...Ireland, Rolex, Beer & Tourism....with me in common.!

[TempoKing]

At JFK ready to fly to Dublin with Delta, around 5 hours.



We are here at Dublin Airport, nice, just a quick passport control
and out you go, changed a few dollars for euros and on to Europa
Rent-A-Car so we can pick up our brand new Peugeot (4 miles on the clock).



Got to look out for the gardae (Guard-e) Police in English.



Taking the high road to a monastery for our first stop.



We are here just an hour from Dublin on our way to Blarney



Ticket to ride..?..nope...but you got to pay to enter.!





Hey I know her..!!..My wife amongs the ruins...lol



Great Byzantine style ceiling cross in the middle of Ireland..?



me holding the umbrella with an attempt for a wrist shot



Time to go, nice monastery, cum cemetery...the lord will definately bless us for coming here.



Next stop, the oldest city in Ireland...Waterford...you know why..??...Because the CRYSTAL is there..get it...?



And there it is, the temple of the crystal religion,
my wife is having spasms...I better hide my wallet...No chance baby..she says








Now get this, if you spend more than $29.95 they offer you a chair and a drink...Drink to forget so to speak.




I am ready to go...Got to go...Let's go darlin...we can always come back..lol
Definately speeding towards Cork and Blarney
...and there it is..!!



Entering the grounds with my famous now... "leader" in house...picture..ha ha ha ha








Hey I found the Blarney stone..wow



As I was going to have a real nice French kiss with this breat looking stone
My wife is coming and says....Darlin...you got to go all the way to the top
of the castle for the Blarney stone....no use to argue..here we go



Yes my friends...all the way to the top..hundreds of steps...through a VERY narrow passage





Finally I am on the very top...it is high trust me




I guess the stone is where everyone is gathering




..I aint kissin ya ...if you touch your lips there.. I say to my wife
that wall (stone) looks wet to me...and it aint raining..ha ha ha
I remember the story with the locals after hours..ya know.



Well here we are both content having kissed the Blarney stone



My watch ...my watch...got to kiss the ground as well.



Wow now this watch is very rare...the first to have kissed the Blarney ground.

That's the family room..kinda small if you ask me.




Enough of taking pictures darn it...I am hungry.
So I ask a local gentleman where can we go to have a beer and some real Irish food.
....Go dawn..de tird lait...and den torn ro-eat..(?)
...Wow...and you think I speak with an accent.??..give me a brake...lol
Anyway...here we are ready to eat and taste a nice Irish beer






Fantastic food...best beers EVER.
I am definately happy I came, too bad I got to go back to Dublin and see whats going on there.
Yeap the weater is not helping
Dublin or as they say in Irish ...BHAILE ATHA CLIATH




This is big Jim Larkin or the prick with the stick top guy in early 20th century Irish Labour
movement, he is the one who said...

Irish: Ní uasal aon uasal ach sinne bheith íseal: Éirímis.
English: The great appear great because we are on our knees: Let us rise.


Not my car..lol


The center of Dublin



Hey...a Rolex store...fancy that..?






They had a brand new GMT 16710 on the window and I went inside to
buy, asking window price was 4600 euro ($6,530)..kinda of pricey but
let's see what would it come to with the a bit of a discount and after
tax...they were very nice, but clueless, they agreed on a 10% discount
and then another 15% net tax (VAT) SO LETS SEE
4600 less 460 = 4,140 less VAT = 3519 x 1,42 = 5,000 dollars..humm
Not bad and no good..so I say...what serial Z serial..?
What do you mean, he says..I mean can I see the warranty card
No warranty card he says...warranty paper...Oh...
GUESS WHAT...F serial 2004 Brand new in the window...(window display for 5 years ?)
No way...I was going to pay net 5000 dollars for an F serial.
So amicably the deal did not go through.



Ok let's forget the watches and stick to the tourism
This lovely Irish maiden had the best offers for theater, trains, tour buses etc.
at the Dublin Tourist office.
That is the tour bus I did not take...if I was 20 maybe.



But I took this one


Dublin is a wonderfull city, great transport, great people (Irish) but the problem
is where to have a drink..??.very difficult to have a beer in Ireland




One of the best attractions is the Guiness beer factory



But I am going to Harrys Bar for some food and drinks
The weather demands bone warming remedies.


Great local transport


eavesdropping...lol


Hey look what we have here....the Greek embassy in Dublin
I had to take a picture guys.


