Bank holidaying in Luxembourg

yip away off on another wee trip last weekend,

popped over to Shano in Luxembourg, courtesy of €62 return Kerry/Hahn flight

It all started on Thursday evening when popped down to the rellies near the airport. Thought best to get the drive out of the way the night before would make Friday more relaxing and a sleep in is always welcome! Oh and as for the creamy pints - I will be back...............

FRIDAY
No dramas on the flight over, although the DEpartures lounge in Kerry is not the biggest - would hate to see if 2 planes were taking off around the same time! Followed instructions - out Departures, "turn right and keep walking and you will see the big green and white bus. Yes thanks to FLIBCO I was at the Gare in Luxembourg in and hour and 15 (did cost €22 on top of the €17 - long story)and found transport to Luxembourg

Alan collected me there and walked the 10mins back to Shanos place, dodgy area out side the train station - usual mix of drunks and punks!

Once Shano was home is was out for grub, with a stop off at The Black Stuff for a few warm up pints, beer was grand but the big shock (and something that bugged us all weekend) was the smoking in the bars. Micheal Martin you are a legend for ridding us of smokey clothes and hair! Had a very homely feel about it, ya and the fact the Ambassador was in there ahead of us probably added to that! Popped around the corner to a fancy Italian - nothing done by halves I tells u!

Once we got out on the pub tail

Madrid here we come

Hola amigos

Yip the "moving around" is temporarily back up and running tomorrow
Courtesy of Michael O Leary flying Shannon to Madrid for only €47 return (only €4 fare but then when u add on Credit card fee, Baggage fee, taxes and other charges........)

Home for the few days is "aqui" heres hoping Moyas found another gem! Its damn central between La Puerta del Sol and La Plaza Mayor so should be fine. Basically going to look around this...............

Any tips for things to do in Madrid between tomorrow and Tuesday, do advise.............

Hasta luego

Bloggin time again

Yip decided to have another go off this blogging stuff to announce long weekend trip to Madrid

Twill be nice to get to Spain & practice all the Spanish I learnt while travelling and writing most of this blog,

Anyone going to be in Madrid weekend of Jun21 do let me know!!

Back to the books for me now, as that's how the Bank Holiday weekend will be spent, studying for those damn IOP Exams!

trip summary part 1

Yip I’m still alive and back to work – no laughing now please, has to be done by everyone anyway!

Just as a way of winding up the blog I’m adding a final few, first will be all details of travels over the 6 months (which I presume will be of no interest to anyone except myself!) and secondly I will ramble on about the highlights……..

So here goes where I went for the 6 months, firstly the summary of the travels (excluding bikes, taxis and other small journeys!):

Flights 16

Ferries 3

Car Hire Trips 7

Buses 36

Trains 4

“Spins”2

And for the real event.......

IRELAND

FLIGHT: Shannon/Dublin/Shannon/JFK New York

Flights Running Total 3

US

FLIGHT: New York/Seattle

FERRY: Seattle/ Victoria (Vancouver Island)

