Hello Marvin and Melin:
I just got back a few days ago from Ireland and I fell in love more with the country that I started out with. The people in Carlow was very friendly and my family members that I first time met were warm and welcoming. Even though it's only one city, I felt the spirit of Ireland around me. As my mother was from County Limerick, I had Ireland in my DNA. It's a changing country with a grand history, especially this year when it's the 70th anniversary of Eire becoming a Republic.
And, in an Irish pub, I had my first pint of Guinness, it was delicious and I also had my first taste of Tayto crisps...Smokey Bacon was the flavor.
The only bad thing I have to say, and please forgive me, was Bus Eireann. As much as I hate to say this, that company is a joke. The bus driver misunderstood me and took me 40 miles away from where I needed to go and took me to Galway. I then had to get another bus to Dublin County House Quay station and, with four other people, had to wait an hour for a bus to Carlow outside of the station because the Quay had to close at 11 p.m. (23:00). I have heard from people in Carlow that, sadly, public transportation in Ireland is not as good as it should be.
Before I go...I must tell you of a funny incident. I went to a Bank of Ireland to change my currency. After I ask the teller what I wanted to do, she asked me: "Do you have an account with us?"
I was a little dumbfounded....at first I felt like saying: "Of course I should have one, I'm from the States, Indiana to be exact...every from Indiana should have a Bank if Ireland account."
Don't worry, a family member took me to a credit union and I got most of it changed.
Thank you for your help...I appreciate it.