I am off to the north





Giants causeway...wow...you to see this
Bus takes you all the way down to the beach





Here I am trying to move this mass of rock with one hand...not possible


But try with both and you got it
So I permanently damaged this marvel of nature...I am telling you...can't take me anywhere.





Bus ready to take us back

...wow

Tomorrow do not miss me in Scotland

My daughter is thinking ...my Dad is crazy...?
Well, I only live once baby...lol

[allanofcalifornia]

Nice pictures but the weather does not look great.


Allan

[Idle Swede]

Beautiful shots A, keep 'em coming...

[incabloc]

Are u there sourcing for Rolexes deals for TRFers? lol

[Bisquitlips]

EXCELLENT!!

[alphamale2012]

great pics A.

[SDDS]

very nice pics.. hope u had a good trip...

[koronet-kid]

hi Anastasios

looks like your having a great trip. my father is from waterford. Ireland is a great place to visit, have not been back for a few years myself seeing your pics has got me all misty eyed. will have get over there soon.

thanks for sharing

kind regards

sean

[Rambam]

Looks like a really nice trip, and you even got some typical weather
Did you get to taste all the good whisky and beers?
I love me some Jameson

[Mini2]

I see you were in waterford..Did you manage to go down to the J.F.Kennerdy park? Its about half an hours drive from waterford?

Are you still over there now?

[Art 1]

Nice.

[Imtiaz]

Anastasios that's a very nice album of your trip.

Thank you for sharing.

Ireland is so historic and I love the photos of the Daytona.

[B Square]

Anastasios that is fantastic Thank you so much for sharing
Boyd

[sirjohnbrian]

Excellent, wonderful, magnificent pictures!!! And Ireland looks nice too...

Seriously, thank you for sharing. What a wonderful time you must have had. Maybe I'll take wifey there next time.

[jason981]

Glad you enjoyed Ireland. If i had of known you were coming we could have met up for a drink. Oh well, maybe next time.

Hope u had a great time.

[PhilM]

Excellent pics, have spent many a good night in Ireland... BTW thanks for sharing

[Yume-sama]

Looks great! I've been wanting to head over to Ireland, your pictures have helped convince me!

[TempoKing]

Thank you all for your wishes
Ireland was a must go destination in the back of my mind since I was 16.
Finally I made it there, and WOW...lovely people...smiling and welcoming
My wife has made a contribution to the Irish GDP and it is the only
time I did not bitch about it...well...a little.....

I would have liked to meet some Irish fellow members
But guess what...I like it so much...I am coming back.

[Idle Swede]

Wooowww, just noticed you added more pictures...

Wonderful trip report, I really enjoyed it.

[Rambam]

Love the additional pictures, looks like you all had a smashing time! Those rocks at the beach look incredible! Great stuff
Thanks so much for sharing

[Mini2]

Originally Posted by TempoKing

Thank you all for your wishes
Ireland was a must go destination in the back of my mind since I was 16.
Finally I made it there, and WOW...lovely people...smiling and welcoming
My wife has made a contribution to the Irish GDP and it is the only
time I did not bitch about it...well...a little.....

I would have liked to meet some Irish fellow members
But guess what...I like it so much...I am coming back.

If your down the sunny south east again (Waterford) make sure you go to the J.F.KENNERDY PARK AND THE MEMORIAL HOMESTEAD WHICH IS ABOUT A FEW MINUTES FROM THE PARK

[Yume-sama]

I must say you must have visited the tourist areas. My impression of Ireland was that everyone would be walking around WITH a beer in hand.

And wearing green...

[jdc]

great pics and stories

[watchnut]

Great pics, thanks for the thought of sharing with us here. My wife and I were in Ireland several years ago and loved it! As you say, great people and scenery. We were in Dublin most of the time, with some side trips. Walked right past Tyne Daly on the sidewalk on our way down to Grafton Steet. Try as I might, I just can't quite develop the taste for Guiness, and believe me I've tried.

[kcmo]

Wow Anastasios, what incredible photos! Looks like you had a wonderful trip!!!

[JJ Irani]

Thanks for those superb lot of picture, Anastasios!!! Looks like you and the Mrs had a real gala time.

JJ

[TheVTCGuy]

Next time... TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!!

[TheVTCGuy]

Anastasios, your daughter is beautiful!!!! Is she single?

Everyone, I'd like to introduce you all to my future Father in Law... Anastasios...

[kelly56]

I had the good fortune to tour Ireland in 2003. A must for everyone's bucket list.

[dkpw]

I have a whisky ready for you Anastasios, great pics and looking forward to seeing you in Scotland!