Day 16 started early with us leaving the B&B by 6:30 AM. Getting gas, making it to the airport, and turning in the rental car was painless as well. The flights went well and we had a newer plane for the long haul so we were able to watch movies on-demand from the in-seat-screen tv’s instead of relying on the air crew to start/stop the movies at specified times. I bought a power adaptor for the netbook so it would work on the plane (the one I had already didn’t work on the flight over so I assumed it was dead) so I had my own entertainment as well (Office DVDs via my sister!). We all got home and went to bed (separately, of course).
Posts tagged ‘Ireland’
Day 15 was our last full day in Ireland. It started out with breakfast and then we headed into Malahide to catch the train to Dublin.
Once in Dublin we split up – Amber and I went to the Kilmainham Gaol (jail) and Kathy and Carol went to the National Museum. Amber and I got on the HOHO (hop on hop off) bus to get to the jail and once there quickly got to take a tour of the jail.
After that we took the bus again to the Temple Bar area where we got lunch and beer. We then started walking toward Grafton street and randomly ran into Kathy and Carol. We all then did a little more shopping before heading back to the train and taking it back to Malahide. Once back in Malahide we drove back to the B&B and started getting ready for the return trip tomorrow.
We all packed a bit, had random food we had been carrying around for days for dinner, then went to bed.
Ireland Guinness pint count: 29
Day 14 started like the rest with breakfast and us getting in the car and driving somewhere. We were headed back to the Republic of Ireland to return to the first B&B we stayed at and were very eager to get back to something familiar. Along the way all we had planned was stopping a Newgrange – a 5000 year old (older than the pyramids in Egypt and Stonehenge in Britain) burial site/passage tomb/passage grave. I wasn’t quite sure what it was or what to expect.
The drive out of Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland was easy and went by fairly quickly – I was eager to get back to the high speeds (as they’re kilometers per hour) in the Republic and the awesome move-left-into-the-shoulder passing mechanism that I’ve come to love so much.
Newgrange is accessible by bus only so you have to go to the visitor center and get a specific tour time to access the site. Luckily, our tour time was about 15 minutes from when we arrived so we didn’t have to wait long. The bus ride to the site is quick and once there you have a guided tour of the site with a few minutes at the end to wander by yourself before having to catch the bus back. The entire trip is about an hour.
At the site they tell you a bit of history about the structure and what they think it was used for – it’s 5000 years old so no one really knows for sure what it is or how/when it was used – and then you get to go inside. It’s quite cramped and the 25 or so of us in the tour group barely fit. The passageway into the single dome shaped tomb area is quite small forcing just about everyone to duck and/or squeeze in between the rocks when passing through. Once inside they explain that only on certain days near the winter solstice does sunlight ever make it into the tomb. It is thought that on these days the ashes of those placed inside the tomb would go to the next dimension/world/whatever. The whole thing was quite incredible and somber.
After Newgrange we got lunch and headed to Malahide where the B&B was. Once there we got the same rooms we used before and had some tea and scones – the scones were awesome! A little bit later Amber and I went into town and I had a couple of beers and then we picked up pizza and brought it back for us all to eat. After that it was bed.
Ireland Guinness pint count: 28
Day 13 started out with breakfast once again and then we were off to see Giants Causeway, Bushmills Distillery, and Dunluce Castle.
We got to Giants Causeway quite easily and still quite early and immediately took the route to see the actual rocks rather than the scenic route that finally loops you around to the rocks. After lots of pictures we then went to the wishing chair thing then up the hillside to the ampitheatre area then finally back up the 162 stairs to the top of the hill overlooking it all and back to the visitors center. It was quite a sight. At the visitor center we had lunch and then we were off to Bushmills Distillery.
At Bushmills we had to wait for a tour time so we went to the gift shop first and returned to the main area for the tour once it was time. The tour was just a tour where you see where and how they make the whiskey (note the “e” in whiskey meaning it’s been triple distilled – apparently “whisky” without the “e” means it hasn’t been triple distilled). You walk from building to building with the tour guide while he walks you through the process and it gets beaten into your head that 1) Bushmills is triple distilled, 2) Scottish whisky is only distilled twice and 3) other whisky is only distilled once. I guess they really want you to know this fact since they say it so many times. The tour ends in the “1608 Bar” where you get a complementary drink. Amber got the 400th anniversary one, Kathy got Black Bush, Carol got a hot toddy thing, and I got the Special Reserve (which they don’t sell/distribute/export except for in their gift shop).
After Bushmills we started heading back toward Derry but only after stopping at Dunluce Castle. Part of this castle fell into the sea in 1639 while servants were preparing dinner and 7 of them or so – the servants – fell into the sea with the castle. Walls and the basic floor plan are all that remain of the castle today but it’s still cool to walk around.
