Lovely lakes and fast cars

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(From Erin😊 This is our last day in Killarney. We've had two bits of not-so-much-fun in the past couple of days. (1) I got sick and (2) My videocamera has stopped working properly. Fortunately we brought along medicine and I'm feeling much better, but the camera is still on the fritz. Oh well. Today is exactly one week that we've been in Ireland and we're still kicking ourselves that we're here and getting to see & experience all these amazing things.

So, little did we know when we booked ourselves into this lovely little lakeside town that the first weekend in May, Killarney plays host to the Rally of the Lakes car race. So, every meathead in Ireland (and England) with a souped up Honda Accord has come here to Killarney to rev their engines, show off their tattoos and block up traffic. Right now, as I sit here in an internet cafe, the roar of car engines (and strangely, the soundtrack to Footloose) on the street is pretty deafening. Oh, there's also a news helicopter circling, getting all the action on camera. It's not quite the peaceful visit we had envisioned... but we still managed to have a very nice day today.

This morning, we went back to Ross Castle (where we'd watched the sun set on Thursday night) and took the tour of the interior. It was pretty fascinating learning about life in a tower in the 1600s. Doesn't sound particularly comfortable or warm, though. From there, we drove into Killarney National Park and did a bunch of hiking. We hiked into the Gap of Dunloe, which is a beautiful, rocky canyon created by a glacier way back in the day. People normally take jaunting carts-- little pony traps-- into the Gap, but we are cheap and the exchange rate is kicking our butt.

We also hiked along the other side of the lake, seeing Torc Waterfall and the Meeting of the Waters. Even though the weather has finally turned and was a little grey and drizzly today, the sights were just beautiful.

Tonight we're off to dinner and to try to enjoy our last night in Killarney, despite the general insanity outside. Tomorrow we have a long day of driving to Glendalough, in the Wicklow Mountains (via Blarney and the Rock of Cashel).

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Photos

The Gap of Dunloe
We hiked into the Gap of Dunloe-- beautiful!

Torc Waterfall
Pretty waterfall in Killarney National Oark

Real, live Shamrocks!!
Shamrocks growing in the forest (Killarney)

Erin near the Meeting of the Waters
In Killarney National Park. We went for a big hike all along the waterfront and ended at this area where three bodies of water meet.

Sunset at Ross Castle, Killarney
This is actually from Thursday night. We climbed up the castle wall onto a low turret and watched the sun set over the lake. Amazing.

Comments

[anonymous]

Again, I love the pictures and especially the Irish names which seem so quaint, but that's a silly cultural judgement on my part. I have shamrocks growing here, too. Love, Judy