Gary-Summer: July 14-25, 2025

Friday, July 25, 2025

July 14-25, 2025 - Ireland

Ireland - 2025

Starting: July 14, 2025
Ending: July 25, 2025

The Trip : Our People : Thoughts : Trip Lessons : Trip Log : Abbreviations

The Trip:
Our daughter Rachel was going to be in Europe for the Summer. She suggested that the family could meet her over there and we could explore it together. We decided that Ireland would be a good place to meet and found dates in July that everybody, except for Lawrence-Andrea's husband, could meet.

Andrea met Rachel in Scotland a week before Steven, Sherri and Gary flew to Dublin. We all met in Belfast and spent two whole days there before moving to Dublin. We spent another two days in Dublin before crossing Ireland to Galway, stopping in Athlone. It was another two days in Galway, then back to Dublin, via Cashel. The next morning we all parted company at the Dublin airport.

Our People:

Gary. The father and the one who was a reluctant partner to travel.
Sherri. Mother who would like to catch a glimpse of the land of her ancestors
Andrea. Oldest daughter and teacher who went a week ahead of the rest of the family to meet Rachel in Scotland.
Steven. Son who flew with Gary and Sherri and very willing to travel
Rachel. Youngest daughter who is taking time off to travel. Andrea met her in Scotland and they met up with us in Belfast.

Thoughts:
This is from the view point of Gary. The most compelling story we heard was on July 18 when we took the Black Cab Tour of West Belfast. This was the site of the Troubles. Just being there where this happened and seeing how this conflict took a toll on people wanted us to have it not happen in our home country.

Then there was the Trinity Library. Even with most of the books out of the shelves in the Old Library, the room exuded a sense of knowledge and learning. It is someplace I could have just stayed.

Lastly, when we went to Connemara National Park, We walked up towards Diamond Hill-Andrea and Steven made it to the top. When I stopped and looked around, I saw the greenness of the pasture lands, a living emerald, if you will. I remarked to Sherri that I can see why if Ireland was your country, why you would love it.

There was two incidences which we could have lived without. The night before leaving Dublin, an intruder entered our apartment. He did not do anything, once detected, he left. It was just unnerving.

The second is that I really need to understand this flying better than what I do.

Trip Lessons:

If you live for pleasure, you will be disappointed when things do not work out. But if you are curious, then any experience provides an avenue for excitement.

Trip Log:

Date	Place Slept At	Locations	Activity
July 14, 2025	Plane	Fresno Airport, San Francisco Airport, Dulles Airport	Flying to Dublin
July 15, 2025	Belfast	Dublin Airport	Flying to Dublin, taking bus to Belfast
July 16, 2025	Belfast	Titanic Museum	Visited Titanic museum, then wandered around cathedrals
July 17, 2025	Belfast	Carrickfergus Castle, Dark Hedges, Belfast Castle, CS Lewis Square	Car travel north of Belfast, but was stopped due to rain.
July 18, 2025	Dublin	West Belfast, Linden Hall Library	Black Cab Tour of the Troubles in Belfast, train to Dublin
July 19, 2025	Dublin	Guinness Factory, Kilmainham Gaol	Tour of the Guinness Museum and the OPW lead tour of Kilmainham Gaol
July 20, 2025	Dublin	Trinity College	Free Day
July 21, 2025	Galway	Athlone	Travel day to Galway. Walked in Merlin Woods Park
July 22, 2025	Galway	Connemara National Park	Walked along the trails of Diamond Hill. An evening in Galway
July 23, 2025	Galway	Cliffs of Moher	Walked around the cliffs and the O'Brien tower
July 24, 2025	Dublin	Rock of Cashel	Did a OPW tour of the cathedral
July 25, 2025	Fresno	Dublin Airport, Newark, NJ Airport, LAX	Flying home

Costs:

Category	Expense
Attractions	$1,099.33
Eating Out	$2,038.94
Groceries	$341.97
Lodging	$4,976.70
Passes	$45.64
Souvenirs	$343.31
Transportation: Air	$4,640.74
Transportation: Ground	$2,229.03
Total	$15,715.66