We were then back on our way to Derry driving sooooooooooo slow. Northern Ireland uses miles as its distances and miles per hour for speed so it feels like you just crawl along compared to using kilometers and kilometers per hour down in the Republic of Ireland. They also don’t seem to have or use the awesome passing mechanism that the Republic of Ireland has whereby the slow car can drive entirely in the shoulder while others pass in the driving lane and it works even if there are tons of oncoming cars. I absolutely love this setup in the Republic of Ireland and have used it extensively for the past 13 days or so – that is when the roads are actually big/wide enough to implement it – and what’s even better is that the slow cars you pass aren’t all pissy or upset that they’re being passed and they willingly move over to the left to let you pass. This would never work in the US.
Back in Derry we headed out to Badgers again for dinner and it was delicous once again. Amber got her own pint of Smithwicks too and finished it all by herself! As we were leaving we realized we hadn’t gotten a picture of this momentus feat so she’ll have to do it once again for posterity’s sake.
Back at the B&B it was bed time.
Ireland Guinness pint count: 26
Day 12 started out with breakfast at the crappy B&B and then we were out of there as soon as we could get out. We didn’t have much planned – it was mainly a driving day. We needed to get to Derry (northern Ireland) from Sligo and I wanted to stop at a dolmen.
We got to the dolmen area pretty easily but the dolmen itself wasn’t viewable from the road so after asking some locals at the “Dolmen Centre” place building thing they pointed out where we needed to walk. As soon as we got on the private land and trail that the dolmen was on, we were greeted by a black-ish dog that turned out to be our tour guide. He would eventually guide us right to the dolmen but only after we encountered some very deadly horses. The horses were blocking the trail but Amber got them to move. I thought that would be the end of the horses but sadly it wasn’t.
I got to the dolmen first, the Kilclooney Dolmen, and was taking pictures and everything was going fine until the horses flipped out and started charging at us. These horses were crazy and out for blood. Amber enjoyed it greatly as one of the horses pinned me up almost against the dolmen with its deadly feet ready to kick my direction. After some tricky maneuvering, and Amber telling me to just get down, I managed to escape and find my way back to the car but not after a second encounter with a different horse!
After barely escaping the second horses’ charging I was free of these maniacal vermin and could breathe easy once again. Once the others caught up to me (& for some reason they didn’t have any horse troubles) we went in the Dolmen Centre for bathrooms and a postcard. We were then back on our way to Derry.
On our way to Derry we stopped in Balleyfogey for lunch at some Nighthawks Cafe place and then were back on the road.
The drive from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland was quite uneventful and was really only noticed by the speed limit signs changing to MPH and the road names changing. I wanted tanks, troops, demilitarized zones, etc. but there was nothing – just crossing a bridge and noticing license plates changing.
After getting to the B&B in Derry we walked around a bit seeing some of the murals and the area where Bloody Sunday took place and eventually making our way up into the old walled city and walking on the wall for a bit and then going into the Guild Hall (which looks like a big church). It had some awesome stained glass windows – some of the best in Ireland allegedly.
After that we walked around some shopping areas and found a place the B&B guy had recommended for dinner – Badgers. The food was pretty good and I had two pints of Guinness and one Smithwicks Irish Ale. Amber actually liked the Smithwicks, too!
After that it was back to the B&B and time for bed.
Ireland Guinness pint count: 25
Day 11 started out with awesome french toast (for me) from the B&B before we headed off. We had a lot of driving to do so we left semi-early.
While still in county Galway we stopped at Aughnanure Castle which was pretty awesome. I really like the places that let you wander around on your own (at least at some point). There were lots of rooms in the castle and most seemed to be accessible.
After that we were on our way to find the Quiet Man Bridge (where John Wayne sat in a scene from the Quiet Man) and then some Sky Drive road near Clifden that the B&B lady had recommended. Sky Drive had some awesome views of the ocean for the first bit but the latter two thirds wasn’t that impressive. Continuing on we headed toward Kylemore Abbey.
We only took pictures at Kylemore Abbey as, according to Rick Steves, that’s the best part (and going in costs money). After Kylemore Abbey we had lunch in Westport at some Stuffed Sandwich Shop place and it was pretty good! Amber got a toastie and I got a panini – hers looked better.
After Westport we were on our way to Sligo and our B&B there but when we arrived the B&B lady said she had made some mistake and that our rooms were no longer available. I guess booking the rooms months in advance and then checking up on them a week in advance is stupid to do? Anyway, because of her mistake she had booked us at a nearby place which ultimately kind of sucked. Amber picked specific B&B’s based on internet reviews and recommendations so going off route on something like this, and with not being able to check it out online first, is quite a leap into the unknown. Luckily the second place was at least habitable, barely.
