Can 3 Girls Do Dublin in 56 Hours???

Oh - we are machines!!! Everything seemed to be timed perfectly - we arrive at our hotel and while we are waiting to be served - Anna arrives. Oh sweet little Anna - all the way from Gallway. It was so wonderful to see her.

And all you atlantic canadians - we now understand why you are so crazy. With every second building housing a pub and the oldest everything to be found in Dublin the three days we were here positively flew by. Some of the highlights include - Dublin Castle and the coolest mote ever (Fran and I think we need to build one to protect ourselves for the downstairs crazies we tend to attract), Christ Church Cathedral with as much detail on the floor as Notre Dame has in their ceiling, a crazy tour bus driver that yelled at us for getting on the wrong bus (oops!!), a trip to a local restaurant for dinner with live music that ended up with some locals giving us the inside scoop on all the best places to hit - the meat market, the chipper and the kebab spots!!, Kilmainham Jail (we tried to leave Anna there but they just wouldn't take her and apparently Fran is far too naive to ever end up in such a place!!), the book of Kells (how did they do it with all that beautiful artwork back in 800 ad - amazing), St. Patrick's Cathedral and its very own Strongbow coffin - whose to know he is a famous Norman knight and not just a great brew, Dublinia this crazy medieval display that had us on our toes waiting for something to jump out at us at every corner but we merely had to explain ourselves to the local pig catcher, the Malhide Castle which took us on a delightful trip into the country (man we need to extend our trip for another week - sorry Trent - Fran is feeling ahem, sick, ahem ahem!) where we got to see where Bono lived his life before he was famous (apparently our dinner invitation to his hotel for a private tete a tete was delayed in the mail!!), and some local irish entertainment.

The story of Irish entertainment is a must hear so be sure to ask us more about it upon our return!!

And now it is time to sign off! See you all soon :)

Wrapping it up in Doha

The little construction men we saw every day


So it certainly pays to have friends who have friends in high places!!!!! Sunday - Sarah and Lee's friends James and Miriam (specifically Miriam but we must give James credit as he was smart enough to marry that girl and drag her over to Doha!) got us into the best beach in Doha - Intercon. It is a five'ish star resort sea side in Doha and Miriam is in the marketing department there. To use their poolside/beach facilities for the day costs 140 QR (47'ish CAD) for the day per person but she was able to slide us in for free. Picture Fran and I hanging out on the beach below - cause you know we were there. Swim up bar for lunch and as it was our last day for the sun - we were certainly not as careful with the sunscreen as we probably should have been!! Thank goodness for Ocean Potion!!

After we had our fill of sand and sun we headed back to shower up and zip across the street to the mall in search of the last few ingredients for Sarah's beloved 'Orange Chocolate Drops' a culinary delight that is certain to tantalize everyone's taste buds but Fran!! The it was a wonderful home cooked meal, some desert and cramming in all the visiting possible as we only had one more day for Sarah and Lee to enjoy our company to the fullest!!!

The next morning was a leisurely rising of the godesses, a quick stop for some nectar of the gods (aka - Starbucks) and then off to see how the peasants live. By some people's standards they could be considered the upper class but compared to us three girls with our faux Chanel bags swinging from our arms - they are mere mortals!!!

Then it was off to the entrance gate of heaven - the Four Seasons Spa. I guess for a six star resort the facilities were okay. I mean really - we have had better - like the wrap at Banff (if you don't know this story - be sure to track us down and get the full uncensored version as it is a fabulous one - and use the facilities first cause this kind of urban legend really only exists in the lives of us!!) but it was enough to pass another boring afternoon in Doha. We could not even put into words but lets just say strawberry flavored water, cold rooms, hot rooms, hot and cold plunges, water jetted beds, heated beds, color therapy, rock foot massage and on and on it goes. With individuals dying to wait on us - kind of felt like home!!

We quickly cleaned up and headed off to the Landmark Mall where a delectable little treat exists for every woman - Esther you would be in pure heaven. This is better than any other man made thing alive!!!! We are talking a Hagen Daas chocolate fondu - oh yes ladies!! Check out the pictures for proof of heaven on earth. We have found the Garden of Eden - beach, four seasons spa and Hagen Daas fondue - it was even served by Adam in his loin cloth just as it should be with the men taking the servant attitudes that God intended for them to have :)

Then it was home to pack and organize as the next day we were back in London

:(

Now before I close this we want to take an opportunity (although Sarah already beat us to it) to tell you what fabulous hosts Sarah and Lee are. They were the most amazing individuals one could ask for - if anyone wants to go visit anywhere where they are living - you will be treated like royalty. Their dinners were far too yummy, generosity over flowed, they put up with our messy bedroom and were pure entertainment. Thanks so much you two - it was wonderful!! You totally made our trip to the middle east!

Did you miss us??

Tomorrow it is another day of taking in beautiful Ireland and then to London overnight before we have to head home!! We do expect banners and flowers at the airport now that Canada's national treasures are home . . . (oh and if you can't recognize our vanilla complexions it is due to the bronzed goddess status that Anna has officially dubbed us with - can we tell you how much we love seeing Anna!! she is certianly the highlight of the trip :)!!!!)

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/lonha?_requestid=906561

The Guinness Welcome

Hey everyone - we are hailing from the land of the pint!! Not a lot of time to write now but do want to let you know we are here safe and sound and enjoying all that Ireland has to offer!!

Staying at the North Star and loving the dart passing by our window every 10 minutes - - - http://www.regencyhotels.com/hotels/content.asp~PageID=40