….So Anne that runs the Coffy b&b as we are leaving Tuesday morning, asks us where we are off to. When we tell her Limerick she is horrified. Strongly advises us to avoid it at all costs as its a soulless commercial and industrial centre. Nothing poetical about it at all. We instead on her advice set off to do another peninsula. This one is called Dingle. It is stunning. Rugged barren islands off shore, spectacular scenery and not many people around. Lots of picture moments but if you were a serious photographer you would be here for an eternity. The weather changed every 5 minutes. Dark clouds would roll over us, then rain gentle or heavy and then blue skies and sunshine. Each time we stopped it was fine. Amazing really and at first we were saying what a hard job to be a weather forecaster but then really it's just saying everything today as usual. We took a few hours to do the peninsula and when we were at Slie this was probably as far west as you can get in the country. We stopped for tea and sones and sat in warm sunshine at an outdoor table looking at the Atlantic!
One story I have to tell and apologies to Al but I warned him it will come up in later conversations. There are ancient ruins of early settlements from 2000BC. Some of the best preserved are able to be viewed. They look like igloos sort of but made from incredibly neatly piled small stone slabs. One small doorway entrance but big enough to stand up inside. Anyway they call them beehive huts. Lyn chose to have a quick car nap and Al and I paid the 2€ each to trek an ancient rocky path to see them. I asked Al to pose next to the little doorway of one and I'll take a photo. He remarks that it's a lot of trouble they went to, to be able to look after their bees. I laugh at his joke and no he is serious he thought they had built these huts for protection for their bees. Now I am still laughing.
We left the wild windswept shores of this peninsula and head inland for a complete west to east crossing of the country. It takes about 4 to 5 hours and after the Limerick bypass fortunately we soon end up on a huge freeway. Generally crappy weather and not such luscious scenery. Our poor gps still thinks we are driving in paddocks and she is most anxious for us to get on the highlighted route. We mute her again but do appreciate having "the bitch" along when we reach Dublin. We get to our hotel on the River Liffey right in the centre of the city. It's raining and Dublin looks grey and drab. I need o see it in sunshine to not judge the place too harshly but the next day it's raining more. We spent our evening at an Irish music and dancing show which was fun and they were all excellent. It's just me but I kept getting the giggles at their stiff body dancing with their long legs flying around. So that's how I got drunk because I had to keep trying to behave! We ended up sharing our wine with the people at the table next to us and sitting talking after the show about traveling. Finally to bed after a late night and what a long fun day to end my first trip to Ireland. Yes I think I will have to return. Though I can't imagine coming without Lyn and Al now. We have had a great time and they are spending their last day touristing in the city. Al is interested in seeing Trinity College but Lyn has the brochure on the Guiness factory tour! They drop me at the airport and we say our farewells.
Love and hugs
xxxxx
No comments:
Post a Comment