Flights Running Total 4

Ferries Running Total 1

CANADA

CAR HIRE: Vancouver Island/Vancouver BUS: Vancouver/SeattleFlights Running Total 4 Ferries Running Total 1 Car Hire Running Total 1 Bus Running Total 1 US TRAIN: Seattle/Portland CAR HIRE: Portland/San Francisco CAR HIRE: San Francisco/Las Vegas BUS: Las Vegas/San Diego TRAIN: San Diego/LA CAR HIRE: LA San Francisco FLIGHT: San Francisco/ GuatemalaFlights Running Total 5 Ferries Running Total 1 Car Hire Running Total 4 Bus Running Total 2 Train Running Total 2 GUATEMALA BUS: Guatemala/Antigua BUS: Antigua/Panachel (Lago Atitlan) FERRY: Panachel/ San Pedro FERRY: San Pedro/ Panachel BUS: Panachel/Antigua/Guatamala/Flores BUS: Flores/Tikal BUS: Tikal/Flores/Guatamala FLIGHT: Guatemala/Houston (US) Flights Running Total 6 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 4 Bus Running Total 10 Train Running Total 2 US BUS: Houston/Fort Lauderdale CAR HIRE: Fort Lauderdale/Naples CAR HIRE: Naples/Miami FLIGHT: Miami/Kingston (Jamaica)Flights Running Total 7 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 6 Bus Running Total 11 Train Running Total 2 JAMAICA "SPIN": Kingston/Ocho Rios BUS: Ocho Rios/Montego Bay FLIGHT: Monetgo Bay/Kingston/Havana (Cuba)Flights Running Total 9 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 7 Bus Running Total 12 Train Running Total 2 Spin Running Total 1 CUBA BUS: Havana/Vinales SHARED TAXI: Vinales/Trinidad - counting as Bus SHARED TAXI: Trinidad/Santa Clara/Trinidad - counting as Bus SHARED TAXI: Trinidad/Havanva - counting as Bus FLIGHT: Havana/PanamaFlights Running Total 10 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 6 Bus Running Total 17 Train Running Total 2 Spin Running Total 1 PANAMA CAR HIRE: Panama/David/Panama FLIGHT: Panama/Lima (Peru)Flights Running Total 11 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 7 Bus Running Total 17 Train Running Total 2 Spin Running Total 1 PERUBUS: Lima/Chiclayo BUS: Chiclayo/Trujillo/Huanchaco BUS: Trujillo/Lima/Ica BUS: Ica/Nazca BUS: Nazca/Cusco BUS: Cusco TRAIN: Ollantaytambo/Agas Callientes BUS: Agas Callientes/Machu Picchu TRAIN: Agas Callientes/ Ollantaytambo BUS: Ollantaytambo /Cusco BUS: Cusco/Puno BUS: Puno/Copacabana (Bolivia) Flights Running Total 11 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 7 Bus Running Total 29 Train Running Total 4 Spin Running Total 1 BOLIVIA BUS: Copacabana/ La Paz BUS: La Paz/Potosi BUS: Potosi/Uyuni BUS: Uyuni/San Pedro (Chile) Flights Running Total 11 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 7 Bus Running Total 33 Train Running Total 4 Spin Running Total 1 CHILE BUS: San Pedro / Arica BUS: Arica/Tacna (Peru)Flights Running Total 11 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 7 Bus Running Total 35 Train Running Total 4 Spin Running Total 1 PERU BUS: Tacna / Lima FLIGHT: Lima/CaracusFlights Running Total 12 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 7 Bus Running Total 36 Train Running Total 4 Spin Running Total 1 VENEZUALA FLIGHT: Caracus/MiamiFlights Running Total 13 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 7 Bus Running Total 36 Train Running Total 4 Spin Running Total 1 US FLIGHT: Miami/Indianapolis “SPIN”: Indianapolis/Chicago FLIGHT: Chicago/Boston/Shannon (HOME) Flights Running Total 16 Ferries Running Total 3 Car Hire Running Total 7 Bus Running Total 36 Train Running Total 4 Spin Running Total 2

Different things to do in Indy

TODAY TOUCHDOWN IRELAND

Well what a ball I have been having here in Indianapolis, so if your planning on spending sometime here wanta know what to do, (yes not the touristy things). You should go to........

a Pacers NBA game
Went to see the Pacers play a game (basketball by the way for those not in the know- like me upto a few days ago. Cool experience being up in the gods and watching all. US sports are strange spectator sport with all the entertainment and background music to try and get the crowd cheering. Couldnt see this happening at a hurling game at home........Overall great experience and even had a feed of grub- chips, pizza, burger etc to top up the bell.

the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Yes I know people will be shocked at this one but I kid u not it was a great experience! Yes willo admit it wasnt the normal orchestra experience (ie dead composers etc!) but all the much from Sci Fi shows, so cool to hear all those Star Wars, Star Treck tunes, but top of the list and the one that nearly brought a tear to my eye was me oul' fav.....ET. As if the tunes werent bad, the light show that went along with ity was amazing

the Indy 500 track (nickname the brickyard, by the way!)
Yip the only famous thing I had heard of before my trip here had to be visited. Theres a great museum there with loads of old cars etc and info on background to the track and race. Also as a bonus (and for$3 extra) you can jump on a bus that will bring u the 2.5 miles around the track itself. Strangest thing was seeing how steep the banking is on the corners, as for the number of stands- makes it easier to believe they get 500,000 to the race every year!

see a "dueling piano" bar
Yes a new one on me, instead of usual bands playing crap music this is something different. Great idea for anyone with a bar looking for some different entertainment! Consists of 2 guys playing piano request and also their own versions of songs. Crowd participation is welcomed and indeed increased as the night went on and alcohol consumption increased. Also the piss pulling that people on birthday parties, hen nights etc got when hauled up on stage was great entertainment!

and finally "strength class with Chris". Yes another first for Mick as I trooped off to this "class" in the gym with my Indy Tour Guide Jen. Wasnt sure what I had agreed to but thought it might help me as I try and make a return to training! Little did I know how hard it would be - actually didnt realise how hard it would be till the aches in the muscles started in the hours and days after. All well again now do and have learnt loads of new stretches!

NOTE: This has been part written in Indy, Boston and only finished here in Dungarvan due to time constraints on computer!