Planning For The Retirement Tour!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Planning For The Retirement Tour!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

A big CONGRATULATIONS on your early retirement. What better way to celebrate than almost a month in Ireland? Sounds like some fun activities already planned even this far out. Have you been to Paris before? It is beautiful. You must watch the movie Midnight in Paris.

Maybe this time you will get to stay at self-catering in Northern Ireland. Have a look at Lurganconary Organic Farm. It was fabulous.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

You can get to Paris from a few Irish airports not just Dublin. You will be limited baggage wise so may need somewhere to leave your main baggage and just go with hand luggage.

Congratulations.

Judy · Guru

OK Bob, please tell us how someone with the alias "Itallian Chauffeur" is so in love with Ireland? Was this "I married an Irish Girl" thing?

I had been to Ireland twice before I convinced my husband to go for our 25th anniversary and now you can't keep him away.

Enjoy your retirement and your trip to Ireland.

Judy M.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Tony ---

Right you are! I'm looking now at Cork to Paris -- better times, slightly lower fare AND I was planning to spend the following week, 'hunkered down' at a Self-Catering thereabouts, anyway. Saves me a 'Zig' to Dublin, immediately followed by a 'Zag' back down to Cork. biggrin biggrin

Judy -- My wife's Paternal Grand Mother (an O'Driscoll) was born in Drimoleague, Co. Cork and her Paternal Grand Father ( a Doody) in the Townland of Ivale, just outside of Millstreet, Co. Cork. She still has numerous 'Cousins' (from the O'Driscoll line) living in (mostly) East Cork.

Wife demanded that we visit there before her 50th Birthday, so we headed over, in April of 1999. I didn't object TOO much -- Ireland was always one of those 'Check the Box' destinations that I figured was worth a visit ...

I walked out of Shannon Airport, took one whiff of that peat-tinged air -- and was permenantly and irretrievably, Hooked For Life!

There's a LOT more to it than that, but ... 13 years and 14 visits later ...

And There You Are ... confuse biggrin biggrin confuse

Michele --

As of right NOW, I'm thinking:

2 nights in your Carlingford rec, at Beaufort House

2 nights in Enniskillen -- Probably Dromard House B&B

2 nights Westport

5 nights, Self Catering in Enniscrone, Sligo, through Ocean Sands Hotel -- which is the host venue for the O'Dubhda Clann Rally

1 night at a Cork Airport Hotel

4 days / 3 nights in a Short Stay Paris Apartment (3rd/4th or 5th arr.)

7-8 days at the Ivy Bridge Farm Cottage near Mallow that Bit stayed at last June

1 night at Benbulben Suites in Sligo Town, 500 metres from where the Van Concert is.

2 nights, in or near Dublin.

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Monday 16th of July 2012 04:22:30 PM

tony2phones · Guru

Ryanair fly Knock to Paris Beauvais as you are in Sligo might save the trip down to Cork but Baggage would be limited and or expensive then fly Paris to Cork?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

If you don't mind being out in the countryside I highly recommend Abocurragh Farm near Enniskillen. It is a special place. Unfortunately, it is not walking distance to any pubs or restaurants. You would need a designated driver.

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Tony -- The luggage issue is ONE reason why I am leaning toward Cork, as I can 'stash' the big bag at the Cousins' ... biggrin biggrin

I also need to drop off the car, as using my non-business MasterCard to cover the CDW / SCDW means that I am limited to 15 days or less -- per rental ... biggrin

Plus, I can save a few Euro on the total rental cost by not paying for an Irish Car Hire for the four days that I will be in Paris ... smile

Aer Lingus is 241.96 Euro for two return tickets, ORK to CDG -- including all fees. While Ryanair MIGHT work out to somewhat less, they fly into Beauvais, their rules and fees are even MORE arcane than Aer Lingus's -- AND ... it's worth a few extra Euro, for me, to encourage the limited competition ...

Such as it is ......... confuse confuse confuse

Michele -- I had settled on Dromard House (your OTHER Fermanagh pick) as it was slightly closer to Carlingford and about 15 GBP per night cheaper. The locations NOT that big an issue, to me. Is Abocurragh Farm 30 GBP better???

