Saturday, March 31, 2012
Slea Head pt 3
Lunch at the beach. Lily found a cool little cave to explore. Then we all climbed on the cliffs while Melissa pretended we weren't about to kill ourselves.
Slea Head pt 2
Melissa's favorite spot - the stream comes out of the mountain and runs across the road. You just drive through it.
Slea Head pt 1
Drove around the perimeter of the Dingle peninsula this morning. I'm getting tired of typing the word 'spectacular' but it's the only word that applies. The ocean, the rocky cliffs, the sheep. We visited the Drombeg Fort, built in 500 BC and still standing. The kids liked climbing around in the beehive huts and chasing sheep. 
Chicken
Here's a typical road in the western part of the country. The faint of heart end up in the hedges.
Castlewood Hotel
Our place in Dingle. Great location, beautiful building. Helen and Brian, the owners of the place, are fantastically friendly and a wealth of local knowledge. Breakfast was phenomenal.
Also pictured is the view from our room.
Melissa loved the basket of hand-knitted shawls by the front door, in case you'd like to sit out front and enjoy the view.
Also pictured is the view from our room.
Melissa loved the basket of hand-knitted shawls by the front door, in case you'd like to sit out front and enjoy the view.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Fungie!
In all our trips to Dingle we have never tried to see the Dolphin that has resided in Dingle Bay for over 20 years. We arrived ahead of schedule today and the sun came out so we decided to give it a try. After all, if you don't site Fungie the boat ride is free. After about 30 minutes of cruising Fungie did appear and we kept him in site for another half-hour. He would periodically surface near the boat. He has an odd story as Dolphins are migratory and very social, however Fungie does not migrate or live with other Dolphins. Some believe that the fishing and tour boats form part of his social network. On the way back to the dock our guide admitted that in the past 14 years only about five tours have returned without siting him.
Connor Pass
Today Rob touted this road as "the third most-dangerous road in the world". At one point in the mountain pass the road narrows to a single lane. Downward traffic has the right of way, so you may have to back partway down the mountain to let another car pass. But the views are spectacular and worth Rob's knuckles turning a little white. At a turnout the kids practiced their impressions of mountain goats.
Ferry Crossing
We caught the 9:00 AM ferry out of Killimer. It was a harrowing trip to the ferry as we made a wrong turn, then Lily got carsick (that part is not pictured.) We made it just in time. The crossing was picturesque but chilly.
Legendary McDonalds
When Rob and Melissa honeymooned in Tralee they discovered a McDonald's serving hot caramel apple pie a la mode. It has become a good story over the years so of course we had to stop by on our way through Tralee. Unfortunately they no longer serve the treat we remembered. However Sam was delighted to find that they now serve donuts. The legacy continues.
Last night in the castle
The kids are lounging in the lap of luxury. As we leave the following morning, the castle is shrouded in mist. Or maybe Rob's vision is dimming after seeing the final bill.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Cliffs
We spent the afternoon at the Cliffs of Moher and enjoyed a quick picnic at the base of King John's tower. The cliffs are far more spectacular than the pictures would indicate. Sam was a bit disappointed that they don't let you get close enough to see (or spit) directly over the edge.
I have to say, the difference between what it was like when we visited 12 years ago and now was shocking. There used to be a small gravel parking lot outside a small visitor information booth, and a few signs here and there reminding you to try not to walk off the edge. Now there's a huge underground visitor center with a virtual reality tour theater (if you're not interested in the actual reality tour right outside) and a gift shop mall and a huge concrete off-loading area for tour buses and it's sort of ridiculous. It's the most 'American-like' tourist spot we've visited so far. The cliffs are still impressive, but the experience is not quite what it was.
I have to say, the difference between what it was like when we visited 12 years ago and now was shocking. There used to be a small gravel parking lot outside a small visitor information booth, and a few signs here and there reminding you to try not to walk off the edge. Now there's a huge underground visitor center with a virtual reality tour theater (if you're not interested in the actual reality tour right outside) and a gift shop mall and a huge concrete off-loading area for tour buses and it's sort of ridiculous. It's the most 'American-like' tourist spot we've visited so far. The cliffs are still impressive, but the experience is not quite what it was.
Bunratty Castle
Early morning at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, just outside of Limerick. First ones there - we beat the tour buses!
The castle itself is fully furnished and you can wander around wherever you like. However, since we were the only ones in the castle at the time, the gentleman that was opening everything up let Sam climb the tower steps with him and raise the castle flag. (He said Sam is the only tourist that has ever had that honor.) Then he unlocked an out-of-the-way door and showed them the dungeon, which was really just a big hole off the main receiving room, but still. Cool!
They have a sort of medieval village on the grounds that we wandered for a while, and we came across two Irish wolfhounds. I think that was the favorite event for the kids. The kids are pictured below with the smaller dog.
The castle itself is fully furnished and you can wander around wherever you like. However, since we were the only ones in the castle at the time, the gentleman that was opening everything up let Sam climb the tower steps with him and raise the castle flag. (He said Sam is the only tourist that has ever had that honor.) Then he unlocked an out-of-the-way door and showed them the dungeon, which was really just a big hole off the main receiving room, but still. Cool!
They have a sort of medieval village on the grounds that we wandered for a while, and we came across two Irish wolfhounds. I think that was the favorite event for the kids. The kids are pictured below with the smaller dog.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Bits and bobs
Here is what the money looks like. There's also a five euro note and two cent piece.
I had to snap this picture quickly - this money refuses to stay in your possession very long.
UPDATE: Hah! For some reason, the picture won't upload. Told you. I'll try again later.
I had to snap this picture quickly - this money refuses to stay in your possession very long.
UPDATE: Hah! For some reason, the picture won't upload. Told you. I'll try again later.
Our car
This is our Peugeot. It's a diesel and it gets 40-45 mpg. Which is great, considering that gas is about $8.50 per gallon. We went more than 500 miles before filling up. Nice.
School of Falconry
Best vacation activity EVER. TJ is a two-year-old Harris hawk that we accompanied around the grounds of Dromoland Castle this afternoon. We thought maybe we'd each get to handle the bird once, but we each received our own leather glove. As Jim the falconer walked us through the woods and educated us about the history and details of hawking, he would set the hawk free to fly into the trees, then place a small bit of beef on one of our gloves and down would swoop TJ to land on your arm and gobble up his treat.
Jim admitted that he'd taught TJ some bad habits. On several early walks, TJ had hopped on someone's head and Jim had quickly held out a treat to get him down. The hawk quickly learned that if he wanted a treat, he should jump on somebody's head.
It's amazing how light and delicate they are. Am I rambling? It seems like it, but I can't really express how incredible this was. You're standing there with a hawk on your arm, and you can barely believe it's happening.
After the walk, we visited the mews where they keep their other dozen hawks, falcons and owls. Pretty amazing.
Not sure we'll be able to top this.
Jim admitted that he'd taught TJ some bad habits. On several early walks, TJ had hopped on someone's head and Jim had quickly held out a treat to get him down. The hawk quickly learned that if he wanted a treat, he should jump on somebody's head.
It's amazing how light and delicate they are. Am I rambling? It seems like it, but I can't really express how incredible this was. You're standing there with a hawk on your arm, and you can barely believe it's happening.
After the walk, we visited the mews where they keep their other dozen hawks, falcons and owls. Pretty amazing.
Not sure we'll be able to top this.
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