The last two nights along with tonight we have flown by the seat of our pants. Well...Shannon is always game for that, but not me!  I like a plan!  I had not booked rooms because I just didn't know where the roads would take us. I had read about Kinsale, Ireland and thought we would head that direction and it did work out perfectly. 

We found a beautiful resort that was smallish in size so not a typical massive one. We did a last minute booking on it and got a steal which is always a perk. It was set on 90 acres along the Atlantic way and one of the inlets came up behind resort so our view 

was incredible. You couldn't find a more beautiful site to wake to.  Entire side of the room was windows which makes hard one for to sleep and not be ready to tackle the day.  

Yesterday we had heard about the true "main" distillery for Jameson. I had been to the one located in Dublin but didn't realize they don't produce there any longer.  So off we went to check out that and get our whiskey tasting on!  It was fabulous....incredible tour that gave so much information on why whisky is what it is...how it gets that way, why Jameson stands out from others (which with taste testing you could obviously tell also) and how Jameson started.  We spent a few hours there learning.  And since Shannon and I have both taken the bartender courses to run/bartend at serendipity we love to learn those things.  We may not be big drinkers but we are educated servers!  

We then made the decision to hop in the car in see the ring of Kerry.  It is the southern tip of Ireland that has amazing views, formations of rocks along a scenic drive. Truly gorgeous but have to admit...with the hazy weather that ireland tends to have, it makes it hard to see things sometimes. So yes, it was beautiful but as back road travelers...we get a chance to see that often.  Finding sheep out of their pens along a cliff, memorials built into walls, the way they handle back, tiny road traveling is a fun experience to both of us. Fortunately, I think we are both pretty easy going. If one wants to stop...sure!  Want a picture there?  Sure!  I do believe going into a major trip with anyone, whether it's a friend or a spouse, you have to know you will see things differently and it isn't worth arguing over or ruining a trip.  So we just go and can't sweat the small stuff.  Not always easy with picky eaters (me), people who need bathroom breaks often (me), or think you are always right (me), but in the end...it is vacation and needs to be enjoyed by all and everyone's needs thought about. 

Last night we headed to a pub in downtown Kinsale and we had a shuttle service so we could get our Guinness on. Nothing makes us happier than live music and good company. We had both so we enjoyed the time we had before the band retired for the evening. 

Today we headed to Blarney Castle.  I had traveled here two years ago with my family and climbed to the top of the castle but did not kiss the stone. Well today...I did!  Many people are not aware of the trek to get to the castle, then the climbing of the miserable, tiny, tight stairs.  So for a claustrophobic person, your heart gets to racing!  Shannon was a good sport and created space so I wasn't stuck in between people on the stairs and off I went!  This time the rain wasn't dumping so I decided to get my kissing on. You have to in essence lay down on your back, grab two bars and slide back upside down head first to kiss the bloody thing. It isn't as hard as looks especially since a fella is there to help you.  So glad I did and can cross that off my bucket list. 

We then did a little shopping at some tourist-y shops and now are on our way to Dublin!  Guinness, music, Irish dancing and Molly Malone  are on our list tomorrow.  Checking into another airb&b.com at noon which I am SO excited about.  I'm on my last pair of undies so it couldn't come at a better time. Laundry!!!  😜

Love that so many of you are following along. It has been fun!  Love the messages we have gotten and comments on the blog, plus makes the drive time in between go faster because we are working on the blog!  

Off to grab some scones and clotted cream...❤️

Jenny

Bath England was a first for both Shannon and me.  We rented another flat off of airb&b.com, sadly we didn't arrive until late to enjoy its beauty! 😢. The place was absolutely amazing it was an old row house with every amenity possible!! It also had a back balcony that opened completely with a fountain and a gorgeous view. The place was called the ArtPad with local artists art work adorning the walls offering you the opportunity to not only enjoy the art but purchase it as well! This host thought of everything including a parking pass waiting for us when we arrived, fresh milk in the refrigerator, and a welcome basket including a bottle of wine and snacks!  We are loving trying the airb&b.com option, we are finding that the prices are actually cheaper and you get so much for the value!!  

