We started the day in Beauvais, a small airport north of Paris that has become a hub of cheap flights to other European destinations. We had in fact found very cheap flights (around 20 euros or so a person each way before taxes and fees) to Shannon, Ireland, and then had found a hotel near a castle that seemed to cater to kids over the Easter holiday with an amazing package deal for Sunday and Monday night. Yes, it's true that on Saturday, I wasn't so sure about the idea... but now that we've arrived, I am so glad we came.
None of the five of us had ever been to Ireland (unless Jack's been having more adventures than I know about... which wouldn't surprise me) and we thought it would be good to take advantage of the close proximity of all of these countries and see as much as we can while we are here. The same trip from Lethbridge just would or could never happen.
So off to the airport we went, a good two hours early. That turned out to be very lucky. It seems we weren't the only family heading out on a trip during the start of the school holidays. We were in line after line, only to discover at one point that they hadn't stamped our ticket in another place... so off John went to another line while the kids and I waited, and waited, and waited. We eventually made it on the plane with about seven minutes to spare, and the kids were stars in a stressful situation... patient, calm, and quick when needed.
While we were in line, we chatted a bit with the family in front of us... who turned out to be from Calgary! The father was a professor at the University of Calgary, the mother was a radiologist specializing in multiple births, and they were traveling with their three teenaged daughters, an older one and twins three years younger. We really hit it off with them... each of us enjoying a glimpse of the past and the future...and said warm goodbyes at the Shannon airport. What a weird, small and wonderful world.
The first house to be reconstructed at the park, in fact, is a copy of a farmhouse that used to sit right in the middle of what is now the Shannon Airport's main runway. What an effort to preserve these great parts of Ireland's history...even if the originals of that history were lost.
I'll post more pictures of the castle (where we climbed up and up and up two of the towers and then had to climb back down and down and down... but it was worth it) and the folk park once we get back to our France home... but I wanted to add a few other funny comments before I forgot.
* Waking this morning, searching for cartoons, we were all intrigued to watch Elmo in Gaellic. Somehow it seemed as amusing as the Simpsons in French. Jack was quickly picking up words and trying to teach his sisters.
* The hotel has a great swimming pool (hooray!) but there were two differences here. First, children aren't allowed in hot tubs (which makes it nice for the adults, but hard on these three kids who love hot water) and second, swim caps must be worn by everyone in Irish swimming pools. Thankfully they were selling some (and for a reasonable price... they kind of have a captive audience and could have charged a lot more) so off to the pool we went. France has a few different swimming rules as well. Laura (our lovely landlady) has written a great essay about how and why men and boys are required to wear speedos at public swimming pools in France. Such interesting differences in a universal sport.
* The kids went to a "children's high tea" last night for children, followed by two movies, while John and I had free dinner in the hotel (also part of the package -- what a bargain!). We were a bit worried leaving the kids (especially the girls) in a room of strangers and a hotel employee charged with watching over them (and a dozen other kids of all ages) and we checked in a LOT. Our kids did great, and all of the short visits served as a different kind of reality check to remind us that there is a true range of buggerish behavior in the world in general and among children in particular. According to the kids this morning, there were some kids at the tea in there who were *real* handfuls... dumping food in the water glasses of others, physically fighting throughout the meal, even calling Ireland's version of 911 for a joke! "I told them it's against the law to call 911 unless it's an emergency!" Katie informed us with all the earnestness and seriousness of a law-abiding four-year-old. The beleaguered hotel employee let us know our kids were VERY well behaved. Good to have some perspective.
* Liv did decide to join us in the middle of our dinner date (she said she had a tummy ache, which is not surprising as she had eaten her whole dinner, plus all of Jack's "chips"). We had a nice visit with her while we finished our meal (which started with a Guinness, of course). At one point, Katie came running into the hotel pub where we were eating (and may I say here that ALL the children seemed very comfortable and calm finding their way around the pub, a place that was already crawling with children!) with an Easter chocolate for Liv. She then ran out just as quickly (needing help to open the heavy door) to continue the movie. A few minutes later, we said "well, that was a nice date, wasn't it Livie?" And she sighed, and said "Yes, until Katie interrupted us!"
* Jack has been very interested in language during this short trip. We told him most people here speak English, but he quickly noticed the accent was different (yes, we fear his English lessons in French school could now include a third bizarre accent). Then, at lunch yesterday, he was upset that his meal came with French fries (which he doesn't like) and not potato chips (which he adores). So we explained the difference between chips and crisps and fries and other words that are used differently in England and Ireland versus the U.S. and Canada (sweater/jumper, trunk/boot, etc... we were helped greatly by recent readings of the British version of Harry Potter). Since then, he'll say things like "Oh, I let Livie eat all my 'chips', get it, chips," and give a wink and a nudge, like he's in on some big secret. Waking up to a Gaellic-speaking Elmo just added another layer of intrigue!
And I think that's about it for now. Check back for wonderful pictures in a few days... the castle and folk park really are something to see.
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