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.
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