Thanks for all the support on my Part 1 trip report.  I can be pretty wordy, so good to know some of you like that.   On with my report.

Going back to Wednesday, I highly recommend the Killimer Tarbert Ferry.  It will save you about an hour of travel time if you have to go around the bay into Shannon and Limerick.  But, if you're taking the Ferry from Killimer, don't blink or you may whiz right past the road for the Ferry (we did).  The boat ride was smooth and only about 20 or 30 minutes.

That night in Dingle we had a wonderful dinner at The Smokehouse and went across the street to The Small Bridge pub.  It has a Gaelic name also, but you can see it at www.thesmallbridge.com.  This is a great place to hang out and mingle with the locals.  They had trad music and in the back was someone teaching folks to Irish dance.  We stayed off in a room with the locals and a group of guys were amusing themselves by clinging to the ceiling rafters and scaling across them like Spider Man.  Then they decided to race eachother.  It was quite amusing and after a couple of drinks I was half tempted to join them.  I just opted for pictures of them instead (probably safer).

Bambury's Guesthouse was great with another perfect breakfast in the morning.  It's just a 5 or 10 minute walk into town.  I have to say, there are TONS of B&B's just everywhere.  Every other building seems to be one.  I loved where we stayed but would have also been happy at some of the great homes right out overlooking the Bay.  Now that's a view.  I'm sad to stay we didn't stay long enough to see their resident dolphin Fungi.  Maybe next trip.

On Thursday we left Dingle and toured the Peninsula.  I wanted to take a horseback ride along the beach this day, but the weather was too cold.  I highly recommend it if you can though.  This would be the best way to take in the countryside and water.  We drove first up to Connors Pass.  Once on top you can park and take pictures.  The view is amazing and you can see the Northern Tralee Bay and Southern Dingle Bay on both sides.  We ventured a bit further past the top and found a wonderful little waterfall.  I don't suggest going past this point because there isn't a road that we could find on the map to take you West, but only East.  It depends on where you want to end up.  We then turned around and went back into Dingle and then out to Slea Head Drive.

They have already rebuilt Slea Head Drive when it fell off a month ago.  No worries there, so I highly suggest you make the Slea Head circle.  We stopped out an old Fort ruin and also toured the Famine Huts.  This was only about 4 euro each and worth it to learn more history of the country.  The Potoato Famine really shaped Ireland today and also why 1.6 million people immigrated here to the U.S. in the 1850's.

I feel a bit like I'm writing a book  but it's as much for you as it is for me to keep and remember all that we did.

We stopped at a little shop / coffee house on the side of Slea Head that was a perfect resting point.  When we pulled in to park, there was a shepherd dog standing majestically on this rock that sat above the car lot and up by the shop.  He never moved, as if keeping a watch over things.  Behind him was the amazing scenery of walled fields and mountains.  As cheesy as it is, I zoomed my camera in on him, still getting the great scene behind him, and it turned out to be one of my favorite pictures.  You'll find these type of dogs running around everywhere (and yes, I'm a dog lover).  I did some shopping here and we had a scone and coffee (one cup of dozens that we had).  We didn't have time to visit the Great Blasket Island, but if you have kids, I want to recommend a book called "The Sleeping Giant" by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick.  They say the Island looks like a sleeping giant in the water and this is an award winning story that tells that tale.

When you finish the Slea Head loop you end up back through Dingle and then we drove on to Killarney.  Here we checked into the Fairview Guesthouse.  We stayed in a deluxe suite and our stay was flawless.  Our room had wood floors, a flat panel tv, sitting area, king bed, heated bathroom floors, shower, and jacuzzi tub.  The owners, a husband and wife, have done a great job of decorating this hotel.  I believe it is a 5 star location and their rooms and restaurant earned it from us.  It's very Art Deco and comfortable at the same time.  The breakfast was included again and delicious.  We checked in and did some shopping and then had dinner at Foley's Restaurant.

On Friday we checked out and visited the Killarney Golf Course.  My husband is an avid scratch golfer.  He didn't play here, but played the Ring of Kerry the next day instead.  We didn't plan ahead for golf, but he would have rather played Killarney.  It's a beautiful course.  Then we headed up to Muckross House.  Here we decided to take a Jaunting Car (a horse drawn carriage) up through the grounds and to the House.  This is the best way to see the property.  Our driver took us up to the House telling of its history and then waited for us while we walked the grounds.  We had lunch there and enjoyed the gardens.  When we boarded the jaunting car again, we headed up past the lake and to the Torc Waterfall.  Bring your walking shoes for this area.  It's a short walk up, tough on your legs, but well worth it when you get to the Falls.  Truly breathtaking!!!  Our driver, Cohn, then took us back to the parking area and I believe the 1.5 hour trip was only about 30 euro.

That's all I can write for now.  I'll have to work on Part 3 later.  Thanks for sticking with me (if you still are)