Back in Killarney

As we drew closer to Killarney we passed through dense forests set amidst the deep valleys of the National Park. Inviting mountain streams bubbled alongside the road and I could almost imagine the leprechauns watching us from behind the old oaks as we rode down yet another twisting road back to our hotel. Back at the hotel we had some time to relax before another great dinner at the hotel dining room. Once again we were allowed to choose from a menu. This time I chose Irish stew and some sort of cream puffs for dessert. Gail and her mother decided to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" which was being performed at the theater adjacent to our hotel. Not really wanting to be bogged down with others in our group, I quickly sneaked out of the dining room and sprint-walked into downtown Killarney. I was on another shopping mission. Knowing that we would be going to the usually overpriced Blarney area then to Dublin after that, I decided now was the time to pick-up some bargains. On my own I had much more time to explore the cute little shopping area. I found another "Quill's" where I bought myself a tweed racing cap. I must've passed 25 tempting bars on my quest to find a foodstore. I chanced upon a "1 Euro" store where I loaded up on some chips and candy for future bus rides. The streets were getting pretty crowded at 9:00 on a Thursday night. There were street buskers performing on a couple of the streets I traversed. They seemed to be making some pretty good money because the crowds in front of them were huge and their instrument cases were full of coins. Somehow I blundered down a side street and came into a fantastic food store, a Tesco market. They had two rows of beer from all over the European Union for sale. It took me almost 15 minutes to make up my mind but eventually I settled on a 4-pack of the Kilkenny beer that I had heard so much about and a single bottle of Framboise Lambic. The latter goes for close to $15 a bottle back home. In Tesco I paid $4. I walked around town for another half hour lugging my heavy bag of beers, another one full of chips and candy and a third with my hat inside. The long walk back to the hotel was the real killer. I figured I might re-injure my shoulder hauling that stuff back, but a beer back in the hotel bar set things right. (When I got back home and finally drank my Kilkennys I was surprised to hear something rattling inside the can when I picked it up to pour. At first I though maybe ice had formed inside. After pouring the dark amber liquid which had the creamiest-looking head I ever saw on a beer, I shook the can and could still hear something inside. I cut open the metal can and inside found a white plastic ball about the size of a golf ball inside. I learned that this helps make the pour so creamy. It was a delicious beer and well-worth the hassle of bringing it home.)