I'm back online after various shenanigans with GoogleAccounts and hostel computers that don't accet cookies! You've missed a wealth of activity. Since we last spoke, I have:

* Visited Newgrange, Mellifont Abbey, and Monasterboice in eastern County Meath and seen real-live round towers, high crosses, and neolithic carvings

* Visited Kilkenny and seen the magnifcent castle, and witnessed just how GOOD it was to be an English landowner i Ireland

* Visited Galway and the Aran Islands and climbed to the ring fort at the edge of the island's cliff faces.

* Visited Belfast and viewed some of the murals supporting both Unionist and Orangemen causes. Also, the zoo with some of the most FERTICAL enclosures I've ever seen. Barbary lions which are extinct in the wild!

* The Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge (200 years old and what can only be described as swishy). This one especialliy needs photos to describe it.

* Amsterdam's Red Light district (better by night) and various gorgeous canals, the world's narrowest house, and various other important old buildings. The Rijikmuseum "greatest hits" (as most of the museum is currently rebuilding) and the Van Gogh for a second time! I spent 45 min. just looking at Almond Blossoms and finally decided to buy a copy in the museum shop, the pain of carrying it around and hand luggage restrictions be damned!

Tomorrow it's on to Dusseldorf, and I have no idea whether I'll be able to post again. Here's hoping!