We had researched doing the Roman Baths and the Spa associated with it. The prices were extremely reasonable so we decided to give it a try! We did not think about it being Valentine's Day weekend so all the services were booked but the Mineral Water pools and the collection of 4 steam rooms all with a different aroma therapy were available for the one low price of only £32 for 2 hours!! I had never done a steam room before so that was quite an experience to me!! If you know me I have a love for menthol so the Eucalyptus Menthol steam room was my favorite, sandalwood not so much!! 😝

Let me back up a bit.... If you have not traveled Europe you may not be aware of many things being unisex...toilets, changing room, shower areas all in one!! As a person that's not used to that when coming out of a toilet or changing room to have a guy waiting for your space, still catches me off guard even after being around it for over a week! 

This Roman Bath spa has thought of everything from a crisp white robe, slippers, a fresh towel for after your shower, to a machine that rings out your bathing suit to almost dry, to smart wrist bands that you use to purchase food or drink while visiting and then you scan it as you go to leave. If you owe anything the gate doesn't open and you go pay your bill, if you don't owe anything a little box opens, you drop the band in and the gate opens for you to exit!!  OR if you are me and you're tall and not paying attention the gate can catch you high center between the legs and laugh while they have to reset to let you out!!!! One other funny that goes along with their amazing service is while waiting in line to go in I had to go to the bathroom. I asked this very friendly guy working if I could use the toilet (restroom is not a common term,  confuses people here!) his response was "sure, I'll take you and WAIT with you!"  There is nothing more embarrassing than when you say back to that, "it could be a while I have a very upset stomach today! 😜" he was very polite and said, " no rush I'll wait!!" And he did but he might not offer that next time unless he enjoyed the very long break I gave him! 😜

All funny things aside the Roman Bath Waters were amazing and soooo relaxing.  The roof top mineral pool offered not only the wonderful 92 degree waters but a spectacular view of the city!  The inside pool offered a bubbly area similar to a hot tub you stand in, a lazy river type section where the water flowed so you  could just float and a spot that had water streaming out almost in a fire hydrant force that you could let beat your back and neck!!!  The steam room was one big room with 4 Individual pods of steam rooms each with their own aromatherapy and in the center being a gigantic waterfall of cool water that you could stand under after visiting each steam pod!!  We truly left this experience relaxed and excited to go back next visit...a definite must!!!

You may or may not know this about me but I can get on my soap box about eating and supporting local and how important that is to our own local community. When I travel I tend to eat wherever because it is not my local community, but let me tell you what I encountered while in Bath.  While trying to find an eatery we stopped and talk to a gentlemen that we believe was the owner of a local restaurant that had just closed and asked him where we could get food still...his response was "I wish my chef hadn't just left or I would cook for you and the other place still open is a chain and I don't eat chains so I can't tell you if it's any good!"  As we continued to wander the streets looking for a place to eat we saw multiple signs in business windows that said "proud local independent retailer of Bath"!  The place we did end up finding open was a corner Kabab joint with an extremely delightful guy behind the counter that we ended up learning was the owner himself working at 11pm at night, while also owning multiple locations. We chatted for while about being small business and all that is involved.  It doesn't matter whether you are in the UK or Topeka KS all small business owners are faced with the same challenges and competition of formulated chains. It was nice to see someone with such a heart and passion for his local business!  We had chicken kababs, hummus, and chips (fries) and it was deelish!!!

We then headed off to our final stop in the UK for a nights stay in the Cotswolds.  We rolled into town to find that the inn we had booked was let me just say...not going to work for a variety of reasons!!  This was the only booking that I could not visualize before arriving...they didn't offer many pictures...and left out it was up multiple flights of narrow stairs...with zero floor space to sort our 4 bags of luggage before we had to fly the next day and that is once we got them up the flights of narrow stairs..etc etc!!  We decided to not unpack, just go eat and ponder our situation. We are sooooo glad we did. We ate at a wonderful little Italian restaurant. After eating we decided to grab another stout and cider from the bar and sit and enjoy their cozy leather sofas in the lounge, it was so peaceful.  While paying our final tab the gal who had been just delightful asked us where we were staying and we just kinda frowned and she said you should stay with us!! She took us to show us a room and offered it to us for really cheap once she heard our story!! The room was perfect, spacious, first floor, clean and even had an adorable chandelier!!

