Travelling with a light heart!
A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for. ~ Grace Murray Hopper US admiral & computer scientist (1906 – 1992) Fear is overrated. There, I said it! And I mean it, too. Fear keeps us from pursuing our dreams and living a life that we love. The …
Many of our fears are tissue paper thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them. ~ Brendan Francis [Behan] (1923-1964) Irish Author
17 Dec. 2010 Co. Cork, Ireland Dario's parents were in town for a brief holiday visit. Other than an afternoon outing to Blarney Castle, most of their time had been spent in the city. We both really wanted to show them some of the beautiful Irish countryside and coast so they would have a better …
Blarney, Ireland I finally had an excuse to visit Blarney Castle! Dario’s family was visiting from Italy, so I took the opportunity to head up the hill and gain the gift of eloquence (about time!). I dragged my friend, Steven, along, too. He’s a bad, bad Irishman and had never been there. That situation is …
Cork, Ireland Tourist information offices are easy to dismiss as being designed for, well, tourists. They are also, however, a great source of information for locals who would like to learn about upcoming events as well as a bit of history. Handily enough, the Cork tourist office has 2 brochures published by the Cork City …
“Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.” ~ Alan Keightley (Snagged this from Where Is Jenny. Thanks, Jenny! Great quote!)
3 Jan. 2009 Serengeti National Park, Tanzania After a lovely night in a luxury hut (you laugh, but it's true!) we set off for Day 2 of our safari. But before we climb back into the Landrover, I really should tell you about the huts. The were round buildings with 2 double / full sized …
As part of The Stealth Mission™ here at TourAbsurd (that is to say, mind broadening through humor), I think it's only fitting to promote like missions. I therefore submit the upcoming film about Wavy Gravy, Saint Misbehavin'. The film came to my attention via my online friendship with Wavy's son, Jordan, a fellow Burning Man …
30 Oct. 2010 Cork, Ireland I think we can all agree that, whenever it is humanly possible, you should use puns. It is one of the clearest, simplest laws of nature. Not worth debating, really. I mean, on my first trip to Cork, I sent out couch requests with "Cork-surfing" as the subject line, because …
Been a crazy week and looks to get a bit crazier in the next little while. To keep thoughts on the happy side of life, let's talk about one of my favorite subjects: food! Along with meeting people, learning different ways of life, and seeing amazing historical sites, food is at the top of …
"Decide on what you think is right, and stick to it." ~ George Eliot (1819-1880) English Novelist This is true for any decision, but perhaps especially for big life changes, including travel. I've been reading that so many of my fellow travelers have been given The Fear Talk by friends and family before they …
Whenever I travel somewhere new, I like to study up on the history of the place I'm visiting. If I am rushed, it will be a cursory browse through a guide book and a couple of quick internet searches. When I have more time, I might order something from The Teaching Company, like when we …
“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” ~ Aldous Huxley
Cork, Ireland One of the best things about living in Cork is the creativity and liveliness of the art scene. One of the best things about living in Ireland is seeing the mishmash of history and religion that are present nearly everywhere you go. One of the best things about October is that the …
Which one is American? Thus far most of the content here on TourAbsurd has been silly travel stories, funny pictures, and little inspiring quotey tidbits. This is to entertain you, gentle reader, and to keep my friends and family updated as I skip about the globe (that was very nearly "glob" — good thing …
Every once in a while, I give in and believe in Irish faeries. Sometimes it is when the house keys go missing only to reappear in a spot that has been check at least 5 times! Other times it is when we manage to sneak out to the coast and breath in that fresh Irish …
More travel and laughter.
Howdy, kids! If you are reading this post, it means the DNS — aka, the magical traffic wizard of the interwebs — has updated. What you are seeing is the new and improved (well, mostly!) website for TourAbsurd. There are still tweaks to be made and old entries to be corrected, but I was too …