I'm back from the most wonderful vacation I have ever had.  I will post more details later.  Here are some notes.  We flew into Shannon and out of Dublin.

-  Aer Lingus was the way to fly.  There is included meal service going and coming.  Fresh pillows and blankets are provided free of charge.  The only complaint is that cabin lights were dimmed late going to allow the cabin crew to see items from the sky mall.  Customs and passport control in Shannon were a breeze.

-  Coming back US customs and passport control were done in Dublin.  We bypassed the passport lines at Boston.  However, we did have to queue up to hand in our customs declaration card in the US.  The disembarking process was very fast.

-  Dan Dooley has the longest car hire queues at Shannon.  All the other companies were devoid of customers.  Michele, do you want to take credit for this?

-  The secondary roads are all very narrow in the Republic, but wider in the North.

-  Tesco Mobile would not work on calls to our area code, 207, in the US.  The problem was still not resolved despited many calls to customer service.

-  Skype was the way to go for calls to the US.  Connections and sound quality were great.  I used the program on IPOD touch.

-  Speed limits on Irelands roads are way too fast.

-  New service plazas on the M1 were great.  There are two now.

-  Driving on the left proved challenging at times, especially when tired.  However by day 3, I felt comfortable.

-  The Irish people are the most welcoming I have ever met.

-  Eating in pubs is the only way to go.  You really get a sense of the local flavour. 

-  The Cliffs of Moher and the Giant's Causeway in the North are breath taking. 

-  The cities, especially Belfast and Dublin, are extremely confusing.  Road markings and destination signs are either not there or confusing.  If possible, park and use the bus systems.  Both cities use double decker buses, so go up top for the best views. 

-  For history buffs, visit the Museum of Free Derry and Kilmainham gaol.  These were highlights for us.

-  As has been said, there is no discernable border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.  I never felt unsafe in the North.

I have never felt more comfortable or at home as I did in Ireland.  There was a feeling of belonging and that I could easily live there without missing my home in the U.S.  The worst part of the trip was coming home.  If finances allow it in the future, we will definitely return.

Rich