It's been three days with no internet access which I have to admit seemed a little strange...not that we really had time for it. We made it to Malin Head, the northern most point in Ireland, after a very interesting drive. Some of those mountains were really steeeeep! With nothing on the side but straight down a few of the spot were scarey!! In the end, OMG, was it ever worth it! The views were unbelievable and absolutely breathtaking. No wonder the dairy products over here are so good. The cows have such a great envionment to live in. We arrived in Northern Ireland on Thursday. It's very interesting to be in a politically divided city. Flags of the Republic on one side of the river and the Unionist on the other. They even have taken sides re: Palestine vs Israel and fly those as well. Derry itself is very large but has a great deal of modern. After a taxi tour of the city (Thank you, Michael for all your patience with all my picture taking) we attended a charity concert (From The Heart) with several well known musical artists. We had figured we'd be out by 10:00 - 10:30 but it didn't finish until after 12:00! Our original plan had been to drive back to our hotel after (an hour and a half's drive) but had a huge surprise when the lady who organized the concert invited us to stay at "the" local hotel, in a suite she had booked for one of the entertainers. Even without luggage we decided it was an invitation we could not refuse and quickly made our way to the hotel and bed. The next morning we decided instead of driving back down to our hotel and then up to the northern coast again we'd just pack up and head straight there, no make up, clean clothes or anything. With the wind we encountered hair was not a concern, mother nature took that into her own hands! Once again the views were unbelievable! Giant's Causeway and all the other little (and large) treasures that were tucked along the way are beyond description and I'm not sure the pictures will do them justice. The only bad thing that happened was that my camera batteries both ran out. Being that we hadn't made it back to our "home" hotel Friday night nothing was charged and we ran out of phone and camera "power"! We finally made it back last night around 8:30 and quickly collapsed. Neither of us could believe that we were not going to be able muster up the energy for another evening out but we also realized we were going to have an early call this morning.
Sunday morning it was up and out early for a quick dash (2 hours) to Mullingar, in the center of the country. It is located in what the people refer to as the "Midlands" and from what we have seen so far is a lovely town, not too big, but with everything you could want. We made it in time for mass at the cathedral, lunch and then located our B&B. Like I said earlier, it's been a quiet and lazy afternoon. My "driver" is really tired and resting and I'm trying to catch up with my emails and blog. It's will be out for dinner sometime soon and we'll see what other mischief we can get into this evening. Once again please forgive the spelling errors, I promise to take more time to make corrections.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Two for the price of one!
So now I've decided it's probably better just to skip to the present and not try to work my way backwards. The towns not commented on will be in the future when I learn how to add pictures to my blogs. (I'm told that I will learn how so have to believe that it can/will happen.)
So today is Tuesday, July 5th and our day started is the most beautiful rainbow I've ever seen. It was huge and so bright. Then it as off for a fairly early start and lots of adventure. I'm hoping I won't be any more stiff and sore than I already am after a wonderful 2 hour ride on the beach and through the sand dunes in Donegal. Some of the hills were massive and I have to admit that I was quite proud of myself to still be able to sit on a horse and not make a fool of myself. She was a very nice Gypsy horse and extremely well mannered. The back is a little broader than I'm used to but she could not have been sweeter and we had a great ride. My guide was considerate of the fact that it's probably been close to 20 years now since I'd last ridden but felt I did pretty well. I will admit I was most anxious to hit the shower following our excursion just to try and keep from getting too stiff. So now there's just one more "horse" thing left on my list and will be the races at Dundalk a week from today. We'll have to see if I can fare as well there as I have today.
It's very interesting to see all of the huge mountains that Ireland has. I guess I just never realized how many nor how big they would be. Tonight we are staying in the shadow of Benbulbin. While working our way from Westport today we stopped by yet another old cemetery and also Yeats grave at Drumcliff. We also saw one of the (supposed) best high crosses while there as well.
Sorry to make this so short but we're both really tired this evening...guess it was all the fresh air. We have a long drive tomorrow morning with an early start up to Malin Head, the northern most point in Ireland. At least I was finally able to somewhat catch up (even if I did skip three or four days. I do promise to try to stay more current and also to try to write when I'm not going cross-eyed! So off to bed now to listen to the rain on our window and hopefully another rainbow in the morning.
