Blogs from Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland, Europe - page 2

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Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle September 14th 2012

When I woke up I took my time and then went out to explore Dingle some more. By the time I found a bakery I was famished, yet again, so I got a scone and it was one of the best food decisions I made: buttery and flakey with plenty of raisins, and filling enough to raise my energy level--and blood sugar level. While munching my scone I wandered into a little pottery shop to look around. The shopkeeper and I ended up having a long talk--or rather he talked and I listened--about politics, Noam Chomsky, Mitt Romney, and how he studied political science in Dublin. He managed to express all of his opinions of these things without coming across as pompous or manipulative, which was really quite a feat. He was probably about 75, very ... read more
The Garden Cafe
Dingle
The distracting cows

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle September 14th 2012

I woke up early for breakfast, and ate with the whole family from Washington. I tried the traditional Irish breakfast: poached egg, bacon, tomato, and black and white pudding--yes, I tried the pudding! I thought both the black and white pudding were good, they just tasted like spicy sausage, only cut into rounds instead of being shaped like links. The Washington family had visited Dingle for a day while staying in Tralee, so they told me about the town and by the end of breakfast, I was very excited to go. We said goodbye, I said goodbye to Mary, and I left for the bus station to take a morning bus to Dingle. Lots of young people were on my bus. More than I'd seen on any bus since being in Ireland. There was a dark-haired ... read more
Dingle town
Dingle view
Dingle town

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle September 8th 2012

When I got back to the B&B, Mary helped hook me up with a Ring of Kerry tour. She made a phonecall and it was all settled. I'd go to Killarney to pick up the tour; that way I'd see a new town and go on the tour I wanted. I got up early, and with Mary's salmon-and-egg breakfast I was off! I had a truly great day, talking and meeting and spending money and taking pictures in and around the Ring. I met Michael and Mary, an older Irish married couple from Kendare, I believe, who were my bus buddies and photo-taking buddies. Michael and I sat next to each other on the bus; he made himself laugh a lot with the stories he told me. I also met fellow single gals Maria and Eileen—both ... read more
Eileen and I
Ring of Kerry view
Michael and I

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle September 8th 2012

I got a big disappointment today (9/5)—the bus to the Ring of Kerry from Tralee has stopped running now that peak summer season is over. So I might not be able to go after all. After hearing that news I walked around to find food again. I didn't eat until 5:00pm today (aka 17:00)—breakfast. All I ate before that were a few shortcake biscuits I'd bought in Limerick. I went back to the street where The Grand Hotel was and picked another hotel to eat in; The Imperial Hotel. I sat at the bar and was waited on by Vlad, a waiter/bartender from Romania. He told me he's been in Ireland for 5 years (he looked about my age), thanks to his friends, who came here. He said he'd never been to America but that he ... read more
Leg of lamb
The Imperial Hotel
Photo 5

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle September 8th 2012

The grass really is literally greener on the other side of the Atlantic, I realized that on the bus trip from Limerick to Tralee. The fields are this beautiful lime green with emerald shadows and hedges squaring them off in places. And of course the sheep. There are sheep everywhere, colored with markings to distinguish one owners' sheep from anothers' when the sheepdogs herd them in. I arrived in Tralee and had to improvise. I hadn't been able to get in touch with my B&B host by phone, and I didn't get a chance to check my email so I didn't have her address on me coming into town. I had a tiny map of the town in my guidebook, which showed where the library was. Once I found the library I knew I'd be sorted. ... read more
B&B
Tralee
Photo 5

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle September 7th 2012

I've been asked repeatedly why I chose Ireland for my adventure vacation. The short answer is, of course, 'why not?' Here's the long answer. One song that came on my Ipod shuffle on the airplane to Ireland was a Taylor Swift song (go figure) called 'Never Grow Up.' I've never felt so aware of my developmental stage as I am now—that actually may or may not actually be true, but it sounds deep so I'll go with it. You can too. 'Never Grow Up' is about how simple and carefree it is to be young, before anyone anyone has hurt you, let you down, broken your heart. It's a reminiscence of those innocent days and a lament over the growing up process, speaking to the pain of it despite how hard we fight to grow up ... read more

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle July 4th 2012

Geo: 52.1433, -10.2687Happy Independence DayIt's the 4th of July and nobody here cares. we tell everyone we see anyway. dot brought some Bissingers chocolate balls wrapped in red white and blue. we have been handing them out all day...they are a big hit.Last night we had our own pub crawl. We wanted to experience Ireland pub life. (Tom made us) We left the hotel around 10pm and went to Murphy's Bar. The music sounded good, but it was packed. we walked to Paudies Bar and had a drink, where it was quieter and they had traditional Irish live music. we moved on to Dingle Pub with a younger, livelier crowd and less traditional live music. pretty fun. young Irishman home on holiday hitting on Dee. lives in Florida not far from Susie. he took the picture ... read more

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle July 4th 2012

Geo: 52.1433, -10.2687Christine M KeefeCFOMetro Imaging, LLC... read more
end of hike
the farmers dog was very friendly.
Tom's Hostel

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle July 4th 2012

Geo: 52.1433, -10.2687Christine M KeefeCFOMetro Imaging, LLC... read more
dinner at the dump looking place...awesome (1)
dinner at the dump looking place...awesome (2)
dinner at the dump looking place...awesome (3)

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Dingle July 4th 2012

Geo: 52.1433, -10.2687Christine M KeefeCFOMetro Imaging, LLC... read more




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