Obviously, this trip really isn't about pinching pennies --- but it wouldn't break my heart to find an occasional bargain, if one were to be available ... biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Judy --- I resurrected this from a LONG time ago, on a different board:

Date: 07/24/2004, 08:45 pm
Because I've grown MUCH TOO DEPENDANT upon SPELLCHECK, but you get the intent.
In Oct of '98, my wife gave me an ultimatum/ deadline -- we had to go to Ireland before her next birthday (OCT).
Both of her father's parents had been born and raised in Ireland, yet no one in her family (including her father)had ever been.
So, in April of 99, my wife, her brother, her sister (and her partner)and my father-in-law (aged 80) and I took off for an 8 day trip. All the planning, all the driving, route planning and accommodation selection was done by me. I had been so anal about the research that I printed out maps of, to/from the airports, lists and locations of attractions, historical data, etc. etc.

My 'guidebook' ran about 100 pages and whenever one of the group would ask about ANYTHING, I would tell them "It's in the book", and then quote the pertinent information. They started kidding me about being the 'Irish Tour Guide' and I would say, "No, I'm the Italian (which I am) Chauffeur!" The name didn't really stick until our last day in Ireland. We were checking into a B&B in Bunnratty and the owner asked me which room would be for which person (Like most men, I'm not allowed to make that call, it's ALWAYS up to my wife). Feeling a little silly, I replied, "You'll have to ask them, I'M JUST THE CHAUFFEUR". Nonplussed, the owner nodded and replied, "So you will be back in the morning to pick them up?"
"No," was my reply. Then I pointed to my wife (then of 28 years) and said, "I'm sleeping with her."

Ever since, I've been the Italian Chauffeur."

FYI -- We commemorated our 30th, 35th, or 40th -- and, most recently, our 41st -- during visits to Ireland. In '07 we spent a few days in Edinburgh, in '09, we sampled Amsterdam and in 2010, we spent 4 days in Wales, Salisbury, Oxford and the Cotswalds -- so we ARE 'Branching Out' a little ... biggrin biggrin

I do have plans to visit the little village West of Turin that MY ancestors called home -- SOME day ... confuse confuse confuse

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Sunday 22nd of July 2012 08:03:08 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

You might want to send an email to Bernie at Abocurragh asking about rates for October. Mention my book and the rates at Dromard. I see on the website the rates listed at £32.50 - £35.00 for Abocurragh. I would think it would be the lower one for October. It is really nice and breakfast is wonderful.

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

OK -- Now that I've FINALLY finished my Trip Report for last April --- hmm hmm

Updates ---

Arrive DUB 7:15 AM on 4 October. Rental booked with Dan Dooley for Ford Focus Class, manual, waiving CDW. Prepaid through the NJ office in $US, to both avoid Foreign Transaction Fees AND to not have a CC bill come due while I am away ... biggrin biggrin

2 nights in Carlingford at Beaufort House Guesthouse.

2 Nights ar Abocurragh Farm (Wife saw the web site and read Michele's comment -- and that was all she wrote!)

1 night at Breaffey House Hotel, Castlebar

1 night Belleek Castle Hotel, Ballina (O'Dubhda Clan connections).

5 nights self-catering in 2 bedroom, seaside apartment connected to Ocean sands Hotel, Enniscrone, Sligo. Ocean Sands is host hotel for O'Dubhda Clan Rally.

1 night (as yet, Unbooked) near Cork Airport (15 October)

16 October, Aer Lingus flight, ORK to CDG Prepaid, seats reserved, carry-on ONLY -- 2 tickets, Multi City, ORK-CDG, BRU-DUB - 223.96 - All In.

2 nights at Hotel Beaugency, 21 Rue Duvivier, Paris -- near Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides

Thalys (High Speed) Train to Bruges, via Brussels Midi. Prepaid and Prebooked. 2 tickets -- 72 Euro

1 night at Duc de Bourgogne, 300 meters from the Bell Tower

1 night at Sheraton Airport Hotel, Brussels

20 October -- Aer Lingus flight BRU to DUB arriving Dublin at 10:50. Collect Ford Focus Class manual, no CDW from Dan Dooley -- Prepaid.

Drive to Mourneabbey, County Cork for one week at Ivey Bridge Farm Cottage, 2 bedroom, Self-Catering. (Bit - Cowboy Craic - stayed here on her last trip over)

27 October-- Drive to Sligo

1 night Glasshouse Hotel near Town Center -- Bank Holiday Weekend AND SligoLive Weekend!