So today is Tuesday, July 5th and our day started is the most beautiful rainbow I've ever seen. It was huge and so bright. Then it as off for a fairly early start and lots of adventure. I'm hoping I won't be any more stiff and sore than I already am after a wonderful 2 hour ride on the beach and through the sand dunes in Donegal. Some of the hills were massive and I have to admit that I was quite proud of myself to still be able to sit on a horse and not make a fool of myself. She was a very nice Gypsy horse and extremely well mannered. The back is a little broader than I'm used to but she could not have been sweeter and we had a great ride. My guide was considerate of the fact that it's probably been close to 20 years now since I'd last ridden but felt I did pretty well. I will admit I was most anxious to hit the shower following our excursion just to try and keep from getting too stiff. So now there's just one more "horse" thing left on my list and will be the races at Dundalk a week from today. We'll have to see if I can fare as well there as I have today.
It's very interesting to see all of the huge mountains that Ireland has. I guess I just never realized how many nor how big they would be. Tonight we are staying in the shadow of Benbulbin. While working our way from Westport today we stopped by yet another old cemetery and also Yeats grave at Drumcliff. We also saw one of the (supposed) best high crosses while there as well.
Sorry to make this so short but we're both really tired this evening...guess it was all the fresh air. We have a long drive tomorrow morning with an early start up to Malin Head, the northern most point in Ireland. At least I was finally able to somewhat catch up (even if I did skip three or four days. I do promise to try to stay more current and also to try to write when I'm not going cross-eyed! So off to bed now to listen to the rain on our window and hopefully another rainbow in the morning.
Unusual 4th of July!
This is certainly a very different 4th for me. Instead of BBQ with some of my best friends and drinking margaritas, I'm 5500 miles away from home drinking Irish whiskey, Guinness and Bulmers and having Boxty and crab claws (not at the same time!). Just wish those same friends and others, were here.
Internet connections have been spotty. Sometimes you can get on with no problem but in a little while it throws you off and is very slow at best. Fingers crossed that it will hold tonight. I've been very lax in writing but there is so much to absorb.
I'm going to go backwards (trying to remember everything)....
Today we spent time at Kylemore Abby which looks like a fairy tale. You walk towards it and think it's a "model" of a Disney castle or something along those lines. It's just so perfect looking. It's is still being used as a private school, run by the nuns, on some of the most inspiring grounds. The view from the front door would make anyone want to live there. One gentleman walked into the dinning room commenting "not bad." I responded he'd possibly tolerate it and he agreed. The formal Victorian walled garden was massive and beautiful. Unfortunately I just could not walk it today with all the steep hills (more of why later). Had a great visit with one of the gardeners and was able to still get a number of pictures...thank goodness for telephoto lenses! Earlier in the day we went to Connemara (famous for it's ponies and marble). I know I say that everything is beautiful but it is! Each area is so unique. We drove the "loop" today stopping about every five minutes for pictures. Wonderful little waterfalls and streams along the way, peatbogs and phenomenal mountains. Lots of winding roads but fortunately not too many buses today. We finished our day with dinner on the Quay...not our usual 4th of July celebration but I'm not complaining.
Yesterday had an early start heading over to the Aran Islands. Huge crowds what with all the tour buses and our boat was oversold. We wound up having to sail to the middle island and then change boats in order to Inishmore. Once there we caught a tour around the island which will drop you at Dun Angus (sp?). It's an old circle fort that no one seems to know what it's purpose truly was. It's at the top of a very steep, rocky climb (hence the reason why I was able to do more today) but I made it to the top. The payoff was worth it for the views. Cliffs and oceans views that went forever. Built on limestone you wonder why they chose that particular area so dense with rock all around...at least they had plenty of building materials. After arriving back in Speiddal late our hostess at the B&B we were staying at had a wonderful dinner waiting for us so that we could relax for a bit before heading to "Trad on the Prom," a musical review of Irish music and dance with performers from River Dance and other similar shows. Incrediably talented musicians and the dancers were multi-timed champions. Well worth the effort to see. We stayed a a B&B that my fellow traveler had used her last time in Ireland. It's not advertised but for anyone staying in Connemara I can highly recommend it. The owners are the nicest people and made you feel like they were friends or family. Great conversation and so interesting. Wish we'd had a LOT more time to spend there just so we could visit with them. A very heavy musical history to them and could listen to them talk all night.
