We woke at 7:00 and got ready for our flight. By the time we dragged our luggage down to the lobby, it was nearly 8:00 and the shuttle to the airport was just pulling up. The shuttle was a van that could seat 7 passengers, and fortunately there were exactly 7 of us. So, it was crowded, but nobody got left behind.
We tried to check in at the self-service kiosks, but the kiosk didn't recognize our reservation number. While we were doing that a huge tour group passed by and got in line at the regular check-in desks. We got in line behind them and waited nearly an hour for our turn.
Once our checked bags were dropped off, we got through security quickly and easily, but then discovered that a gate hadn't yet been assigned for our flight. We found a seat in an airport cafe where we could keep an eye on a flight information screen, and I went to a few airport shops for some last minute shopping.
At 9:30 the display updated indicating that passengers on our flight could head to U.S. Customs (The U.S. has set up Customs in Dublin Airport so those flying into the U.S. from Ireland can pass through customs before their flight instead of after). We were surprised that our luggage needed to go through yet another x-ray, and we had to pass through yet another metal detector, but once we got through that, the rest of customs was a breeze.
For once we were fortunate enough to have our gate be the first gate of the concourse, so we grabbed some seats and waited more than an hour to board our flight. It was a nearly full flight, but there was enough overhead space above our seats for our luggage. We settled in to our seats, and mostly spent the next 9 hours watching movies. Due to heavy winds, our flight was delayed a bit taking off.
When we arrived at O'Hare, we sent a txt to my parents to let them know that the plane had landed. Then we found somewhere for Lisa to sit while I went to collect our luggage. I was astonished yet again seeing someone that seemed not to know what their own luggage looked like beyond its color. They removed every piece of gray or silver luggage from the track, looked at the labels, and then put it back on the track when they discovered it wasn't theirs. After what felt like an eternity (but was probably only 15 or 20 minutes) our luggage showed up. As I dragged the luggage over to Lisa, I found my mother standing there chatting with her.
After greeting my mother and chatting a bit about how well our labrador behaved (or didn't), she led us to our car in the parking lot. My father was there, and we greeted him. Then we got the luggage loaded into our car, and greeted our dog Louie (riding in the back seat). My parents got into their car and we followed them out of the lot. The tickets didn't seem to work properly in the reader at the exit, so we gave ours to an attendant. They couldn't get the ticket to read either, so they just charged us the minimum cost of $2 (for up to 1 hour of parking).
The rest of the drive home was uneventful. Louie seemed thrilled to be back in his own house and yard, and we were exhausted from a very long day. We had some dinner and went to sleep early.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Heading home
In the morning, we carried our luggage down to the car, took a few quick photos of the hotel, and surrounding area, and then headed back to Galway to catch our train.
I dropped Lisa off at the Starbucks in the train station, where she relaxed while I returned the rental car.
The rental car parking lot is more than a quarter mile walk from the store front. After dropping off the car and hiking back to the store I informed the employee that the headlights don't work, and I returned the GPS. Then I walked to the train station to meet up with Lisa. We hung out in a Starbucks for an hour or so while we waited for the train to be opened for boarding. Then we quickly found our seats and settled in for the 3 hour ride to Galway. When we arrived in Galway we were fortunate to find a taxi waiting just at the end of the platform. I had just barely enough euros left to pay the taxi (plus a reasonable tip), leaving us with only 70 cents worth of euros that we'd be bringing home. While the food was quite good, we were a bit disappointed with the service at the hotel restaurant. The main problem being that they were very slow and inattentive. After dinner we got our luggage prepared for the following morning's flight, distributing heavier items into the carry-on luggage to make sure that the checked luggage wouldn't be overweight. Then we tried to get some sleep knowing that we'd need to get an early start the next day.
I dropped Lisa off at the Starbucks in the train station, where she relaxed while I returned the rental car.
The rental car parking lot is more than a quarter mile walk from the store front. After dropping off the car and hiking back to the store I informed the employee that the headlights don't work, and I returned the GPS. Then I walked to the train station to meet up with Lisa. We hung out in a Starbucks for an hour or so while we waited for the train to be opened for boarding. Then we quickly found our seats and settled in for the 3 hour ride to Galway. When we arrived in Galway we were fortunate to find a taxi waiting just at the end of the platform. I had just barely enough euros left to pay the taxi (plus a reasonable tip), leaving us with only 70 cents worth of euros that we'd be bringing home. While the food was quite good, we were a bit disappointed with the service at the hotel restaurant. The main problem being that they were very slow and inattentive. After dinner we got our luggage prepared for the following morning's flight, distributing heavier items into the carry-on luggage to make sure that the checked luggage wouldn't be overweight. Then we tried to get some sleep knowing that we'd need to get an early start the next day.
Limmerick, Ennis, and Old Ground Hotel
Leaving Adare, we headed out to see St. Mary's Cathedral on King's Island in the middle of Limmerick. The church was built in the 1100's and has changed hands several times, belonging at times to the Catholics, the Anglicans, and even an armed force that used the church as a stable for their horses.
