Ireland - I can't believe I'm here

Easy flight but outside of catnaps I've been awake since 7:30 Tuesday morning NYC time. Once we went thru customs (new stamp in my passport). We got our luggage, got some euros, dropped our bags off at the bus, then went back to the terminal to have breakfast and wait for the folks that came in on delta. We then got on the bus for our drive (2.5 hours) to Galway. Once we arrived at our hotel, we had lunch, checked in to the hotel, then got back on the bus to go to the Crystal shop. Beautiful things and some nice views along the way.

We have a group dinner tonight then hopefully a good nights rest.

More tomorrow, meantime here are a few pictures from today.

Park across from the Salthill Hotel on Galway Bay

Celtic Crystal Factory Tour

Master Glass Carver at work

In the field by the Crystal Factory

Bowl with preliminary cuts / Bowl that has been cut a second time and then washed in an acid bath

Examples of some of the work from this factory

Award Winning Crystal

Cute Horses

Carver at work

Our Ride for the Tour

Another award Winning piece - this takes 3 months of work to complete

Our pit stop in Athlone - McD's is everywhere

First day - I was enamored with all the green - little did I know the wonders we would see!

More pictures of the horses