We arrived in Dublin at 5 a.m. It was sunny and beautiful outside! We got our luggage, exchanged some dollars for euros and headed to the rental car desk. We are driving an "Opel Astra". I did go to the left side to get in out of habit before I realized the driver's side is on the right! Took a few spins around the parking garage to get used to driving stick on the opposite side and then we were off! Thankfully the first road we took out of Dublin was a divid...

Set my alarm for 2:45 a.m. I think that may be the earliest I've ever had to get up, even in my horse sales days I slept till closer to 3:30 - Got picked up by the airport shuttle at 3:45 am (!) and am now waiting to board the first flight of my trip to Chicago. I am meeting up with my mom in Chicago and we'll be flying on to Dublin together. So far the only thing that I realize I've forgotten is a pen to write in my journal with.