May 8, 2025 Nambahlicious Girls Trip to Ireland. Part 1. Departure from Santa Clara to SFO.
A long-planned ladies trip to Ireland š®šŖ for Mandella (being 100% Irish) to connect to her family roots is happening now!!!
Delicious Panda Express was brought by Mandella and FaraāAsha for dinner on the Veranda so Bahira didnāt have to cook. Deeeeelish!! We all wanted to be together for some fun before we left the next morning.
The blue-birds of happiness joined us on The Veranda!
Good Fortunes all around: for Mandella and...
FaraāAsha! Nice nail polish.
After dinner we watched Bram Stokerās āDraculaā.
The old original Hollywood movie.
ā¦With Bela Lugosi, the most iconic vampire ever!!! Writer Bram Stoker lived in Sligo, and wrote āDraculaā in Dublin with that setting in mind. Sweet Dreams until the morningā¦Not!! š¦
We made it through the night to have a quick breakfastā¦
ā¦loaded the luggage in back of the Bahira Van andā¦
...Sultan Dave drove us to SFO.
Weāre stoked and ready!
Headed to Boston for connection to Dublin.
Made it to Boston, heading for our next leg.
Bused to the next terminal.
Nambahlicious Ireland Part 2, āGetting There?ā The Girls had an uneventful flight getting to Boston close to midnight, but upon arrival, the whole ball of yarn unraveled! -- and we don't mean our Nambah hair! Our connection to Dublin was paused in mid-boarding when we arrive at the gate, with half the plane aboard and the other half waiting at the gate: Mechanical problems - broken AC on board. We waited, and waited, and waited to resume our boarding, but it was not meant to be. Flight cancelled. No dinner OR Ireland for us today! Yikes! Rescramble for the the entire airplane travelers. By this time, without a dinner and tired beyond belief, we were given hotel and transportation to hotel vouchers and arrived at our hotel at 5:30 A.M. We got a total of two hours of sleep before having to return to the airport for reassignment at 7:30 A.M.
2025, May 9-10-? Nambahlicious Ireland Part ? Not sure where or when we are!! San Francisco to Boston to Minneapolis to Dublin: we crossed the US so many times I donāt know what time zone we were/are in!!
Made it to Minneapolis (I think) for our cross country (again) to Ireland. We are not sure if weāre coming or going, East or West, breakfast or dinner!
How about lunch in Minneapolis!
Burgers and fries - we must still be in the USA!
Donāt ask me what day it isā¦.
Next: A wild ride to the gate, hopefully, to Ireland.
They gave us good seats for our last and longest leg of our adventure.
A first for Mandella!
Pre takeoff cheers.
Dinner: Squash Cannelloni for Mandella and FaraāAsha.
Chicken for Bahira.
8 hours until we touched down in Ireland. We tried to catch up on our sleep.
Finally! Made it to Dublin!
Waiting at the train station in Dublin for our last transfer to Sligo.
Or are we going somewhere else? What day is it? Where are we??? What time is it????? What planet are we on????? Stay tunedā¦..
May 10, 2025 Nambahlicious Ireland Part 3 - Arrival in Dublin! Saturday Finally! Took a taxi to the train station, bought our tickets and had coffee while we waited for our train to arrive to take us to Sligo.
Definitely on Irish soil! Verifying what day it isā¦
Time to head to the train station.
For our 3 hour ride to Sligo!
FaraāAsha Seating assigned.
Mandella next.
...And Bahira.
Found our seats.
We canāt sit together. š
But the views were varied and beautiful!
Fields and trees.
Lakes.
Pastureland and villages.
This was my opposite seat mate. A young (and handsome) Dominican monk on his way to the Abbey in Sligo. Iām on my best behavior for this 3 hour ride! Mind you, I am wearing my āAllahā gold necklace and Day of the Dead earrings. Iām not sure who was afraid of whom! When I first got on, he was reading the Bible and silently saying his prayers. I couldnāt look him in the eyes so I took 5 zillion pictures out the window!
We made it to Sligo! Our BnB is in a strip of cute houses.
This one is ours!
The river is on our front doorstep !
With birdies galore.
Peaceful white swans.
Bahira left the house to try and catch the sunset. This is the full Moon rise!
