DAY 1: How's the crack?

"Crack cocaine?" "No. Are you having a good time?" "Ahhhh. Yes! Cheers!"

Craic- Irish term used for going/hanging out at a pub. "How's it going?"

Arrived in Shannon at 6 am Tuesday morning. Picked up by Tomas O'Grady (diiiiiiistant cousin, by marriage, 8 times removed) and took a short tour around Ennis where he lives.

Took a cat nap as I could hardly stay awake and headed to the famous Cliffs of Moher. Let me preface that the weather was SHIT. Gale force winds. Tsunami-style. Walked up the limestone stairs like a sumo wrestler, trying to keep my skin-tight jeans from blowing off. They say there are alot of suicides up there.... NO KIDDING? You may not have a choice! Scene was breathtaking... I think... through the horizontal freezing rain and blond hair in my eyes, it looked marvelous.

Stopped for some chowder at the famous O'Connors in Doolin. Spotted a "SKI THE FISH- Whitefish, Montana" bumper sticker and felt right at home.

Driving along the coast reminded me of the PCH in Cali... windy, car sick roads with rolling green hills... until I saw a herd of fat sheep with big blue asses. Apparently this is how they "brand" their sheep vs. tagging their ears. I can see it now, two farmers arguing over cornflower blue and cyan... "That's my blue sheep baaaaaatch!"

Ate dinner at Tomas' sister house (her son is the little boy from Finding Neverland... could've eaten him with a spoon) and later went to some pubs. Durty Nancy's sells the most Guiness in the county... had my first and probably last Irish Guiness. Famous last words.... Guiness to the Irish is like Gatorade to Tiger Woods. Unless he lost that endorsement too...

We meandered down to the main square in Ennis and found some local music. It was like a pick-up game jam session. It started with a harmonica, fiddle, guitar and goat-hide drum. Four beers later, a banjo, another guitar, two wooden flutes, a concertina (baby accordian) and a partridge in a pear tree had joined in.

We pub crawled to another cavern that had a bagpipe player, guitar player and VH1's Classics from the 80's on TV... twightlight zone-ish... Ordered a BULMERS- Irish Cider... basically gingerale with a buzz. I used the bathroom there, and have I mentioned that its FUCKING FREEZING here? I thought my ass was getting frost bite from the toilet seat, but I was quickly distracted by my breath that I blew on the stall door and drew smiley faces like a foggy mirror... easily entertained.

While walking to grab a taxi, Tomas asked if I would like a pack of fire... "Smokes? Heaters? Cigs? No thanks..." "No, a pack of FRIES, to eat." Ha! munchies...

A few other funny pronunciation laughs:

-- "Ya noah Whitney, tere's tree tings ta see en Ir'land: da tree C's- castles, caves and catedrals."
-- "Tere's about farty fife ar farty seex."
-- Reeks= Mountain Range
-- Unbuttoned= Drunk
-- Wind screen= wind shield
-- "Grand! Oh sure yes right"= yes
-- "Bye, bye, bye"- Good-bye

All for now... CHEERS!