After getting to the second B&B we walked into downtown Sligo which was pretty sketchy itself and after finding no good places to eat at we got bread and cheese and walked back to the B&B. After eating bread & cheese I went off to a local pub and had two pints of Guinness while watching the news. After that it was bedtime.
Ireland Guinness pint count: 23
Day 10 started with french toast for breakfast (for me, at least) and it was awesome and then we were on the way. We were heading for the Cliffs of Moher and wanting to get there early before everyone showed up so we tried to leave semi-early.
On the way to the Cliffs of Moher we stopped at a random beach in Lahinch for some pictures and then were back on our way.
The Cliffs of Moher were fantastic and we spent a good deal of time there out in the wind. We got lots of pictures and then hit up the gift shop and were on our way again.
We stopped to eat leftover pizza at a turnout near some limestone hill thing in the Burren and then drove on to the B&B in Galway (which is a big city and the driving got a bit crazy).
Once we were settled in the B&B, and because it was still quite early, we took a bus into Galway City Centre and walked around for a bit. I got a pint of Guinness and we ate at Couch Potatas – a place with tons of various baked potato menu items (we were all tired of french fries so potatos in a different form were very welcomed). After dinner we caught the bus back to the B&B and called it a night.
Ireland Guinness pint count: 21
Day 9 started off a tad earlier than the previous day as we all woke up kind of early and were ready to get on the road to our next destination.
We left Dingle and headed up the road to Conner Pass. There was a heavy fog and it still lingered when we got to the top of the pass and the lookout parking lot so we didn’t see much. On our way down we stopped at a waterfall which has a hidden glacial lake if you’re adventurous and want to climb some rocks. Amber and I were both feeling adventurous and climbed the rocks up to the lake but the fog prevented us from getting the awesome views that were allegedly there. Once we had climbed down we were back on our way.
We drove for a bit and stopped in Tralee for a bathroom and coffee break and then were once again on our way.
The next stop was Limerick where we had lunch at Luigi Malone’s and briefly walked around before heading out once again.
We then stopped at Bunratty Castle where Amber and I toured the castle while Carol and Kathy walked around outside (they didn’t want to pay the high admission cost). The castle was pretty cool and it was a self-guided tour so we got to walk up and down and all around without any hassle.
After that we headed to the B&B where we unpacked and then decided on pizza delivery for dinner. We split the delivery cost with 2 other women who were staying there and we also made sure we got enough to have leftovers while we drove the next day. After that was bed – no pints today.
Ireland Guinness pint count: 20
We did the Slea Head Drive around the Dingle Peninsula on day 8. The day started out pretty relaxed with us having a ‘late’ breakfast followed by the usual hitting up a bakery in town and then heading out for the days driving.
The Slea Head Drive is a lot smaller of a route than the Ring of Kerry route but still has awesome sites and awesome views. We stopped many times for pictures and some of the notable stops were for Dunbeg Fort, Bee Hive Huts, and the Galorus Oratory.
We ended up back in Dingle where we walked around a bunch and ultimately ate dinner. I had another pint of Guinness in the town and also a Smithwicks Irish Ale while watching football while the ladies shopped and then we all ate dinner.
Ireland Guinness pint count: 20
Day 7 started out with a late breakfast – banana pancakes for me! – and then we were off from Kenmare to Killarney to check out some sites before ultimately heading to Dingle.
In Killarney we walked around a bit before going in to St. Mary’s Cathedral and then after that we walked a bit through the Killarney National Forest to see Deenagh Lodge and Ross Castle. We only got to walk around the main castle building at Ross castle as to see the rest – go throughout the main multi-floor building that still remains – requires going with a tour guide and the next tour time was 50 minutes away. Oh well; the outside was pretty cool at least.
After that we ate at a small cafe back in Killarney town centre area then got in the car and headed toward Dingle. Along the way we stopped at a little beach in a town called Inch but didn’t stay for too long. We got to Dingle without issue and checked into the B&B then went into the town to shop a bit and get dinner. I stopped in for a pint at Hannie Agnes’s while the ladies walked & shopped around. We then met up and had dinner at another pub where I got another pint.
After dinner we headed back to the B&B where Kathy and Amber stayed while Carol and I drove back into town for music and more beer. The music wasn’t nearly as good as in Kenmare – even at multiple places – so we came back to the B&B around 10:30 PM (music starts around 9:30 PM).
Ireland Guinness Pint Count: 19