1 night Benbulben Suites Outside of town, but walking distance to Van Morrison Concert on night of 28 October. I booked this the same day that I bought my tickets, but now, the 27th was NOT available!!!

Drive to Dublin on 29 October -- 2 nights at Premier Inn, Swords. Will return car on morning of 30 October.

31 October -- 07:40 DEPARTURE from DUB on Delta, to ATL. Connecting flight onward to GNV

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sounds like a great retirement trip, Bob. Glad to hear you are staying at Abocurragh. It is special. Tell Bernie "hello" from me. I haven't seen her in a while. I will be interested in your comments about Belleek Castle. Take lots of photos!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Michele -- Will pass on your regards. Bernie seemed very nice when I spoke with her on the phone.

I have set myself a new goal. Depending upon the source, there are either 52, 55, or 66 ( confuse confuse confuse confuse ) Round Towers throughout Ireland. I intend to visit ALL of them! biggrin biggrin

Bob

JeanneV · Member

How exciting! This will be a wonderful "gift" for you and your wife--and you are both SO young! I can't wait to read your Trip Report upon your return! I enjoyed your April Trip Report so much. Congratulations of these two milestones and Happy Planning and Traveling on your upcoming adventure!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

If anyone can find even more round towers it will be you! Perhaps you will make history and discover a new one. biggrin It will - of course - have to be named after you.

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Well, 'Alrighty Then' ---

Did my last day at work on Friday, 28 Sept and survived the Post-Work Party that followed to Commemorate my 28 Years of service.

Finalized my planning -- including the Booking of the cork Airport travelodge for my empty, 15 October, Pre- Flight to Paris.

Notified the Credit Union and Credit Card Folk. smile

Finalized my Itinerary and Routing, including annotating any worth-while 'Detours' along the way -- should time permit. confuse confuse

Packed, pre-weighed bags, then re-packed and re-weighed ... aww aww

So, now, there's not much else to do until we leave for the airport about 2 PM, tomorrow ...

Except Second-Guess just about EVERYTHING !!!!!! confuse biggrin biggrin furious biggrin biggrin confuse

If anyone is 'OVER' and our paths Cross, I can be reached at 087 949 2207 ---

IF, Vodaphone hasn't MUCKED UP my account -- AGAIN! biggrin biggrin

In the magic words of Ciaran Wynne --- "Think of me -- When the Mornin' come yawnin'

"I'll think of you -- When the evenin' comes 'round"

Bob

tony2phones · Guru

Congratulations on your retirement and beginning of a new stage. Have a good Holiday.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

Happy retirement. Bon voyage. Have a safe and wonderful trip to Ireland and beyond.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

Just seeing this!

Comhghairdeas leat, mo chara, ar do eachtraíochta nua! D'fhéadfadh sé a bheannaigh agus gach súil agat é a bheith.

(Congratulations to you, my friend, on your new adventure! May it be blessed and all you hoped it to be.)

I hope that Ivy Birdge lives up to your expectations. The folks there are a true delight! I was very pleased with my find.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Checking in via the Wi-Fi at the Mullingar Park Hotel, after a rather bizarre detour into Newbridge, while making my way from Mallow, to Sligo .... confuse confuse confuse

Only ME ... biggrin biggrin

Bit -- Elizabeth and I had a long chat about YOUR visit ... She mentioned that she had lost your contact info and was inquiring after how things were going. I told her that I would forward her families' kind regards and let you know that they would like to hear from you -- so you might want to email her.

Loved our 2 bedroom cottage and discussed renting the 3 bed that YOU rented, when we bring our son and grandson over.

Thanks for finding Ivey Bridge -- it's a real gem!! biggrin

Bob

CowboyCraic · Guru

Mallow to Sligo via Newbridge...I see the Faeries were having a go at ya!

I am so glad that you enjoyed Ivy Bridge and her people. It felt like leaving family when we left there last year. I will definitely send an email to bring them up to speed. Some of the news will be sad, to be sure, as they grew fond of FLANO's brother who has since passed.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bit,

Sorry to hear about Flano's brother. May he RIP.

Michele