Tra La La La Li, Ireland Come and Gone..

My house by the Sea in County Kerry

Damn mailman! Can't he straighten that gate? I love this magical place: Tra Li by the Sea. It was an amazing detour en route to Barcelona. I was treated royally and spoiled rotten by my pal MR. Thanks my friend. Guess I have to return now that you've been forced to keep half my belongings. More on that later.

Sweet Little Tra Li Town Center...

What happens in a small town like this? Karaoke! I was doing it again in Ireland. It was fun, of course. I now have fans in County Kerry. Plus I got to sing live in my favorite pub with an incredible guitarist. There was also an offer to do a gig, when and if I return to these beautiful shores. Wayyy cool!!! Mostly I just walked the beach and traveled over treacherous roads to beautiful places along the Atlantic.

Dingle Peninsula...

The water's edge beckoned and I forgot all about the uphill return.

The road to hell is paved, and that's saying something.

I was so content to spend a few days in this part of the world. It's magical when the unexpected happens and you say, "YES!!" Just when the weather began to turn, I did too toward the South. Barcelona on the brain. Not even a marriage proposal could stop me. Well it wasn't real now, was it? The beauty and calm were just what I needed before heading to the Big City on the Mediterranean.

Girona Airport serves Barcelona leaving an hour and a half bus ride to the Metro. UGH!!!

Remember the left luggage I mentioned earlier. Well, my host happily-not- drove me 82km or so to the Shannon Airport for my Southern flight which departed at 6:35a. That's about an hour and a half trek on dark, two lane roads. Scary, except for wildly starlit skies and bad radio. Upon arrival, in the cold, I was informed that my baggage was very overweight, plus I had one bag too many. 100 Euros too many to be exact. Add to this news that I had only 10 minutes to decide which bag I would bring for the journey- the very large backpack or the roller bag containing my leopard boots which still haven't seen the light of Europe- and voila... Good Morning! Fortunately, MR hung around to see that I got my ass on that plane and ended up with my things in the roller bag. Oops!!! Guess I earned the nickname, Calamity Jane after that particular non-reading of the fine print. Now I look like a whoozit with 2 freakin' back packs to cart around BCN. Geez!!!

Southwest Air of Europe. Cheap tickets, but don't even think about a travel wardrobe!

Where I'm writing from right now!

This is a first: a European Hostel. Hhmm! Perhaps I need to step up that million dollar recording project. Actually, this place is cool. Clean, but not cheap. I get a bunk, locker, internet access, and breakfast all for $35/night. At these rates I may make it to the Jazz Fest this weekend. Really... so far, so damned good. I can't complain about a thing. Life is GRAND and I'm finally in Barcelona! Yippee!!!!