St. Mary's has the only complete set of misercords (mercy seats) left in Ireland.
We also saw a bit of King John's Castle before leaving Limmerick and continuing on to the town of Ennis.
In Ennis we discovered it was quite crowded, and found it difficult to find parking anywhere near our next destination (the Ennis Friary). Instead we headed to our hotel, got checked in, and got ready for dinner. We both agreed that this trip was probably about 3 days too long, and that we were feeling that we'd had enough site-seeing.
We headed down to the restaurant and found the contrast throughout the hotel to the level of service we'd just had at Adare to be striking. The staff seemed annoyed and rushed, and were barely helpful. I'm sure it all would have seemed fine if we hadn't just come from a place where everyone was pleasant and appeared to be eager to help in any way that they could.
We watched some television, and then rested up for the trip back to Dublin
St. Mary's has the only complete set of misercords (mercy seats) left in Ireland.
We also saw a bit of King John's Castle before leaving Limmerick and continuing on to the town of Ennis.
In Ennis we discovered it was quite crowded, and found it difficult to find parking anywhere near our next destination (the Ennis Friary). Instead we headed to our hotel, got checked in, and got ready for dinner. We both agreed that this trip was probably about 3 days too long, and that we were feeling that we'd had enough site-seeing.
We headed down to the restaurant and found the contrast throughout the hotel to the level of service we'd just had at Adare to be striking. The staff seemed annoyed and rushed, and were barely helpful. I'm sure it all would have seemed fine if we hadn't just come from a place where everyone was pleasant and appeared to be eager to help in any way that they could.
We watched some television, and then rested up for the trip back to Dublin
Hotel of the year
Virtuoso, a network of high-end travel agencies, named Adare Manor "Hotel of the Year 2018 " at their "Best of the Best" awards held in Las Vegas a few months ago back in August.
I'm not sure that Adare is actually a better hotel than any other in the entire world, but it's certainly one of the nicest that I've ever stayed in. The service was amazing, the staff was so friendly and helpful. There was a tablet computer in the room that operated everything (the lights, the TV, the curtains, ordering room service, booking restaurants or spa, etc). The hotel sits on a gorgeous 18 hole golf course, and includes several large gardens. They closed for 21 months for a complete renovation and just opened back up 11 months ago.
When we got to the entrance to the golf course, a gate attendant wished us a happy anniversary, gave us directions through the course to the courtyard in front of the hotel, and called ahead to let them know we were on our way up.
The valet took the car from us at the front door, and the porter retrieved the luggage from the trunk. The doorman showed us to the check-in desk which was an actual desk in a room, and not a counter in a lobby.
We arrived early so our room wasn't quite ready yet. Leaving our luggage with the porter, we took a walk through the gardens.
Upon returning, the receptionist guided us to our room, and showed us how to work everything from the tablet. The luggage arrived a few minutes later. The porter hung our jackets in the closet, and set our luggage out on racks. We relaxed for a bit before heading down for afternoon tea in the gallery room.
Tea was a fun experience with plenty of small sandwiches and desserts. They had dozens of tea brands and flavors to choose from. I really didn't know which to pick, so I just asked the waitress to surprise me with something she would enjoy. It was a very nice black tea with just a hint of vanilla. Lisa doesn't care for tea (or coffee), so she got a hot chocolate and a diet coke.
We returned to the room after a couple of hours to rest and enjoy the amenities. Later in the evening, we ordered room service, including brownie and ice cream desserts. They offered to bring our desserts up 45 minutes or so after the meal so that they'd be fresh and unmelted when we were ready to eat them.
When it was time to leave the next day, I lifted the handset of the phone and pressed the touchscreen button with the large Adare "A" logo. I was connected directly with reception and I explained that we were ready to depart. A porter came a few minutes later to collect our luggage. After he left, we double-checked to make sure we hadn't left anything behind, and then strolled down the hall to the main entrance. By the time we got there, our car was pulled up and our luggage was loaded in the trunk. We stopped at the reception desk to review and sign our receipt, and then headed to the car.
The porter was standing in the courtyard, so before leaving I asked him if he could take a look and see if perhaps I just didn't know how to turn the headlights on in an Irish car. He tried many of the same things that I had tried, with no success, but we attracted some attention with him calling out the driver's window "how about now?" while I stood in front of the car shaking my head "No". The valet, the doorman, and another hotel guest all wandered over and started suggesting things to try. They were all quite surprised to discover that the rental car agency would have rented me a car with headlights that didn't work.
Eventually we all agreed that the headlights just don't work, and that I should either bring the car to the nearest office for the rental car agency, or I shouldn't drive the vehicle after dark. And with that, Lisa and I were on our way to Limmerick and Ennis.
