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Published: April 10th 2011
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Dunguaire Castle
I really wanted to see the inside of this castle it is apparently done up as it was 500 years ago, however, they aren't open until Easter. Today started out a little rockier than I would have liked, I went to shower and there was no hot water. I waited…still no hot water…I asked the host and she said it will take a few minutes. So we decided to eat (great breakfast – I should mention we’ve not yet had a “true Irish breakfast” we are lightweights and just have eggs and toast every morning which suits us just find). So we had breakfast while I sneered at all of the freshly showered guests. We then returned to hot water and all was well in the world. Today we are going to Galway and then up to Clifden a little bit longer of a day. We got our previously soiled pants and coats back all sparkling clean and were off. It is such pretty scenery we went through the Burren which made both of us laugh because one of Cromwell’s surveyors apparently said “a savage land, yielding neither water enough to drown a man, nor tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury” – I expected savage and almost demanded it….however, traveling on the N67 you just see a bit of it, I guess you have to
Galway
What a great little city, the sister city of Seattle as the signs would say get out and trek through it.
We got into Galway and parked at the first car park which is near Eyre Square and walked along. It is a great city, lots of cool shops we are getting a little tired of pub food after two meals a day for over a week we wanted something different, so we saw Rivive Café which has wraps and other delicious lunch items, so good. If you’re in Galway go there it’s on Eyre Street and High Street they had seating upstairs and great views from the windows for people watching. There was also a really neat toy store Wooden Heart Natural Toys on Wood Quay Street, really cool toys quite spendy but cool. We also went to Thomas Dillon and bought some original Claddagh pieces. Overall Galway was great.
Then on through Connemara National Park, we were looking eyes peeled for ponies but none were found, there were lots of signs advertizing the stud farm, or buying ponies but no ponies.
We were then off to Clifden, we went first to the downtown and looked around the craft shops they have a lovely jewelry shop right as you get in that
Galway
Like I've been saying a postcard on almost every turn is making traditional Celtic jewelry, O’Donaghe (I think I may have butchered that, anyhow there is a huge image of a woman and then a name above the door, the woman is wearing a cloak) this should discern it from all other buildings in Clifden.
We decided since the sun was out that we should take it all in and have a pint – we along with several (20 or so) French school boys on holiday. Hysterical, they were all sitting around drinking beer and smoking. Oh yeah and all looked like they were 15 years old, I wanted to card each one of them, but though I should just have a pint myself.
Ten we went to our B&B which is called Ardmore House, it was stunning! Best B&B yet, more like a 5 star hotel, our hostess was waiting by the door when we pulled in and so nice and friendly. We got all situated and then she told us we could take a walk down to the cliffs behind her house…only a 5 minute walk. So we did and it was just amazing. We could lie in the grass and look over the edge and
it was just breathtaking.
We went off to Clifden downtown for dinner we were told the best food in Clifden, although pricy is Mitchell’s so we went there. It was 23 Euros for a three course, I had the mussels, steak and meringue, it was delicious, and although it was a little more upscale and only fitting that it was all hands on deck to entertain Zoe. We opted for our dessert to be ‘take away’ or ‘to go’ in the States. On the way back from dinner we decided to do the Sky Road on the way back as the sun was setting, this was quite gorgeous, but also a wee bit treacherous since it made seeing the hairpin turns hard at times. Although we made it and it was just breathtaking. Ireland doesn’t lack beauty that is for sure.
Back at our lovely B&B we got all sorted out for tomorrow’s drive; we are heading up north to Killybegs with many stops along the way.
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