Big Cities: Dublin, London and Amsterdam
All big cities have things in common. The energy, the diversity and the awareness of how really alike people are. We as tourists are merely observers as the rest of the population go about their lives. I find this strangely consoling as I know I will soon be back in the routine of my own life.
Dublin: No place for the timid, this city is in a constant state of motion and if don't keep up you may well get trampled, yikes...music in every pub and on every corner no matter the time of day. The river Liffey is your guide post, easily navigated once you get your bearings. So much to see and do and I know we only hit the surface. There are things I do want to experience if I ever get a change to visit again.
London: HUGE! Reminiscent of NYC in area and population and it's distinct districts. The gardens are everywhere and are impressive. Really beautiful and really formal. The river Thames is a great way of getting your navigational bearings but I know I would be hard pressed to find my way around without a guide.
Amsterdam: The amount of bike traffic hits you immediately and the canals each have their own personality. This is a really clean city, the people are happy and you notice the high quality of life they have achieved. The red light district is actually quite a small area, a couple of blocks. The coffee shops are prevalent but seem to be mainly used by tourists. Community is key to their reality and in the city if you want outside space you go to a square to relax with ice cream, tea, coffee and possibly a cocktail. LOVED IT!
Large Cities: Liverpool and Galway
Liverpool is reminiscent of two of my favorite cities, Milwaukee and Baltimore. The Mersey river is your navigational tool here. Big enough for cruise ships and alot of barge/commerce traffic. Four colleges throughout the city and a real working class mentality. The riverfront like Baltimore's harbor is a magnet, how I wish Milwaukee would take a page from their book. I know why Sean loves it, this is a city I could have definitely spent more time exploring.
Galway: I don't have another city to compare it to. The Atlantic Ocean is the meter and it is spectacular. The city flows right to the shore and the people are friendly and have a real love of their city. If you travel to Ireland you won't be in a hurry to leave.
Musings on travel.
The cardinal rule, pack half of what you think you need. Someday I will remember this.
Definitely get a different sim card for your phone. This would have saved us some time and I could have been in better contact with the people I was traveling with and the people I was missing, specifically Taylor and Sam.
Rent a car and don't be afraid. This was a really good decision, we went where we wanted when we wanted and didn't waste precious time waiting for public transportation.
Public transportation, will someone in Milwaukee do something about light rail, enough said!
Guy shot at least 900 pictures, so if you want a detailed tour please come and see us, we will be glad to relive this trip.
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