Wales is beautiful!

But without Internet!!!!  I am just updating you that we are safe and I will be adding a full blog tonight when we are in London, land of wifi.

Dublin in depth Day 3

Good news!  We have all recovered from jet lag (even Louis) and now are at the opposite end of the spectrum - not being tired!!! 

Day 2 began at 7:30 where the girls ate breakfast with the other tour group while Mrs. B waited patiently next door. 😝

Oops! We did finally find each other and discussed a few optional excursions and I let the girls decide as a group what they wanted to do.

With the stipend, I am funding a little of their last night with a Paris by night river boat tour, sight seeing, and coach back to the hotel.

The girls opted for an inexpensive Jack the Ripper ghost walk and inexpensive (5£!!!!) play at the Globe theater as a "groundling"!  They decided not to do the London Eye, Wicked Broadway play, or the jaunt to the coast today (Howeth Ireland) and instead we spent a gorgeous day in the city. 

We started out in a "hop on hop off" bus tour with Renee (pronounced Ree-knee to all of "us from the states") and enjoyed her many one liners and her "simply gorgeous" ice cream from O'Brien's at Phoenix Park. We saw the herds of fallow deer and the girls observed some teenage males playing football. The moment they set foot on the grassy knoll the boys started doing sit ups, running about, and nearly impaled each other with a football as a way to impress the girls. Don't worry fathers and mothers.  They were more interested in the many furry friends they had around (photo ops with Louis and dogs being walked). 

The deer from far away. 

We then went to St. Patricks Cathedral... Beautiful!!!

where we learned about Jonathan Swift, St. Patrick, and the reformation of the church. Emma asked some great questions of Renee and we learned a ton. Oh, and saw Jonathan's death mask.

Super creepy. 

Louis, and Teagan, a student from Virginia who also didn't want to go to the shore, helped us find the post office for stamps and we have a lovely lunch at Keenleys and many photo ops around the city.

I am super tired but here are some pics of all the things we did. Ask questions in the comments because it is simply too much to write at 1 am!:)

National Art Gallery - one of monet's paintings

He wanted us to buy a suit!  People have been so welcoming here. 

Gardens from the rooftop garden

The gardens of Dublin castle

Beadey's Library

Coffee and cronuts

In a cemetary...why are we smiling!?

Cailley enjoyed her job as navigator and Malena took on the job of kaboose today. So helpful! 

Thanks to Daniela, Megan, Sydney, Caity, and Madison for welcoming Teagan to our group and for offering seats to other groups at dinner. So proud!

Thanks to the parents who commented - I read the comments to them today and lots of awwwws were shared. 

Trinity College and The Book of Kells Photos

Hello Dublin

We made it with minimal delay and we are eating lunch  in a cute shop called KC Peaches.  Louis is jetlagged. 

We gave learned how to use the euro and are about to head to trinity college to see the book of Kells.  

This is way better than the airport food and plane food!

Leave us comments!:)

We have landed in NJ!

We have landed in Newark and found the food court. Kids are picking up dinner as I babysit luggage.

The flight was a little delayed in taking off and we arrived at the busiest time of night at Newark so we had to wait to taxi to our gate but everyone seemed happy. They are enjoying Louis! 

A short layover and we will be on our redeye to Dublin. 

Great travel hacks!

From http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7561482

21 Game-Changing Hacks Every Traveler Should Know

 3 days ago | Updated 3 days ago

• Suzy Strutner Associate Lifestyle Editor, The Huffington Post

Travel hacks? Bring 'em on.

This graphic breaks down those tricks that'll simplify your trip, from planning to packing to keeping your belongings safe and sound. As always, booking tips are up to interpretation -- buying at the last minute isn't guaranteed to get you a cheaper ticket -- but they can indeed pay off. Bon voyage!

Our Trip Itenirary

Flight and Hotel Information
Tour Number	1672653-G1	Group Leader	Blackwelder
		Tour Name	Dublin, London & Paris -10Days Sunday, June 21, 2015
			Departing from Raleigh on Sunday, June 21, 2015
			Returning from Paris on Tuesday, June 30, 2015
		Tour Consultant	susan
Group Size	9	Tour Director	Mike  6/21/2015 - 6/30/2015 EMail:

Itinerary A (9 Traveler(s))
	Date	Time	City(Airport)	Flight / Transportation	Additional Flight Info	Flight has stopover(s)	Primary Confirmation Number	Paper/E-Ticket

Depart
	6/21/2015 6/21/2015	5:29 PM 7:10 PM	Raleigh Newark (EWR)	United Airlines Flight # 734			PRKRKR	E
	6/21/2015 6/22/2015	10:15 PM 10:00 AM	Newark (EWR) Dublin	United Airlines Flight # 130			PRKRKR	E

Return
	6/30/2015 6/30/2015	9:45 AM 12:10 PM	Paris (De Gaulle) Newark (EWR)	United Airlines Flight # 56			PRKRKR	E
	6/30/2015 6/30/2015	2:30 PM 4:03 PM	Newark (EWR) Raleigh	United Airlines Flight # 371			PRKRKR	E

Additional Confirmation Numbers:

For information on the baggage policy for your airline(s), please visit

www.eftours.com/student-tours/travel-preparation/packing/baggage.aspx

Traveler List

	Itinerary	Name	Account Number	Conf.Number and Ticket Number

1.	A	BERG,
2.	A	BLACKWELDER,
3.	A	BRADY,
4.	A	D'BELLA,
5.	A	GROOM,
6.	A	MICHAUD,
7.	A	PENA GUZMAN,
8.	A	SAGER,
9.	A	WATERS,

Overnight Information

From	To	Name and Address	City	Telephone	Website
6/22/2015	6/24/2015	Wilton Hotel Southern Cross Road Co. Wicklow Bray 8 Ireland	Dublin	+353 1 2760258	www.wiltonhotelbray.com/
6/24/2015	6/25/2015	Royal Hotel Llangollen Bridge Street Llangollen, Denbighshire LL20 8PG United Kingdom	Llangollen	+44 1978 860202	www.royalhotelllangollen.co.uk/
6/25/2015	6/28/2015	Premier Inn Edgware 435 Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware London HA8 FAQ United Kingdom	London	+44 208 238 5240	http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/EDGPTI/londoned gware
6/28/2015	6/30/2015	Interhotel Rueil Centre 1 place Richelieu Rueil-Malmaison, France 92500 92500 France	Paris	+33 1 47 08 20 20	www.qualityinn.com

Flight and hotel information subject to change.

To reach EF Educational Tours in the event of an emergency, and you are calling from the US, dial 1-800-637-8222 and follow the prompt for an emergency. If you are calling while abroad, dial 001-617-619-2913.

To call internationally from the US/Canada, dial 011 before desired phone number.