Shannon had never been to this part of the country and traveling back roads makes me so happy so off we went! We drove the back roads of the Cotswolds seeing amazing country side, beautiful stone villages, many thatched roofs and scenery to die for!!!  After running the roads for a while we headed to Birmingham England to catch our flight to Dublin Ireland.  We are currently in the car heading 3 hours south to Kinsale Ireland to explore for the next two days!!  Once again we flew Ryan Air and we had it down this time....boarding passes ready..check....all suitcases checked and carried on with proper weight distributed to the pound (or kg if in UK) check...all electronics including iPads and phones out of carry on bags for security scanners but shoes get left on!!...check.  We boarded our  quick 40 min flight, with a row to ourselves, a fun couple behind us that photo bombed our photo and me getting scolded by the flight attendant for talking during his safety presentation ... I was mortified!!!  But overall great and fast flight...excited to be in Ireland!

Off we go to the main Jameson distillery!  

Cheers!

Jenny 

We had a wonderful time and enjoying exploring this city and our bags are bit more full after some retail therapy.

Currently on the drive to Dortmund, Germany to fly out to London. Not sure about what tonight has in store except probably a few of my favorites...Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus (you now get where our name comes from??) The war grave for amazing hamburgers my step-daughter found while studying abroad and maybe a show. Tomorrow is my favorite day because we get to hit portobello road market. My absolute favorite thing to enjoy while in London and maybe Europe! Planned entire trip around a Saturday in London.

Will try and take more pictures and upload more from my camera. Have tons on there but getting them to here is the hard part! So only have a few randoms....

Heading off across the pond!

Cheerio!

Jenny.

We pulled into Berlin yesterday evening as a stopping spot on the way to amsterdam. Have absolutely enjoyed our drive discussing the most random things...difference in semi-trailers, livestock, a spider along the windshield (which Shannon has a full on story about and I guess I missed her discussing until round two. We have the ability to tune each other out I guess...😜), how there are no older cars on the street, Shannon's love of ice cubes, how Europe has the most brilliant things yet so different at times. (I.e. Lights turning off while going potty because of no movement, paying for the toilet or lack of paying because didn't have coins)....half naked women billboards along the side of semi-trailers and so much more randomness.

We stayed at a fantastic hotel called art o'tel. It's decor is all Andy Warhol. The room was spectacular. (Will post pictures later...). Lip carpet, Marilyn Monroe mirror...fun, chic space. I posted we had stayed at an airbnb.com yesterday and loved. One thing will add when traveling especially if doing back roads and at your leisure, a hotel does allow for flexible time. When staying at a persons home or space you must set up time to arrive and stick with assigned time. I love to be able to stop and explore and see what we can find. Having a timeline doesn't always allow for that.

We had a wonderful dinner at an Italian restaurant not too far from the hotel. Shannon and I giggled because we kept thinking the guy ( well I thought...) he was telling us about a place call 12 pastas. Cool! I kept reiterating how I enjoy pasta and that is perfect. After the third time of him telling me about the restaurant and me affirming I love pasta I realized he was telling me about a place called the 12 Apostles. Guess I only had pasta on the brain.

We explored and finally found the main strip of the Berlin Wall left. You wouldn't think it would be difficult but let me tell you. It was...three GPS sent us to crazy places...many youth out exploring honestly didn't really know and we didn't want to be the dumb tourists asking for help to find such an important piece of history. Finally a young couple explained what was left and where we could explore it. (Btw they had to google where to find it) Just makes you think and ponder, and also eye opening to how the youth there isn't really even conscious about it.

We then explored parliament, Jewish holocaust memorial and Berlin as a city. So different from Prague and Vienna from people, style, and buildings. Very fun urban town with graffiti absolutely everywhere. And I mean everywhere!!! While talking to the young couple he mentioned the "graph it y" and the ever changing art.

We also stopped in Dresden germany because while reading atlasobscura.com they explained about a musical house. It was along our journey so we made a stop. It was in hidden little courtyard with all kinds of buildings with unique shops below and wonderful themed homes. Music house, animal house, house of lights. Again, most people in that community had never heard of this gorgeous area. Makes it apparent to me why many haven't heard of such gems in Topeka. People don't explore and appreciate their own communities and what's in their own backyards!