Mallards on the water.
Too late! 9:23 pm. The sun had set already, but it was beautiful anyway! So happy to have finally made it. We are pooped!
Nambahlicious Ireland, Part 4 May 10, 2025| We dumped all our baggage and headed to the local grocery store for our munchies and beverages.
Having unpacked and settling in after shopping at the local grocery store, it was Bahiraās night to make dinner while we set up our Nambahlicious Flag and made plans.
Electric kitchen. Bahira made dinner tonight. Broiled steaks with salad.
FaraāAsha set the table.
Cheers everyone!
We read the Nambah Newsā¦
And relaxed with wine and plan makingā¦.
...until Mandella fell asleep at the computer! Time for bed!! More fun tomorrow!!
May 11, 2025. Nambahlicious Ireland. Part 5-a āFirst Full Day in Sligo.ā After laughing ourselves silly last night at dinner (we were so relieved to have finally arrived), we woke up in the morning after deeeeep sleep and made ready to explore Sligo.
Mandella started her tradition of having a pot of coffees ready first thing in the morning. Mandella bought coffees made in Ireland and fresh Irish Cream.! Heavenly.šāļøā
Making ourselves beautiful..
Ok, ā¦acceptable!
All bundled up and ready to explore.
Walking through Sligo to get oriented.
At the Hyde Bridge into town.
We found the Sligo Abbey!
This will be a separate post later. So much history, culture and stories to tell about it!
We found where my Monk was heading.
The Dominican House. Present day.
Checking out bars to hit in the evening.
Beautiful, quaint and very clean streets. (It was Sunday so everything was closed and the streets quiet).
We started feeling peckish so decided on lunch at the Flip Side: burgers & shakes.
Mandella and ...
...Fara'Asha showing off their "Flip Sides."
The Flip Side's menu was fabulous...With loaded French fries.
Bahira was really getting into shakes! Yummm.
...and Mandella enjoyed her Sundae (Sunday), too! (...or is it three?)
Onward in Sligo, the Nambah gals refused to settle, Bahira had to call the police to cuff them and take them to the Station!
FaraāAsha fought back. āIāve been framedā¦.!ā
What am I going to do with these naughty girls?
āGuess I have to bust them out from the police station!ā
All the leprechauns cheered!
Mister Stork showed us the way home.
Upriver from the Bridge.
I prayed that the Nambah Girls would change their evil ways.
Up the River...
...Past the tomb.
Home! Where Mandella started our Irish Stew dinner, with a little salt!
May 11, 2025 Sunday. Nambahlicious Ireland Part 5-b Continued: Going deeper into our Sligo town.
Colorful doors where the handles are all in the center of the door!
We never got to this far off cathedralā¦next time!
Heading toward our condo.
A couple of chicks (and three swans).
Our town: Sligo!
Home again. Mandella started on our Irish Stew for tomorrow.
May 11, 2025. Nambahlicious Ireland Part 6, āSligo Abbey & Count Draculaā The original Abbey (actually āThe Priory of the Holy Crossā) was founded in 1252 for the friars of the Dominican Order and it was accidentally destroyed by a candle fire in 1414. It was immediately rebuilt in its present form and used by them for another 2 centuries, adding on many outer buildings: kitchen, dorms, library, etc. In 1642, the town was sacked and the āabbeyā almost completely destroyed. It was abandoned in 1698 although the friars maintained a presence there until 1763 when a new site was found for the present day Priory in the City of Sligo at Pound Lane (where my train monk was headed!) By the 19th cty, the abandoned Priory property became the Sligoās main city cemetary. The Cholera Epidemic of 1832 and its correlating increase in deaths and burials at the Abbey was witnessed by the mother of Bram Stoker (of Dracula fame) whose reaccounting of these events inspired him to create that iconic novel.
And now...the magic that is Sligo Abbey, Ireland.
A panoramic shot of the Sligo Abbey.
The high alter. That would have been a stained glass window.
The cloisters.
Originally at medicinal garden for the monks.
Later used as a graveyard.
The walkway around the garden grounds.
Looking toward the main alter and window. The roof is gone so the bell tower is visible.
The Cloisters was my favorite place.
Mandella felt the same way.
