We must have struck once a year weather for the ferry trip from Ireland to France, we didn’t even need to break open the travel sickness tablets. There’s an instant change driving off the ferry at France, poppy’s and sculptured trees line the streets, the houses are more ornate and it’s so green. We stopped by the abbey on Mont St Michel and wandered up the narrow cobbled streets lined with tourist shops leading to the Abbey. This place is amazing, a maze of steep steps, huge rooms and chapels, with gardens and terraces. We got there quite late which was [View Full Entry]

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It’s our last day in Ireland and we’ve had simply perfect weather. It’s 25 today but it’s been in the low 20’s mostly and not a drop of rain. In fact we’ve only had a half day of drizzle during the whole trip. Must have been all the raincoats and umbrellas I packed. [View Full Entry]

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We met a very interesting Irish guy who told us about some untouristy places to visit and the history involved with them. This guy can talk for hours, but the stories he tells....turns out he used to be with the IRA and the Irish Gardia (police) and is now a bodyguard to people who could be under threat, diplomats, celebrities, drug lords etc. ,whenever they want to travel. He comes here to de-stress and catch up on his hobby of Irish Myths and Legends. He’s a fascinating guy and full of information (with perhaps a bit of blarney thrown in). He [View Full Entry]

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Wow, Kilkenny Hostel is sensational. It’s a small castle with a stone wall surrounding a beautiful garden. Our room is in a little room built into the wall of the garden. Walking through arched doorways into a courtyard then into the main castle we found the dining area to be just like the dining area at Bunratty only cozier and warmer. As we climbed the spiral staircase we found a sitting room with easels and paintings in progress then further still other dorm rooms until we reached the top. We got the key to have a look at the topmost room [View Full Entry]

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...not really, so on our way we stopped by Bunratty Castle. Mainly so the kids could see what these old castles would have looked like when people actually lived in them and the houses of the villagers of the time. I found it fascinating…they were excited about seeing roosters and peacocks. But I’m sure some of the old village life wore off on them too. The hostel is an old hunting lodge in the woods by the side of a small river. We have the place to ourselves. There’s no electricity so it’s gas lights and open fires, I love it. [View Full Entry]

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We went for a drive around the countryside this morning. Boy there’s lots of stones in Ireland. Stones and sheep. We drove towards The Cliffs of Moher to have a look. As we’ve found out everywhere in Ireland they want to charge a small fortune to have a look at any thing. 8euro ($14) to park the car and then we would have had to buy a ticket to look out over the cliffs. No way. Ireland is much more expensive then I thought. Wine, eating out and seeing anything, even if it is natural, is all outrageously priced. Came across [View Full Entry]

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We’ve arrived in Lahinch, 1 ½ hours south of Galway. It’s a really cute little seaside village. The weather is perfect about 22-24C, as it has been for the last couple of days. And our hostel is two doors away from the beach front promenade. It’s a surfing mecca would you believe, they are obviously wetsuited from head to foot but the surf looks great. Darren was almost tempeted to hire a board ...till he felt the water. The tide comes right up to the rock wall at high tide but exposes a huge expanse of sand at low tide. I [View Full Entry]

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The drive across Ireland was not looking promising, it’s not ugly but it’s no where near as pretty as England and Wales have been, Galway though has redeemed my spirits. It’s gorgeous; it has a lively (and touristy) lane down the middle of town with quaint streets and shops running off it. Our hostel’s in this lane with bars and restaurants all around, busker’s playing music downstairs. And people are speaking Irish (and English with a few other languages as well). Now I’m happy. [View Full Entry]

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Dublin….what a disappointment. Brisbane is nicer and more interesting. I took us right instead of left and we ended up in some very unsavory spot. Polish shops everywhere. After looking at a few places of interest on the map and finding them all quite ordinary, touristy and overpriced. $30 to have a wander through the church! We made our way to the temple bar area, it’s the only area that looked even remotely interesting but, as expected, very touristy. Irish music was coming from a pub so we thought we’d lash out and at least get an Irish feeling, cost us [View Full Entry]

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We’re driving through Northern Wales to catch the Irish ferry tomorrow; passing so many sweet little villages. We stopped to have a look at the ruins of a castle but they wanted to charge too much to have a closer look. As we drove through Conwy we noticed a huge castle with the old town surrounded by fortified walls. What a lucky find this town is. We were able to walk along the walls which still run completely around the town. Then we came to the castle and just had to have a look inside. It was fascinating. The town is [View Full Entry]

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