to read. Congratulations on your trip and on your writing.

Paule

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Most fun I've had reading a travel report in a while, and brought many wonderful memories of my own travels to Ireland (but 25+ years ago!)/<BR>Paule

afan

Mina ... this trip report was wonderful. Many thanks!

sarah

hey Mina--I am 25 years old and planning to travel solo next summer to Ireland. I was a bit hesitate to travel alone but after reading your post I feel much more confident. Your post was so great--I am dieing to be there now!!

Diane

Magnificent! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your report. My ex was an Irishman and they can be charmers. I look forward to reading more of your adventures in years to come.

Meg

Mina, Just checked this site to see if you had been rediscovered - and lo and behold...<BR>I see you wrote "mangled" now! Expect someone decided "mashed" was too vulgar!!<BR>I loved your account of Ireland almost as much as tea in the posh hotel.<BR>Thank you very much indeed for brightening a rainy Autumn day in south Germany.

Curious

What is wrong with m_shed? Is there some obscene meaning, apart from what it means in relation to potatoes. that I'm not aware of????<BR>Loved & laughed out loud repeatedly at your report Mina - & am at a complete loss as to why the first thread was deleted given its probably the best thing I've read on here in years!!!<BR>

John B.

Super report and great fun to read.

kodi

Oh what a wonderful report!!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and laughed so much.<BR>Thanks very much, Mina.<BR><BR>

Mina

The "mangled" change wasn't a deliberate thing...I was just typing too fast and put in a different word. There's also a typo in "pictures two" as you can see.<BR><BR>Again, I'm delighted you all enjoyed it.<BR><BR>Sarah, when you go, do be sure to rent a car and drive around yourself (instead of taking a bus tour). Part of the joy of traveling solo is the freedom of making your schedule, and a bus tour gets in the way of spontaneity. Tours are certainly good for people don't care to try driving, have a hard time getting around on their own, etc. But Ireland has many narrow windy roads where the buses are not allowed...Slea Head Drive and Conors pass just being a couple.<BR><BR>

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sarah

Thanks for the advice Mina--I was thinking of getting a rail pass but I am not too sure of how decent the rail routes are in Ireland. After reading your report I am now thinking about renting a car and driving but I am a bit hesitate about the whole driving on the other side of the road. I think its a fear I have to get over though! Is it expensive to rent a car? Probally less then a rail pass. Thanks again for your advice. <BR>Sarah

Henry Long

One of the great differences between a vacation in many countries and one in Ireland is that it is very easy to interact with the locals in Ireland,as Mina shows.Irish people are very used to Americans and most of them have visited the U.S. at some stage.For some people it will be the start of a relationship as about 6 milllion tourists visit Ireland every year and when they go there they start talking to people too.Pubs and B and Bs give a great opportunity to meeet the world.