Saturday was our cooking class! Now maybe I can make my own brown bread. Love that stuff!! We also made scones, Date & Nut Bread with Guinness (you should have smelled that one baking...YUM!), and a Salmon and Leek Quiche, and yes, I even ate some of that! :) The day before we went to the Cliffs of Mohr and the Burren. I'm starting to think that our ancesstors were part mountain goat as everything seems to be at the top of mountains that have to be climbed and not a gentle slope either. One thing's for sure, I am getting my exercise.
Okay, so now I'm going to close this blog as the wifi kicked me off yet again (last night) and it's now Tuesday and I have no idea of where I am with this. New one to start soon.
Internet connections have been spotty. Sometimes you can get on with no problem but in a little while it throws you off and is very slow at best. Fingers crossed that it will hold tonight. I've been very lax in writing but there is so much to absorb.
I'm going to go backwards (trying to remember everything)....
Today we spent time at Kylemore Abby which looks like a fairy tale. You walk towards it and think it's a "model" of a Disney castle or something along those lines. It's just so perfect looking. It's is still being used as a private school, run by the nuns, on some of the most inspiring grounds. The view from the front door would make anyone want to live there. One gentleman walked into the dinning room commenting "not bad." I responded he'd possibly tolerate it and he agreed. The formal Victorian walled garden was massive and beautiful. Unfortunately I just could not walk it today with all the steep hills (more of why later). Had a great visit with one of the gardeners and was able to still get a number of pictures...thank goodness for telephoto lenses! Earlier in the day we went to Connemara (famous for it's ponies and marble). I know I say that everything is beautiful but it is! Each area is so unique. We drove the "loop" today stopping about every five minutes for pictures. Wonderful little waterfalls and streams along the way, peatbogs and phenomenal mountains. Lots of winding roads but fortunately not too many buses today. We finished our day with dinner on the Quay...not our usual 4th of July celebration but I'm not complaining.
Yesterday had an early start heading over to the Aran Islands. Huge crowds what with all the tour buses and our boat was oversold. We wound up having to sail to the middle island and then change boats in order to Inishmore. Once there we caught a tour around the island which will drop you at Dun Angus (sp?). It's an old circle fort that no one seems to know what it's purpose truly was. It's at the top of a very steep, rocky climb (hence the reason why I was able to do more today) but I made it to the top. The payoff was worth it for the views. Cliffs and oceans views that went forever. Built on limestone you wonder why they chose that particular area so dense with rock all around...at least they had plenty of building materials. After arriving back in Speiddal late our hostess at the B&B we were staying at had a wonderful dinner waiting for us so that we could relax for a bit before heading to "Trad on the Prom," a musical review of Irish music and dance with performers from River Dance and other similar shows. Incrediably talented musicians and the dancers were multi-timed champions. Well worth the effort to see. We stayed a a B&B that my fellow traveler had used her last time in Ireland. It's not advertised but for anyone staying in Connemara I can highly recommend it. The owners are the nicest people and made you feel like they were friends or family. Great conversation and so interesting. Wish we'd had a LOT more time to spend there just so we could visit with them. A very heavy musical history to them and could listen to them talk all night.
Saturday was our cooking class! Now maybe I can make my own brown bread. Love that stuff!! We also made scones, Date & Nut Bread with Guinness (you should have smelled that one baking...YUM!), and a Salmon and Leek Quiche, and yes, I even ate some of that! :) The day before we went to the Cliffs of Mohr and the Burren. I'm starting to think that our ancesstors were part mountain goat as everything seems to be at the top of mountains that have to be climbed and not a gentle slope either. One thing's for sure, I am getting my exercise.
Okay, so now I'm going to close this blog as the wifi kicked me off yet again (last night) and it's now Tuesday and I have no idea of where I am with this. New one to start soon.
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