WPS: Skyblue v. Breakers

Womens Professional Soccer game. NJ Skyblue against the Boston Breakers. Not a great crowd considering that there is a massive youth tournament going on in the same town.

Liberty Bell

Dang, hard to believe that I have never seen the Liberty Bell before. I think to watch National Treasure w Nicolas Cage again too. A couple of tour guides mentioned the movie.

Philadelphia

Doing some sightseeing in Philly before heading up to NJ, and just happened to run into Benjamin Franklin.

Philadelphia Phillies

In Philadelphia and decided to attend the Phillies game vs. Cincinnati Reds. The air force did a flyover during the national anthem. Pretty cool as I have never seen one before.

Toronto Bluejays

Ace, the mascot for the Toronto Bluejays. Its a baseball game, what else am I gonna take a picture of?

CN Tower-Toronto

Got into Toronto this morning and a buddy got me some BlueJay tickets v the Astros. CN Tower is right next to the stadium and one of the tallest man-made structures in the world.

For Sean

Outside "Gravediggers" Pub having a pint. Why everyone is standing outside is beyond me because it bleedin freezing. The Pub is actually call John Kavanagh and is next door to the largest cemetery in Dublin. The workers that dug the graves would come to the pub for pints in between jobs so it became known as "Gravediggers".

Leaving Aran Islands

This is a picture of an Aran Islands taxi cab. We are getting ready to board the boat to head back to the mainland. All I can say about Aran Islands is "what an experience, quite a unique island, and the people that live here are very entertaining."

The Chipper

Dinner of champions, 11:00 pm at the pub. We are at a Ceile, a traditional Irish song and dance evening. The performers are 3 brothers that won the Irelands Got Talent show. The pub quit serving food around 9pm so we had to go out back to "the chipper" for curry chips. The "chipper" is a food vendor like you would see at the fair in the states. The curry chips are french fries with curry sauce, deadly (really good).

Our B & B

Can you see the caravan under the sign? That's our B & B.

The Worm Hole

Its a natural rectangular shaped pool into which the sea ebbs and flows at the bottom of the cliffs south of Dun Aonghasa on Inis Mor. The proprietor where we are staying said it also serves as the swimming pool for our Bed and Breakfast. Not really.

Cliffs of Dun Aonghas

That's a 300 ft drop straight down into the ocean.

Dun Aonghas

View from Dun Aonghas, the most spectacular semi-circular Celtic Stone fort in Europe. Its located on Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands. We rented bikes and rode to the other side of the island and then hiked 20 minutes to get there. Spectacular view.

Choppy Seas

So the water was a little rough on the way to Aran Islands and Seans was starting to wonder if that sandwich he ate right before we boarded was such a good idea.

Arann Islands

Preparing to board the ferry to the Arann Islands. They still speak gaelic on the islands so I need to learn "cupla focal as ghaelgie" or a couple of words in Irish. We will be renting bikes to tours the Island of Inis Mor which is the largest of the Islands with a population of 900. Kenny is hoping to find some locals to sing me happy birthday in gaelic.

Irish Jersey Shore

This is an Irish wifebeater signed by the "Irish" Jersey Shore cast. Only signature I could make out was Paddy O' Situation. Just kidding, but it is an Irish wifebeater.

Blarney Stone

Coming up from kissing the Blarney Stone located at the top of the Blarney Castle. Sean, Ken, and I all took a turn kissing the stone, which is supposed to give you the gift of eloquence.

Same Bo

Same cow looking at us as we drove by.

Bo

Bo is "cow" in gaelic. This cow was just walking down the road while Sean was touring us around. It actually took us a little while to get around the cow.

Rochfortbridge FC

Sean picked Kenny and I up and drove us to his house in the town of Rochfortbridge. Its located about an hour outside of Dublin. This is a picture of the Rochfortbridge football grounds which Sean founded.

Lunch in Dublin

Kenny and I went to the city centre in Dublin for a late lunch. We ended up at the Gourmet Burger Kitchen in Temple Bar. We both ordered the same burger, which was comprised of a couple of portobellas and eggplant plus a bunch of other stuff.

Darts @ the Pub

Just watched the Man City-tottenham at the Boot. Now playing darts w 4 irishman, and the yank has won 3 out of the last 4 games. Can you say beginners luck?

Random pic/small world story

So I think one of these guys names is Bobby. Anyways I forgot to mention that last night standing in front of Craven Cottage before the Fulham-Liverpool match, I heard a group of 4 Americans talking nearby. I asked where in the U.S. They were from and they said South Carolina. I said "oh I'm from Raleigh, NC". They informed me that they are Fulham season ticket holders and come over for a couple games each year. They also said they are always looking for people to use their tickets, to which I replied "let me give you my contact info b/c my friends family live close to the stadium and would love to use the tickets". I then gave them a business card and told them where I coach. It just so happens that one of the guys in the group is the head coach for a college that I used to coach against when I was at Mount Olive (same conference). So small world...running into a womens soccer coach from SC at a Fulham match in England.

Oops

Sorry forgot to mention that we were at Craven Cottage to see the Liverpool-Fulham game. Unfortunately the game was sold out and we couldn't get in. So we watched the game at a nearby pub. The picture of MJ was taken through a gate...that's why its not a great photo.