Shannon was confused as we got back on the highway because the signs still said "ausfahrt" and why were they still talking about Dresden? 😳😝😜. I laughed and didn't know what meant but quickly learned it is a sign for exit...not a town...

Pulling into Amsterdam as we speak and off to explore there!

Jenny.

We left Vienna yesterday morning after a fantastic night. Our trip was a bit delayed to the dumping snow but we made it safely and our Nissan Note kept trucking along!

We had many giggles on our trip as sometimes we entertain ourselves. From going thru the gorgeous countryside and winding thru many small towns and encountering what I saw as Jesus with a microphone Shannon sees Elvis as we fly by. So for the next half hour we laugh debating on why in the world would there be Elvis and why would Jesus have a microphone.

We then stopped at a McDonald's along the route to grab some food off the highway and after going they the drive thru we pulled over to eat since was snowing. We then had a sweet employee come out and ask us to move since we were in their drive thru lane and blocking traffic. Who knew?

We then pulled into Prague after our drive and headed to our stopping spot. This trip I decided to try alternative options for hotels since Shannon is easy going about travel. So for a few of our stops we are using airbnb.com. A great way to find unique staying spots that have great locations and often times more affordable.

In Prague, one of the most popular landmarks is the St. Charles bridge which I had fallen in love with my last visit. So this room we were able to stay at was the most gorgeous building with a restaurant below and rooms above and located at the base of the bridge. The entire staff was adorable as you can see we took a pic with two of the guys. They hauled our massive bags up and down, fed us breakfast, gave us free beers each time we had to wait and kissed us as we left....

We explored most of the evening on foot around the city, showed her the astronomical clock and made her try their dough on a spit and the made the decision to hop in car while late and explore that way. We did discover a great view of the castle but we happened to be driving on a walking path. Of course we didn't realize and the little Nissan note fit so we thought was a road. Oops!

Their railcars run along side of you while driving so Shannon navigates and hollers "go go go!!!" As i have to beat the train to turn. Her favorite directions include..."follow that car!!" It works out since both of us are directionally challenged.

As were were leaving, a friend from Topeka posted we should visit his uncles restaurant so we decided to hit It on the way out of town. So glad we did. Gorgeous Greek restaurant and his uncle was delighted to have someone from where his nephew lives. We were treated very well and back and on the road again.

On the highway to Berlin as neither of us have been there. Looking forward to another night of adventure and exploring!

Whew! What a long journey, but we landed in Vienna Austria yesterday ( Sunday) around 8 am. It happened to be the first flight I have ever been on that the cabin was so warm it caused us to strip to our undershirts! We giggled we didn't have much else to offer so they were going to be in trouble soon if got any warmer.

We flew Austrian airlines from Chicago to Vienna and I must say, it was the BEST international trip i have ever flown. Spacing was great, people were wonderful and food...I know, the airplane food was delicious!

We explored Vienna for quite a while last night and holy shamoly, it is freezing here! We walked around their city hall (which is part of why I love Europe...their city hall is gorgeous! I will post pictures as soon as can get off my camera) and watched ice skating that was magical...it was just picturesc.

We stopped into a little bar that was absolutely adorable and our waitress happened to be from California so that was wonderful...because our German is obsolete. We had pretzels and mustard and then what they are know for... spaetzel and fries and we both left happy campers. Spaetzel in my brain is a giant, flat, breaded chicken tender. Yummy!

We then explored a bit and I think found every bus lane and bike lane we could and happened to drive in them...the wrong direction...so we decided we were pooped, wanted to hit the hay and get a fresh start for the next one!   we stopped at a gas station so I could expose Shannon to some of my European favorites. They just have the most unique foods, snacks and chocolates. Although I am not a big chocolate lover, when you have the opportunity to do any kinder chocolate, DO it!

So we loaded up on the Austrian drink (not sure what is really is..maybe apple juice, grape juice, soda water and ?) paprika chips, kinder varieties and Nutella for fruit and made our way back to the hotel.

We are off to Prague tomorrow and so excited to go back. I will try and post more pictures tomorrow at a stopping spot!

-Jen