Unregistered User
(9/30/03 4:47 pm)
 
Chapter 2 - I dont want to EVER go home!!!!

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Day 3 – Tuesday, September 9, 2003

Robin – Well the day started with a hearty breakfast by our B & B proprietor, Kathleen Browne. Cereal, juice and coffee to start with and then French toast, Eggs, bacon and sausage or fruit and yogurt. It was all very good and filling. About 9:00 am we left for the Cliffs of Moher and what a trip it was. Much of the of trip is THE JOURNEY…the houses are beautiful, bright colors and very close to the road so we always enjoy the ride to wherever we are traveling. The Cliffs of Moher are breathtaking. We then proceeded to drive the coast for several hours. We stopped many times to take pictures and to drink in the awesome view of the Atlantic Ocean, the bluffs and the rocks

We have discovered several delicious foods. Today I bought, Hob Knobs…knobbly oaty biscuits….tastes kind of like an oatmeal cookie of sorts. I have decided that it is the most delicious cookie I have ever tasted but I have a feeling it is the atmosphere of being in Ireland. We keep them in the car and eat them everyday. We also bought some fruit bread that we promptly tore off hunks in the car to eat while we were traveling. I have also fallen love with scones and buy those whenever I can. Oh my…the weight I must be gaining. Oh well, I am told there are no calories on vacation and I am holding to that thought!

This evening we attended the Bunratty Medieval Banquet…it was basically a re-enactment of what it might have been like to eat with the King and Queen of the castle. This particular castle was built in the 1400s. We enjoyed the entertainment while dining on multiple courses; brown soda bread, soup, ribs, chicken and vegetables and dessert. As we entered the hall we were served MEAD, a sweet honey wine (Randy and I just smelled it and promptly put it on the table…water was good for us). At dinner they served red and white wine (and water…whew!). At the end of the meal they passed around ……SNUFF …..yes, SNUFF! Mom proceeded to try it and began to sneeze as did most everyone else in the room that actually did snort it…..ONLY IN IRELAND!!! By the end of the evening, the gentleman that sat next to me was pretty loose and his wife had to keep telling him to SHHHHHH! I think he had started with Guinness way before it even came to the Mead and the wine. We all ate too much and feel like we might pop! There is one particular girl singer that was incredible….more like an opera singer. They are all good but this one was outstanding.

As Randy and I walked across the street in the dark tonight… to grab some pop and munchies from the store across the street, I said, “I think I could really get used to this place!” We feel very decadent about not working! Ireland is the place of dreams come true and we have promised to return to her someday.

Randy is doing so well driving on these terribly narrow roads. Most of the roads only look one car wide but are actually for two. We are driving a van and most everyone else… except other tourists…are driving tiny cars. You can always tell when you are about to pass a tourist. Their eyes get bigger than saucers when they see the size of the van we are driving….he-he! We have spent much of today, scrapping the sides of our car against the weeds on the side of the road (my side of the car) We have noticed that many of the rental cars are banged up… probably from we Americans. Luckily we bought extra insurance… just in case. I am looking forward to the drive to Wexford tomorrow.

Day 4 – Wednesday, September 10

Robin - This morning we woke to one of Kathleen Browne’s hearty breakfasts of cereal, and whatever else we wanted. I felt like I had been eating too much in the morning so stuck with the fruit and yogurt. It was delicious. After breakfast we started off for County Wexford stopping at the Rock of Cashel. Before getting to the rock we drove through some beautiful villages. We are awestruck at how close together the houses are and how colorful….found out later they call them ‘Terrace Houses’. We are dieing to see inside them. We wonder where they keep all their kids. So many of them are small but so well kept. We especially enjoy the thatched roofed homes. We have decided that Americans have it too easy and don’t take care of what they have. An Irishman will have a tiny house but it will be tidy, yards well kept and full of flower gardens.

On to the rock…The Rock of Cashel is a large hill with a castle at the top. It was built by a King but was later given to the church. It was a formidable fortress at one time. We spent quite a long time exploring the castle and gravestones and then stopped at a little coffee house in Cashel (can’t remember the name) and had Spicy Chicken Pinini. After filling our belly’s we headed out on another adventure. I had ordered “Ireland of the Welcomes” for the past year and had taken note of the little out of the way places that were mentioned from time to time. We set off for Fethard to see a stone wall dating back many centuries also stopping at an old church and an Abbey. I loved the quaint little towns, too. The pace is slow and the people friendly. A large group of kids were throwing apples at one another across the main street. We ducked as not to get hit. I think mom and dad were a little leary about a large group of kids as they come from the big city but we just joined in with the laughter. After leaving Fethard we headed to (awe ...can't remember the name and didn't write it down) to find a hidden cemetery and an 8th-9th century Celtic cross. What fun! We found it quite easily after climbing a fence and walking through the weeds. It was very apparent that others had done the same and had worn a path. It is an awesome experience to touch something from the 8th century. There is so much history here!

By the time we got to Wexford we were pooped and hungry. We checked into the Granville House and Groina, the proprietor, is just a doll. What a sweet lady. Her husband Emmet is just as nice. She showed us to our rooms, helped us pick out our breakfast from her huge menu and gave us directions to the nearest restaurant (Whiteford House Hotel). It was very good but a little snooty, I thought. The people at the next table were loudly making fun of Americans making sure we were within earshot. I was glad mom and dad couldn’t hear them. (that was our only negative experience on the island…not bad! Everyone else loves Americans) I had curried monkfish on cous cous (delicious)…Randy had roasted duck in orange glaze and cognac. He enjoyed that too. After eating supper at nearly 10:00 we all fell into bed and slept soundly under Groina’s incredibly thick quilts. (This became my favorite B & B.)

Randy – well, I think the dust from my car must have been rubbing the dust on the next car while I went down a few of the streets in Wexford today. We made a turn this way, a turn that way and before you know it, the street we were on was crowded with people. The street itself was so narrow and the buildings so close, I think you could have reached out both windows and unlocked the merchant’s doors on either side! With cars parked on one side, I literally drove a city block with my driver’s side tires on the sidewalk.

We found the B&B in the dark. Which is amazing when you understand that the streets wander in crazy zigzags, up and down hills, and instead of marking the names of the streets, they only occasionally put arrows pointing to certain landmarks or attractions… Our hosts are the nicest people and so attentive to your every need. The room AND a fabulous breakfast are priced lower than a room at the local Comfort Inn!

Note: If ever staying in the Wexford area you HAVE TO STAY at the Granville House. Groina and Emmet are so sweet and so very helpful. Emmet raises birds and in the morning we awoke to 50 white fantail doves flying outside our window in the flower garden. Unbelievable! