Hi, From Dublin, Irela

Ah, I'm home, and something of a jet-lagged Zombie. Ireland is a beautiful country, with delightful people.

As for the food

- I was a little intimidated, after years of hearing about the Irish breakfast. The foods included are fine, but I always had the impression that one was expected to eat everything that's included - which a LOT of food. Fortunately, all of the hotels offered a morning buffet, so that wasn't a problem. Eggs (scrambled and fried), link sausage, grilled tomatoes, beans (very much like pork-'n-beans), sauteed mushrooms, and "blood" sausage patties, are all standard. I'd never had blood sausage, and I thought that it lacked much flavor, the couple of times I included it.

- This Sunday, I'm going to make a beef stew with Guinness. That was delicious, and I had it in 4 locations, with moderate variations. One chef told me that it didn't have to be Guinness, but any beer/lager/ale would tenderize the meat. However, Guinness is their "baby," so that's what I had, and what I'll do here.

- Another thought on Guinness: I'm not a big beer/ale drinker, but I do have it occasionally. I had always heard that it is best when served in Ireland, because the ingredients don't "travel well," and the product served there is said to be more "mellow, and creamy." I actually prefer the bolder taste of it, here. I didn't want to be rude, so I only told my 2 traveling companions ... they loved it. I guess I belong to a very small "club."

- The sea food is great ... salmon is superb.

- Judging from the hundreds of pastures of sheep that we saw, that were eating grass, I'm guessing that it must be delicious. I didn't get around to trying it.

It was a great trip. Now, I have to re-adjust my inner time clock.