Stayed Dry in Ireland!!

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Can you believe it? Eight days in the Emerald Isle with sunshine every day and we never got wet? Yes, it rained, but not much and never enough to dampen our plans. However, our money just seemed to evaporate. The prices were outrageous!!!

Dublin, Cork, and Waterford were interesting with quaint buildings, old neighborhoods, and historic monuments. Our travels out of the cities took us to the towns of Blarney, Cobh, and the villages of the Ring of Kerry.

Blarney was beautiful and we had a warm sunny day in which to enjoy it. We hiked the grounds, climbed to the top of the castle, and kissed "the stone".

The "Ring of Kerry" tour took us to 6 small villages that ring the Kerry peninsula. The bus driver/guide narrated our 100 mile route and had one line that we loved. In apologizing for a memory lapse he said, "I have the memory of a goldfish - once around the bowl and it's gone." We had no idea how closely we, too, were related to the goldfish!!

Since the weather cooperated, throughout the day. we were able to enjoy the cliff and mountain views along the winding coastline. Along the route we stopped at several small Irish villages.

We left Ireland on June 10 and spent a wonderful week in Albufeira, Portugal. This Algarve village is one of our favorite beach destinations. From there we flew to Belgium and spent a quick two days seeing Brussels and Bruge. Now, we are in Interlaken, Switzerland, and will be taking a "holiday" from our travels for the next three weeks. Rain or shine it will be a happy hiking time. It snowed on us today while up at Kleine Scheidegg. This is the summer solstice - what's that all about????

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Photos

Ring of Kerry
Coast views

Killarney
Cork and Killarney were having a Gaellic football match the day we drove through town.

Killarney - Getting ready for the match
The pubs were packed at 10:00 in the morning.

Cutting peat
Peat or turf (say tuff) is a major heating fuel of the Irish homes.

Ring of Kerry villages
Ron and Charlie Chaplin in Waterville. Charlie visited this village often.

Cromwell Bridge
Pedestrian bridge built by the Roman's in the 500's AD.

Comments

[Valerie]

beautiful
I loved the Ireland pictures, Pam. We would love to go there some day. Inspirational.

[Dorothy]

I would love to go there
It is beautiful, and I would love to see it. Maybe someday.

[David Fedo]

Greetings!
Another wonderful blog! Our one and only time in Ireland some years ago was also more or less rainless (although colder than we would have liked, even though it was around the time of Bloomsday in June). Hope it warms up for the two of you! Best from Singapore! David and Susan

[Jody]

Gorgeous
Oh, and its a pretty place it tis! GRIN I think the Blarney stone is full of Blarney, if you have to stand nearly on your head to kiss the thing! LOL I loved the pink door and Twyla would too! My favorite was the Sphere though...really neat to find something that shiny and new in such an old place. More in email soon, I promise!

[Your L'il Bro]

Faith and Begora
See? I knew you would have good weather. I'm glad you guys had a nice visit in the Emerald Isle.