Ireland, again!

After moving in the Milan heat in late July, it was time to head back to Ireland for the Apple Distinguished Educator conference. I loved Ireland when Mom and I went earlier in the summer, so I was super happy to go back!

Instead of heading to Dublin, I was off to Cork and it proved much more difficult to get to than many other destinations! I flew out Saturday night from Milan and received word that my flight from London to Cork had been cancelled. So I spent the night in a Heathrow hotel and was put on a flight to Shannon, Ireland the next morning. Funny, I wasn't trying to get to Shannon. Once we arrived in Shannon, they put us on a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to Cork. Hmmmmm....not exactly how I intended to get to my destination.

But, it all worked out in the end. The bus dropped us off at the Cork Airport, where I found a group of ADEs waiting for the shuttle to the resort. There were a bunch on non-smiling, non-talking men so I made friends with a bubbly blonde that looked like good company, and I was right! Lauren and I spent a lot of time together in Cork, so it was great that we met right from the start!

Lauren lives and works in London

Most of the week was spent working on Apple programs I have no idea how to use. But, I wasn't alone, thankfully. I have so much to learn. The resort was really nice, the food was heavy and plentiful, and the beer was, usually, free. (Though they did take that away one night after a broken flip flop led to a cut on the head, a hospital visit and several stern looks for those involved- and no, it wasn't me!)

Our little group from the ADE conference...
Back- John, Lauren, Marc, Shwa
Front- Me and Siobhain

Anyways, the week ended and I had an extra day before heading to the States. I had booked a room at a B&B in Cork and spent the day with another ADE waiting on his fiance to arrive from New York. We wandered Cork and found lunch at this great market and took the advice of two local ladies and hopped on the bus to Kinsale, a town on the coast. We walked to a local fort and savored some Irish cider while enjoy the view.

Kinsale Harbor

Playing with all the Hipstamatic lenses and films I bought during the week.

Charles Fort

Who doesn't like "Candy Floss"???

Shwa, showing off our last purchase in Kinsale

Next up, USA!!