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Our upcoming trip to Ireland

Some of you have been asking (OK, only three people have asked) what our tour of Ireland will include. It's a standard college alumni tour with lectures, entertainment, walking and van tours of historical sites, and social time with the group. We did an alumni tour river cruise of Germany and Austria in 2005 and it was fabulous. Because of the age of the group (usually 40+ to mid-80s with some very seasoned, experienced travelers) there are considerations for the amount of walking and accommodations. Here's a very brief summary:

Day 1: Leave Chicago for Shannon, Ireland

Day 2: Arrive in Shannon, transfer to our hotel in Ennis; eat an Irish breakfast (will there be beets like a Russian breakfast?), Tour Ennis, including remains of a Franciscan Frairy and Creagh tomb.

Day 3: Education focus: History of Ireland and County Clare. Excursion: Ancient Burren and Cliffs of Moher. Reception and dinner.

Day 4: Educational focus: Literature--Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, W.B. Yeats and James Joyce--the environment and historical conditions that created the literature of Ireland. Excursion: Coole Park and Thoor Ballylee. Afternoon free. Dinner at local hotel. Evening entertainment by Irish storytellers.

Day 5: Excursion: Aran Island of Inishmore. Ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway; see Dun Aengus (old fortress) Lecture by local archaeologist. Lunch at Mainistir House. Minibus tour of town and medieval monuments. Free time. Dinner back at hotel.

Day 6: Educational focus: Irish Roots, covers the famine, representative from Clare Heritage Center will discuss genealogical sources. My Scots-Irish ancestors came to the British colonies in the early 18th c. so I'm not sure how much of this will apply. Leisure time. Lunch and dinner at hotel.

Day 7: Transfer to Kilkenny, stop at Rock of Cashel, former fortress of Brian Boru, high king of Ireland. Visit heritage center. Check in hotel, dinner at hotel.

Day 8: Excursion: tour of Kilkenny Castle; walking tour of Kilkenny to see Old Jail House, Black Abbey and St. Francis Abbey, founded in 1234. Visit Brod Tullaroan heritage center (9000 years of history) of Irish life. Evening program of Irish storytelling

Day 9: Excursion: Irish National Heritage Park, 35 acres of living exhibits from Stone age to early Christian era. Tour Dunbrody Famine Ship which sailed 1845-1851 to Canada. Welcome reception. Dinner at hotel

Day 10: After breakfast at hotel, we tour Waterford , home of the famous crystal. Excursion: Jerpoint Abbey, just outside Thomastown, see ruins, including 14th-15th c. cloisters. Meet residents of Kilkenny. Dinner at hotel.

Day 11: Educational focus: contemporary Ireland--government and European Union. Day free. Lunch at hotel. Evening farewell reception, entertainment with Irish dancers.

Day 12: After breakfast, depart Kilkenny for Dublin airport and return to Chicago/Columbus.

Today I’m practicing wearing my support hose which travelers of any age should wear for long flights. My 39 year old daughter developed a deep vein thrombosis (dvt) 6 months ago on a 2 hour flight to Florida and her vascular surgeon says everyone-- men and women, young and old-- need to wear them, and be careful of dehydration. We all hate to use those postage stamp size restrooms, but for long flights should drink a lot of fluids. She gave me a medical pair, but that was so uncomfortable (I have fat knees), I switched to the standard, over the counter type which are just nicely snug. I've had some light weight blazers dry cleaned and am planning my wardrobe for both cool and warm weather, and of course, some rain wear. Comfortable shoes, some slacks, a scarf or two for color, my camera and toothbrush.