Ireland Day 5

Today was a more laid back day.  We slept in and then went into Limerick for an afternoon of shopping.  It was a little disappointing in that most of the stores are the same as the ones we have back home.  Also, there is a 28% sales tax!!  I swear Scott's eyes rolled back in his head when he heard that!  If you ask, they will print you a special receipt that you put in a special envelope and mail back when you get home.  Then, the government mails you a check reimbursing you for all the tax you paid.  We have the special receipts and the special envelope.  We'll see if it we actually get the special check.

The kids are fascinated by the McDonald's here and the fact that the menu is the same, but different.  So they wanted to go to McD's. Scott had a chocolate pudding filled donut!

We mainly shopped and snacked our way through Limerick today!

Evidently Scott and the kids are on a mission to try every new candy bar they see.  This is the counter in our kitchen...

Gigi and Papaw were worn out from all the excitement thus far, so they stayed close to home today.  We did however meet up with them for dinner back in our village.  One of the local restaurants had Thanksgiving fare as their special for the day! So we got to have Turkey, dressing, ham, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce!!

One of the things that I love here is that every kids menu has the usual kid stuff, but in addition they can get a child's portion of any of the specials.  Soooo wish that was an option at home.

Since we are on food in this post....the butter here is to die for!  Pretty sure I will be forking over the bucks to buy it once we get home.  Everyone is hooked.  I'm pretty sure you could eat cardboard if you just spread some Irish butter on it.  Also, the bread is amazing.  They call it brown bread.  One thing I saw called it brown soda bread.  It is served on the table at every meal.  YUM!! If you are all about meat, potatoes, veggies and bread, then THIS is your country.  Thomas is in heaven.

Also, you had to know I was gonna check out the school system!  Because Ireland is so small, they have a National school system.  Some are all girl, some all boy and some both.  Each local community has a board of overseers, plus a school administrator and a member of the clergy as an advisor. The schools are "open denoniation", but with a strong religious influence.  Here is a picture of one of the National schools right across from where we are staying...

No joke.  That is the school.  I thought for 3 days it was a church!

We are staying on a 2,000 acre estate with it's own falconry, golf course and manor house...

The manor house is a hotel.  We aren't staying in it, which is good, because it looks creepy to me.  I think it's probably haunted.  Seriously creepy.  

After dinner spent the evening doing some Black Friday online shopping.  Scott and the kids have an annual tradition of going out and braving the crazies.  He had promised that they would do some online, so they have spent the evening checking out all the cyber deals!

Tomorrow we are headed to a local creamery for high tea.  Evidently the whole thing is set up as a Christmas village!  Tomorrow is our last full day here.  We head to Dublin on Saturday morning.

Irish Blessings,

Leslie