Thoughts flowing back through to the past.
Giving a feeling of belonging and tranquility. A very sacred spot.
Mandella touching the Lovers Knot for good luck in love.
FaraāAshaās turn! I didnāt need to (Love you Dave!)
This nook was called the Readerās Desk.
Mandellaās Family name is Conner. Changed from O'Connor in the USA. These are probably her people!
The O'Connor monument is just to the right of the high alter. Pretty impressive!
The OāCrean Family Monument. This was very interesting.
The crucifix with Jesus is in the center below with six different saints on either side. See if you can identify each one from what they are holding or doing.
Gravestones everywhere.
Look for the dates.
ā1827ā
Parts and pieces of grave stones set in to nooks, make a perfect hiding places for Leprechauns.
Zoom in, and tell me the year!
Squint your eyes ?
Try again.
Yikes! What does this symbol mean? Greek letters for J E S. The first three letters in Jesusās name!
So many carved stones!
Each means something for the family. Dave said that this would be Bahira's stone. LOL
Cherubim.
Cherubim again.
Family crest?
Love Knot.
1888. Aged 68. Ripe old age! Iād be dead already!
Bahira stopping for a repose at the beautiful area before we leave Sligo Abbey.
Fara'Asha taking in all the beauty.
We bid this little dandelion goodbye and headed further into town.
The Red Dress. May 12, 2025. Fara'Asha & Mandella ventured out early Tuesday morning in search of a bag to use as a personal item on the plane, as the original one got lost. We came upon this exhibit which we had seen advertised a few days ago. So amazing! So glad we found it.
The announcement outside City Hall.
Front view.
Back view.
Right side view.
Left side view.
The write-up. So fascinating and special.
Such a thrill to see!
On our way back from seeing the Red Dress exhibit, we came across a must-do photo op! YES! We are HOOKED ON SLIGO.
Mandella is hooked!
...and so is Fara'Asha!
Monday, May 12, 2025. Nambahlicious Ireland Part 7. āIrish Stew & Pubsā. Since it was Monday morning we went back into town to see what was open.
There are many Passage tombs around the city of Sligo, in fact, the largest concentration of them in Ireland. But they were too far outside town for us to visit in the short time we had there.
There is one, however, in the town, one that is quite worn down, but is proudly displayed at a round-about nearby.
Only the circle of stones on a hill is leftā¦
But the residents are proud of it and have marked it with modern religious monuments.
I wonder what the Neolithic people who built it would say about this?
On we trekked into town.
We found a wonderful antique store!
Like a museum whose exhibits we could touch!
Some fine things but our suitcases were small!
How about a piano for a souvenir?
A hooded crow fishing on the river.
An Irish Stew for dinner at our BnB made by a real Irish girl! Thank you Mandella.
It was delicious and there was enough for two nights dinner!
Now it time for pub hopping. First: Shoot The Crows
Very quiet inside, our bartender was very friendly.
Bahira had gin & tonic.
Mandella had a whiskey and coke.
And FaraāAsha had a Guinness! We each had a swallow of it so we could say we tried one.
Cheers!
It was very quiet inside this pub so the barkeep turned on some recorded Irish music for us.
We did like the T-shirts and Sweatshirts for sale.
Mandella, although drunk on 1 tablespoon of whiskey and coke, zoomed in the the CROW lamp.
Such intricate detail right down to the tailfeathers.
After we finished our first bar, we walked across the street to Gracieās Bar. Not exactly a bar crawl night!
But they had live musicā¦!
Bahira had my first Guinness. It was growing on her!
Mandella loved the music.
May 13, 2025, Tuesday, Nambahlicious Ireland Part 8-a āMagical Sligo.ā Our last full day in Sligo, Ireland, we cleaned up our BnB, did laundry and decided to have dinner in for our last night (Mandella made a gallon of Irish Stew the day before and it was out of this world!). Here are some shots of our very comfortable BnB!
The living room.
Our dining table.
Stairs to the upper rooms and bathroom.
Mandellaās room.
FaraāAshaās room.
Upstairs bathroom.
Bahiraās room downstairs (my knees donāt do stairs anymore).
Bahira's bathroom downstairs.
