I can totally see why you aspired to be like Amber in college. Amber-you’re so cool! I’ve never been outside of Dublin and now I’m VERY interested in a bigger trip to Ireland!
If I was going to do a writer’s retreat, I’d also strongly consider time near Sligo, home of Yeats and Sally Rooney. Soak up whatever is in the water there!
I want to hug both Amber and the flight attendant in that moment! 💗 I felt so many of these ‘travel with toddler’ struggles deep in my bones - it’s such a hard age. Also, this Belfast girl is delighted she didn’t skip the North (I don’t recommend living here but you’re missing out if you don’t visit). And I lol’d at the ‘taste’ descriptor. 10/10 agree, we have to leave the country for good food. For anyone else planning to visit - if you want french fries you need to ask for ‘skinny chips’ or else you’re going to get the thick cut kind. If nothing else we are maximalists when it comes to potato. I’m loving this series, Laura! It’s like an incarnation of your travel writing workshop in Exhale, which is of my faves!
Ireland has long been on my travel bucket list, and this just confirms that it deserves its place there!! I especially love her five-senses descriptions. What a charming read!
I absolutely loved this one!! Dang, the blowout on the plane story was gnarly. I love that the flight attendant validated Amber in that moment! Also, I had a very similar toddler-in-a-loft-bed experience...my sister and I took our toddlers up to a mountain cabin and thought it would be fun for them to share a room/sleep on a bunkbed. The evening ended in much the same way as Amber's! And I totally agree that at least one giant fight on a trip is tradition. And Laura, Nuuly is amazing, especially for trips! I honestly wish I could use it every single month.
Oh, and many years ago I visited a friend in Northern Ireland over Easter weekend...I'll never forget the sight of lambs frolicking in green pastures as we drove up to Giant's Causeway. So dreamy!
Thanks for reading, friend! I love the one big fight tradition- it feels like permission for things not to go perfectly, and a trip that doesn’t go perfectly can still be a great one.
I have a friend who took a trip to Ireland this summer and between seeing her pictures and reading this, it’s moved much higher on my travel priority list! I so agree about traveling internationally with toddlers—it’s incredibly intimidating but after you do it, you feel like you can conquer anything!
This was so fun to read! Amber, you handled that blowout so well (and bless that flight attendant). I really want to go to Northern Ireland now!
And Laura, I have never used Nuuly, but I feel like I read about it every time I open Substack!
Thanks for reading, Erin! Yes, Nuuly is everywhere!
I can totally see why you aspired to be like Amber in college. Amber-you’re so cool! I’ve never been outside of Dublin and now I’m VERY interested in a bigger trip to Ireland!
It's so beautiful! Let's hike Ireland together. (Kind of not joking. lol.)
YES! @Kimberly Knowle - Zeller and I have daydreamed about a long distance walk + write. The ultimate writers retreat. The Dingle Way in 2027 or 2028? https://dingle-peninsula.ie/attractions-on-the-dingle-peninsula-co-kerry/walking-and-hiking-on-the-dingle-peninsula.html
If I was going to do a writer’s retreat, I’d also strongly consider time near Sligo, home of Yeats and Sally Rooney. Soak up whatever is in the water there!
The fact that there's now an Ireland Walk Voxer thread on my phone made my day. LET'S GOOO!
I want to come!!
I would love that!!
Yayyy!! Let the scheming and daydreaming commence!
I want to hug both Amber and the flight attendant in that moment! 💗 I felt so many of these ‘travel with toddler’ struggles deep in my bones - it’s such a hard age. Also, this Belfast girl is delighted she didn’t skip the North (I don’t recommend living here but you’re missing out if you don’t visit). And I lol’d at the ‘taste’ descriptor. 10/10 agree, we have to leave the country for good food. For anyone else planning to visit - if you want french fries you need to ask for ‘skinny chips’ or else you’re going to get the thick cut kind. If nothing else we are maximalists when it comes to potato. I’m loving this series, Laura! It’s like an incarnation of your travel writing workshop in Exhale, which is of my faves!
“If nothing else we are maximalists when it comes to potato.” 🤣
Aw, thanks, Reb!! I’m having the best time with it.
Ireland has long been on my travel bucket list, and this just confirms that it deserves its place there!! I especially love her five-senses descriptions. What a charming read!
Thanks for reading, Kendra!
I absolutely loved this one!! Dang, the blowout on the plane story was gnarly. I love that the flight attendant validated Amber in that moment! Also, I had a very similar toddler-in-a-loft-bed experience...my sister and I took our toddlers up to a mountain cabin and thought it would be fun for them to share a room/sleep on a bunkbed. The evening ended in much the same way as Amber's! And I totally agree that at least one giant fight on a trip is tradition. And Laura, Nuuly is amazing, especially for trips! I honestly wish I could use it every single month.
Oh, and many years ago I visited a friend in Northern Ireland over Easter weekend...I'll never forget the sight of lambs frolicking in green pastures as we drove up to Giant's Causeway. So dreamy!
Thanks for reading, friend! I love the one big fight tradition- it feels like permission for things not to go perfectly, and a trip that doesn’t go perfectly can still be a great one.
That flight attendant though 😭❤️
This made me want to visit Ireland so badly! I loved the sense descriptions!!
Sounds like an incredible trip—Ireland is beautiful! And yes—I feel like I’m hearing about Nuuly everywhere lately!
I'm co-signing all of the comments. Sounds like an amazing trip! I especially love that Amber got that time with her dad.
That part stood out to me, too!
I have a friend who took a trip to Ireland this summer and between seeing her pictures and reading this, it’s moved much higher on my travel priority list! I so agree about traveling internationally with toddlers—it’s incredibly intimidating but after you do it, you feel like you can conquer anything!
I’ve yet to meet anyone who didn’t love their time in Ireland. (Ireland hater, are you reading this? We want to hear from you.)
Also, three cheers for Nuuly. It’s the best. 😏