Michael Jackson

This is a picture of the Michael Jackson statue at Craven Cottage (Fulhams football stadium). Its actually inside the stadium. Why is there an MJ statue at a soccer stadium? Great question. What does MJ have to do to Fulham football? Great question. Apparently the owner of Fulham FC (Mohamed Al-Fayed) met him once and was impressed with him, hence the statue. In a word...bizarre. BTW Mohamed Al-Fayed is the father of Dodi Al-Fayed who was killed along with Princess Diana in Paris...and thus concludes todays history lesson.

Fulham v Liverpool

Kenny on the tube on the way to Craven Cottage. Hoping to get tickets to the game and see Clint Dempsey in action. If not we will just hang out around the stadium and enjoy the pre-game festivities.

Buckingham Palace

Kenny and I in front of Buckingham Palace. If you look closely I think you can see the queen peeking out of the window. We also visited Chinatown, Picadilly Circus, and Leicester Square. More to follow...

Big Ben

Picture of Big Ben in the lower right hand from the top of the London Eye. Took about 30 minutes to make one rotation.

London Eye

Picture of London. Great views of the city and its located right on the Thames directly across from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

London

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. By the way, in the paper today it said that London is the most expensive city in Europe.

Tube (subway)

Taking the tube into the center of London to do some sightseeing.

Chelsea fan @ the local pub

So for some reason this guy in the Chelsea top at the local pub didn't seem very happy...maybe had something to do with the game today. Manchester United 2 - Chelsea 1. Think he was trying to drown his sorrows.

Hurling

At the fields down from Paul Hoeys house (Kennys older brother) in London. There is a large Irish population in this part of town and I was able to watch Hurling, Gaelic Football, and football (soccer) all at the same place. I'm holding a Hurley in the picture.

Spurs II

1st PK that Gomes saved, and than preceded to commit the foul that led to the 2nd PK. Blackpool scores, but Defoe equalizes, game ends 1-1.

White Hart Lane

Spurs-blackpool game. Phenomenal seats right behind the goal.

Spurs

Out back of the Bell and Hare Pub where all the Tottenham Hotspurs fans have gathered before the game. Place is packed and everyone is singing and chanting before heading to the stadium for the match.

Wembly Stadium

Home of the English National Team (most overrated team in the world). Mansfield Town and Darlington FC fans were all about preparing for a match later in the day. They were both playing for the FA Cup Carlsberg Trophy. Yyyyeeeellllloooowwwww.

Welcome to London

Just landed in London, shortest flight ever...30 min. Looking forward to my first EPL game tomorrow..."C'mon Spurs".

Theatre of Dreams

Old Trafford-Theatre of Dreams...and that's all that needs to be said about that.

Rooney-Hoey-Shaw-Giggs

In the ManU lockerroom at Old Trafford sitting exactly where Rooney and Giggs sit. Its a picture of one great former player, sitting where two current great players sit. Kenny and I have been arguing for the last hour over who the former great player was.

Sausages, chips and Beans

Lunch-yes of course they are vegetarian Lincolnshire sausages.

Decisions...decisions.

Kenny and I sitting down for lunch outside Old Trafford and discussing Alex Fergusons starting lineup against Chelsea sunday or maybe what type of condiment to put on my chips.

A confused Hoey

An Irishman in an American shirt in front of an English football stadium. He will probably be drinking German beer later and eating Indian food on the Curry Mile in Manchester.

Wolfpack

Looks like the wolfpack even has a presence in England.

Liverpool=Beatles

Standing in front of the Cavern Club last night which the Beatles made famous. They played there well over 200 times. We were a little spoiled by the weather in Edinburgh but Liverpool provided us with REAL English weather. Overcast and rainy all day. We are now back on a train to Manchester to experience Old Trafford, then catching a flight this evening to London.

Everton FC

Picture of Goodison Park where Everton plays. Tim Howard's current team, and the former team of Landon Donovan, Joe-Max Moore, and Brian McBride. Amazing that Everton and Liverpool play their games a short walk from each other. No tours of Goodison Park offered today, but my American accent got us inside for a quick look at the stadium. Now off to see some Beatles history.

Liverpool FC

Picture of Anfield Stadium. The Scottish lass that gave the tour asked where we were from. When I said the US she said that I don't look American. I asked if that's a compliment or an insult. She said a compliment.

Anfield

In front of Anfield Stadium...home of Liverpool FC (for you non-soccer types). Going on a tour of the stadium/museum and then heading to Goodison Park...home of Everton FC.

Off to Liverpool

On the train to Liverpool at 7 am. About a 4 hour train ride...we look like we just woke up b/c we just woke up.

Edinburgh Castle

On the way to Nepalese restaurant "the Khukuri".

Edinburgh

Just an update on the days activities in Edinburgh. Slept in for the first time on the trip. Got up and went for a run/walk around town. Ran down the Royal Mile and to the Hibernian Football Club and went to their club store. Ran into a Scottish coach with an MLS top on and starting chatting w him. He had coached in California and after a bit of talking we were able to get into the stadium and take some photos. We than ran/walked up to Arthurs Seat which is an extinct volcano that overlooks the entire city. Ran/walked back to the hotel, cleaned up and stopped at a few pubs for a couple of jars...pints...beers. Walked down Rose st, stopped by Dirty Dicks and have now made our way to a Nepalese restaurant recommended by a friend. Then off on a tour of the "city of the dead". Edinburgh is supposed to have a number of ghosts, poltergeists, etc. Then catch the ManU-Schalke game and call it a night. Off to Liverpool in the morning.

Scotsman's Lounge

So I'm drinking a guinness...but I realized afterwards that I should have ordered an english beer. That way I would be sitting in a Scottish bar with an Irishman drinking an English beer.