A little laundry room! ...where we figured out the last day that there was NOT an extra washer or dryer, but that was where the dishwasher was. LOL
And the tiny kitchen where Mandella worked her culinary magic!
Whoās hungry for breakfast? We have a lot to do ahead.
We had a quick breakfast of bits and bobs of leftover food. Weāll be done in a catās blink!
Eggs, bacon, and leftover pancakes. Yum!!
Magically, we then transformed ourselves into our Nambahlicious Fairy Identities and moved into the fantasy portion of our travels!
Here is serene FaraāAshaā¦
Mystical Mandellaā¦
And Regal Bahira! Travel with us to the Nambahlicious adventure that started on The Veranda on Halloween Night 2024, back in California, USA!
Over the groaning board table, we flew our Nambahlicious pirate flagā¦
ā¦ate our magical Irish stewā¦
ā¦and traveled back in time to the land of mystical fairies, leprechauns and beautiful beings!
The Sligo garden came alive for us!
ā¦a beautiful Irish Wonderland unfoldedā¦
Magic was in the air!
Cheers to the Nambahlicious Ladies in Sligo Ireland!
Ireland will never be the same!
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Nambahlicious Ireland Part 8-b āAdventures in Fairylandā Having eaten lightly (as fairies do) we ventured out to find a beautiful meadow in which to weave our fairy magic.
It did not take long! Ireland is full of beautiful spaces!!
Bahira sat down to feel the velvet green grassā¦
ā¦to listen to the tiny white flowers singing.
FaraāAsha found a holly bushā¦
ā¦and caressed its shiny leaves.
Come sit with me a whileā¦
ā¦the evening is young!
Mandella listened to the wind in the treesā¦
They were calling to her. āYou are finally home!!ā They said.
Now you see why fairies wear green. It makes us hard to see! But we are here!!
ā¦I become one with the forest
ā¦and feel the joy of the world around me!
ā¦Fairies are also capable of mischief!
I have an idea! Letās put all our good magic togetherā¦ā¦stir it aroundā¦.
ā¦and let it fly on the breeze!
Away it goes!
Up up up!
ā¦higherā¦
...and higher
ā¦go! Go far into the World!
You are very much needed out there!! ā¤ļøš®šŖš
We love you Mandella! May you always bring magic to the World! šš
With our fairy work concluded, we headed back to town.
I think he approved our shinanigans!
...and finally to the famous Blue Lagoon bar near our condo...
...where we stopped for our last drinks in Sligo.
The bartender allowed us to go behind the bar and see the world from his perspective.
Lovely lamps.
Bahira had her first WHOLE Guinness! She has now acquired the taste!
That about sums it up for Sligo! Tomorrow, on to Dublin!!
May 14, 2025 Monday Nambahlicious Ireland Part 9 āDublin Arrival and Shenanigansā
Sligo train stationā¦so excited for Dublin!
Our round trip tickets.
We made it on! So exciting!
And weāre off!
Headed for The Temple Bar Inn in Dublin, we dumped our luggage and headed OUT!
OMG! These are everywhere!
Proof we were here.
But our stomachs were empty and this looked perfect for our first Dublin meal.
So happy!
So hungry!
So thirsty!
Bring it on!
Cottage Pie -- a Classic dish! Weāll have three please!
Dive in!
Canāt wait!
In Heaven!
After lupper (lunch/supper) we went exploring.
So much to see.
Bakery.
Churches.
Haāpenny Bridge.
Restaurants.
Street art?
We met Mark and his horse Bob outside a bar.
Bob the horse.
Deep in negotiations with Mandella.
All aboard! Mark took us on a fantastic tour of the area.
Haāpenny Bridge behind me.
Beautiful old buildings.
Mark knew just about everyone we ran into. His accent was so iconic!
Mandella is in love ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø Seeing Dublin by horsie carriage ride was simply amazing.
Lots of pubs and restaurants to explore.
Government buildings.
Stores.
Bobās your uncleā¦.if heās not your horse!
Thanks for the ride, Mark!
Now we're looking for Irish actionā¦
Live music!
Imps (or goblins?)
Lemme pinch that cute cheek!
Can't get enough of listening to the Irish vibe that is live music!
Who is that playful one resting on my head?