I'm not sure that Adare is actually a better hotel than any other in the entire world, but it's certainly one of the nicest that I've ever stayed in. The service was amazing, the staff was so friendly and helpful. There was a tablet computer in the room that operated everything (the lights, the TV, the curtains, ordering room service, booking restaurants or spa, etc). The hotel sits on a gorgeous 18 hole golf course, and includes several large gardens. They closed for 21 months for a complete renovation and just opened back up 11 months ago.
When we got to the entrance to the golf course, a gate attendant wished us a happy anniversary, gave us directions through the course to the courtyard in front of the hotel, and called ahead to let them know we were on our way up.
The valet took the car from us at the front door, and the porter retrieved the luggage from the trunk. The doorman showed us to the check-in desk which was an actual desk in a room, and not a counter in a lobby.
We arrived early so our room wasn't quite ready yet. Leaving our luggage with the porter, we took a walk through the gardens.
Upon returning, the receptionist guided us to our room, and showed us how to work everything from the tablet. The luggage arrived a few minutes later. The porter hung our jackets in the closet, and set our luggage out on racks. We relaxed for a bit before heading down for afternoon tea in the gallery room.
Tea was a fun experience with plenty of small sandwiches and desserts. They had dozens of tea brands and flavors to choose from. I really didn't know which to pick, so I just asked the waitress to surprise me with something she would enjoy. It was a very nice black tea with just a hint of vanilla. Lisa doesn't care for tea (or coffee), so she got a hot chocolate and a diet coke.
We returned to the room after a couple of hours to rest and enjoy the amenities. Later in the evening, we ordered room service, including brownie and ice cream desserts. They offered to bring our desserts up 45 minutes or so after the meal so that they'd be fresh and unmelted when we were ready to eat them.
When it was time to leave the next day, I lifted the handset of the phone and pressed the touchscreen button with the large Adare "A" logo. I was connected directly with reception and I explained that we were ready to depart. A porter came a few minutes later to collect our luggage. After he left, we double-checked to make sure we hadn't left anything behind, and then strolled down the hall to the main entrance. By the time we got there, our car was pulled up and our luggage was loaded in the trunk. We stopped at the reception desk to review and sign our receipt, and then headed to the car.
The porter was standing in the courtyard, so before leaving I asked him if he could take a look and see if perhaps I just didn't know how to turn the headlights on in an Irish car. He tried many of the same things that I had tried, with no success, but we attracted some attention with him calling out the driver's window "how about now?" while I stood in front of the car shaking my head "No". The valet, the doorman, and another hotel guest all wandered over and started suggesting things to try. They were all quite surprised to discover that the rental car agency would have rented me a car with headlights that didn't work.
Eventually we all agreed that the headlights just don't work, and that I should either bring the car to the nearest office for the rental car agency, or I shouldn't drive the vehicle after dark. And with that, Lisa and I were on our way to Limmerick and Ennis.
Goodbye Ballyseede
We left Ballyseede on Halloween morning to head to Adare Manor. Lisa got some pictures of the animals, hotel, and grounds as I loaded the luggage into the car.
We saw very little of bubbles while we were there. The staff informed us that she generally follows right on the heels of the hotel manager.
Mr.Higgins is a 7 years old Wolfhound, and is father to the other Wolfhound on the property, Miss Molly. In the mornings we noticed Mr. Higgins hanging out in front of the hotel barking at any cars that entered or exited at a speed that he felt was too fast. He and his daughter are no longer allowed inside the hotel, as they were stealing food from the guests tables in the restaurant, and they were walking through wedding celebrations while wet and muddy. They have full access to the entire grounds outdoors, as well as to the house that the manager lives in on the hotel property.
Miss Molly is not yet 2 years old. In the evenings she is frequently found laying in the entry way to the hotel, directly in front of the door that guests need to use to get in and out.
Here are a few more phots of the two Wolfhounds together.
Einstein is a 12 year old mix (Corgi and sheepdog). He loves to play fetch with rocks, but doesn't spend much time outside any longer. He hangs out in the bar in the evenings, and in the lobby in the mornings. A few years ago, he was dragged under a car. The result was that the top of his head was torn open and needed to be stitched closed. He still has a dark line in his fur on top of his head where the wound was.
We didn't learn the names of any of these, but they were all in a pen together all day every day in front of the hotel. It seemed that the darkest donkey was in charge, as we often saw the others following him around, and he was the first to approach us when we walked over to the pen.
Bubbles
Mr. Higgins
Miss Molly
Here are a few more phots of the two Wolfhounds together.
Einstein
Einstein is a 12 year old mix (Corgi and sheepdog). He loves to play fetch with rocks, but doesn't spend much time outside any longer. He hangs out in the bar in the evenings, and in the lobby in the mornings. A few years ago, he was dragged under a car. The result was that the top of his head was torn open and needed to be stitched closed. He still has a dark line in his fur on top of his head where the wound was.
Ponies and Donkeys
We didn't learn the names of any of these, but they were all in a pen together all day every day in front of the hotel. It seemed that the darkest donkey was in charge, as we often saw the others following him around, and he was the first to approach us when we walked over to the pen.
Hotel and grounds
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