Inis Mor

It was a long but uneventful drive from Kilarney to Rossenvael (sp) for the ferry to Inis Mor (big island in Gealic). We made it in plenty of time for the 12:00 ferry. One word of advice, don´t park at the 1st car park if you can avoid it. There is another one alot closer to the ferry. It was fun sitting on the ferry watching all the folks who´d parked at the further car park and were close to the departure time run to get the ferry! It only took about 1/2 an hour to get to the island. The island was just as quaint and old-fashioned as you read. After dragging our luggage up the hill to Mainistir Hostel (which was alot further than we´d expected, so take a mini'bus if its in your budget), we dumped it off in our room and headed back down for some lunch. We ate at the Ilonis Aengus (sp) Cafe and it was quite good and inexpensive. Next we headed back down to the port to rent a couple of bikes. By this time it was after 3pm and the first rental place still wanted 10 Euros each to rent until 6pm! We checked with Aran Bike Hire and they gave us a deal to return them the next morning before we got on the ferry, at 10 Euros each and no deposit! After a bit of shopping, we started out grand bike tour of the island. It was fun, but very tiring, especially after out 3 hour wrong turn to see one of the forts that took us up and over 1/2 the island between rock walls and desolate landscape, just to run into a dead end and have to backtrack! If you see a sign on the road to the lighthouse saying something like Dun Eochiastata, or some such.... don´t do it! By the time we got back to the road and to the turn off for Dun Aengus (the main ruin on the island), we were too tired and it was too late. Another tip, bring plenty of water or drink...places to buy anything are few and far between and hard cider doesn´t taste so good after it gets warm! When we finally got back to the hostel, it was almost 8pm (it doesn´t get dark until around 10pm or so) and so when the hostel folks told us they would be serving dinner at 8pm...well, we bit! Although 15 Euros each, the dinner was excellent...vegatarion sort of, but with a shrimp dish and salmon it was quite good. The hostel was nice enouigh, although not quite as nice as we´d thought. Well, we´re in Galway Airport (free wi-fi) and heading for Barcelona via Dublin. Will try to get some photos of Inis Mor up soon.

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