Giddy up!
Rideāem Cowgirl!
Yippee ki yay!
Whatās behind the Green Door?
More fun!
All smiles for the fabulous Irish performer!
We're here -- still can't believe it!
May 15, 2025: An early morning stop at a fun little coffee shop where Mandella & Fara'Asha bought an extra suitcase to check when we return.
Our artful coffees were entitled: Where Does Male Meet Female? In Dublin Ireland, of course!
Cute sandwich board sign outside the coffee shop.
A quick shot outside the front window.
Enjoying the view at our table inside.
Loving all the double-decker busses as they whizz by!
Our beautiful Dublin all around.
On our way back to our hotel to get Bahira, a local saw how excited we got to take photos. So he took one of us. He said "You girls still got it."
May 16, 2025 Nambahlicious Ireland Wednesday Part 10-a āDay 2 in Dublinā We got up āearlyā and began our walk around around the Temple Bar area.
We hatched our dayās plans in the hotel lobby while having our morning coffee.
Tanked and ready to roll.
The mastermind has an idea!
Hereās the planā¦..says Mandella.
ā¦we take off and the photographer follows!
Need any Euros?
St. Andrews Church (now a tourist information office).
It certainly looks magnificent! The Molly Malone statue has been relocated here.
Everyone touches her breasts for good luck. āCockles and mussels, alive, alive-o!!ā Mandella went to gently rest her head against her breast. A fleeting moment of class on her part. LOL LOL LOL
We then headed for the College.
Beautiful campus!
Quite large, too, right smack in the middle of Dublin!
We were told to go check out the City Hall, often overlooked.
The steps to city hall.
Huge doors!
They were rightā¦
The inside was indeed lovely!
The stained glass cupola was stunning!
And the marble statues of statesmenā¦
Finely detailed.
We were the only ones there(except for a guard).
Beautiful details on the outside too!
Intricately carved capitols.
Onward!!
Cool mosaic.
A street handicraft fair.
Bahira spotted a craft market a block from our hotel at Temple Bar Inn.
Bahira is in her element among other talented artists, and found a treasure.
She found just what she was looking for.
Wrap it up -- she'll take it!
When youāre hot, youāre HOT!!
A leprechaun whispered to Mandella where we could find some Irish dancing, so off we went!
May 15, 2025 Thursday Nambahlicious Ireland Part 10-b āDublin Dancing.ā
The magnificant MERCHANT'S ARCH.
Our reserved table had our names on it. Right in front. Fabulous view of the show.
Let's go up the stairs. Whoa!
Iām getting dizzy!
Like going down/up Aliceās rabbit hole!
I think we found it!
Ta da!
Ok. The music is starting.
Here come the dancing girls!
Now the lessons.
So much fun! I was hoping to find set dancing -- and we did!
These were some of the ones I was taught while taking lessons in the Bay Area.
Wish we could do this every day.
š The Dancing Girls' Graduationš!
Finding our way back was fun!
And suggestiveā¦
Whiskey anyone?
How about this one?
We made it out but found ourselves asking for helpā¦
Excuse me, can you tell us where we might have dinner?
This way??? Ok!
No thanks!
May 15, 2025 Thursday Nambahlicious Ireland Part 10-c āFine Dining in Dublin.ā We passed this Restaurant on our way to the Irish Dance Show.
Bahira's style of hoopty doo!
She said she would treat us to some āfine diningā after the Dance Show - letās see what Dublin can do!
Impressive doorā¦check.
Large airy barā¦.check.
Delicious drinks, check! Cheers, Girls!
This was a āBack Burnerā with tequila for FaraāAsha.
Bahira had a āGold Fashionā Yum!
Mandella had a āDublin Callingā with apricot and Teeling whiskey. We had to order food in order to sit at the bar! So we munched on olives while they readied our table.
The bar was impressive!
ā¦and all of the wait staff were handsome!
Bahira was amazed that the ice cube in her drink was frozen to the glass bottom. The bartender said he had to hand carve each one to fit the glasses each morning. Yes, she had two! Mind your own business!! LOL
Mandellaās whiskey. Such cute bottles.
SlƔinte!
The dining room was magnificent. Mandella was a bit tipsy here, being a non-drinker having consumed only about 2 tablespoons of her drink, but she wanted to experience it all in Ireland! LOL
And, again, waiters were cute!
There was a massive cupola overhead.
Like a big eyeball in the sky!!
Appetizers first. Shrimp š¦ cocktail with buttered toast.
Crab š¦ on toast with green salad.
Bahira ordered grilled beefš„© marrow with carmelized onions. Bahira's favorite!
We had to have chips, of course! This is Dublin after all.
ā¦To go with the grilled prime rib steak Bahira & Fara'Asha shared.
It was a little chewy, but very flavorful. With au jus!
ā¦.And the dessert!
Pretty!! You too, Mandella!
Can we please dive in?š
Oh my God! Thanks, girls, for indulging my expensive tastes. Iām happy now!!š
May 16, 2025 Nambahlicious Ireland Thursday Part 11-a āWalkabout to The Dublin Palaceā
Bahira took up her usual position, guarding the rear(s) as we set out to see some more sights!
Street tunnels.
On-going pavement repairs.
A parade of Nutcakes!!
We found our way to the old Palace and waited for the doors to open.
Reporting for guard duty!
Nothing gets past Mandella!
Attention!!! "Yes Mam!"
The main gate to the inner courtyard.
Pano of the Palace courtyard.
Weāre in!! Up the regal stairs. No elevators here!
Lots and lots of portraits.
Iām famous!
Lavish gold details.
Antiques and paintings.
The Parlor/waiting room.
Looks like a vase Bahira has at home!
I fit right in.
Looking out to the courtyard.
Cards anyone? Maybe quoits?
Opulence everywhere.
I wonder how much that weighs? And who cleans it??
The throne in the reception room.
Do not sit there!
Dining reception hall for dignitaries.
I would have liked to see the kitchen, but that was not possible.
These are on the ceiling!!
Panorama of The Wedgewood Room
Gorgeous statues. I loved this pale blue!
The Record (as in State Papers) Tower on the right.
Some history on the Record Tower.
A bit on the Chapel Royal.
The Chapel Royal designed by Francis Johnston in 1814.
In the back, another one of the 4 towers around the castle.
Those were āThe Good Old Days.ā
May 16, 2025 Nambahlicious Ireland Thursday Part 11-b "On The Liffey River." Our next objective was to visit the Jeanie Johnston which was moored very close by on The Liffey River. The Jeanie Johnston made 24 safe crossings of the Atlantic in her time without a single loss of life, bringing refugees from Ireland to the New World. On her 25th crossing she began to take on water and slowly began sinking. Everyone gathered on deck as her hull took on water, and the Captain climbed up the tallest mast to look for help. It came at the last minute and all were rescued by another ship. The survivors watched as the original Jeanie Johnston slipped slowly below the waves forever, having the record of never losing a life at sea.
She was originally a three mast, tall cargo ship in the mid 1800ās, but when the great Emigration from Ireland began midcentury, her cargo hold was converted for passenger travel across the Atlantic to the New World.
This was an accurate complete replica of the original ship. Absolutely beautiful! Built in Quebec, Canada by Scottish born shipbuilder John Munn in 1847.
All aboard!
Did I mention ātallā?
Wow!
Replicated down to every detail.
Our tour guide was very young, handsome and knowledgeable (the way we likeāem!) He gave us a wonderful accounting of the history of the ship and its many journeys across the Atlantic.
Like going back in time.
My favorite place!!
There were realistic mannequins set up below decks to help us understand the conditions the ship sailed under.
They really gave a visual for how difficult and lonely the voyage really was.
The Captainā¦
Reading the Bible to probably mostly illiterate passengers.
It was a long and rough, monotonous trip across the Atlantic.
They were more concerned with conditions and safety than making money.
Sailors had to be knowledgeable and well versed in the ships rigging to operate the complexity of the sails!
This ship was an accurate replica of the original Jeanie Johnston.
Sleeping arrangements: head-to-toe, close quarters and probably in shifts.
No bathing facilities except for salt water on deck. And a bucket for latrine below deck which was emptied several times a day. Each passenger got one meal a day.
The only baby ever born on the Jeanie Johnston. His mother named him after every one of the sailors on the ship in gratitude for their care and safe arrival! This image of Bahira transports us as seeing an angel through time.
We did stamp our Nambahlicious temporal passports before the ship tour.
Check check check.
And presented them to the staff. Yes, we are kookie and love every minute of it! Nambahlicious Ladies rule!
We were allowed to disembark in the New World!!
Figurehead of The Jeanie Johnston.
We could have been part of the crew!
Love and Fun !
More adventures ahead!
I know it is tough, but the Captain will get you there safe and sound. Look me up when you get to America!
May 16, 2025 Nambahlicious Ireland Part 11-c āMiscellaneous Last-Day Hoorahs!ā Lunch, EPIC Museum, Jewelry making and dinner before heading home to pack. We leave early in the morning!! š
We said goodbye to Jeanie Johnston
And have a last final waveš
Lunch at The Harbor Master nearby. Yum!! Salad for Mandella.
Indian curry and rice for FaraāAsha!
Steak and Fries for Bahira. Yum!!
Mandella put in a special order of Curried Chips, which was not on their menu, because of all the mentions in the Irish book series she read!
Now she knows what all the fuss was about in these books!
We had to file a complaint with our server because this menu item was not delivered. š¤¤
Since we were right next to the Epic Museum, we decided to check it out. ...and, yes. It is because We are EPIC!
It featured the history of the Irish Emigration to the Americas and was considered one of the best interactive museums in the world.
Mandella and FaraāAsha were in line for this adventure.
It featured many āhands onā displaysā¦
ā¦in many rooms we could wander about.
Darn! These girls are always getting into trouble!
Hard job keeping these girls on the Straight and Narrow!
The whole museum was underground.
Our EPIC Passport. We received a stamp for each of the rooms on the tour.
The "Music & Dance: Sharing the Tradition" gallery. The EPIC Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin displays music albums. This section explores how Irish music and dance have impacted the world, particularly through the diaspora, and features albums from iconic Irish artists like The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, The Kellys, Phil Lynott, The Pogues, and the Irish Rovers. I was super excited to see Bruce Springsteen's album displayed as well. Yay.
When the tour was complete, the rooms emptied out into the gift shop.
A lady in the gift shop asked us about our hair pieces and requested a photo. We always say āyes!ā to photos!!
Onwardā¦to the next adventure! Fara-Asha researched this and was able to find a shop in Dublin which offered classes in silver jewelry making!
They had beautiful pieces inside, but we wanted to make our own!
What fun!
Bahira is ready!
Mandella with the saw and mallot ready to pound the ring into shape.
Fara'Asha ready to strike.
The Nambahlicious Ones are all set to rock it.
We started with this flat piece of silver featuring the iconic Claddagh āheart in handsā and were instructed on how to bend it, solder it and hammer it into the proper size. We sawed off a small bit at each end for sizing.
We did the first bending...
...and it magically comes into shape with slow persistence.
Ta da.
How cool that the flame changes the color from silver to hot pink.
...A little polishing to finish it off. Beautiful.
Bahira wore hers with the crown facing out for protection in love since she is married. The other girls, being single, wore the ring with the heart open outward to accept love coming in!
Showing off our finished rings.
Our last dinner in Ireland! This was the best Tapas Bahira ever had (and she has been to Barcelona!)
Out for Tapas with our matching rings at Salamanca in Dublin. Friends forever. šāļø
Sangria first.
Jamon and cheese.
Deep fried anything is good!
Dips
Shrimp. Mandella inhaled most of these. LOL
Mushrooms.
Stuffed peppers. Yes we were so stuffed by the end of the meal we waddled our way back to our room to get some sleep for our early departure in the morning. We had to leave at 3:00 A.M. to get to the airport to head back to the U.S.
As tired as we were, Mandella & Fara'Asha decided to slip out one last time to listen to some live music at a bar. While we were at the bar, a man came up to us and asked, "Hello ladies, where is the jacks?" I was not intimidated because I read all my Irish books! LOL So I was prepared when they mentioned that some men will come up to Americans to get a confused reaction from them. But we simply said, "We just got here, so maybe try upstairs." he he he he he His fun was destroyed, so off he went. š
Ireland will be a part of us forever! Hope to see more of you some day.
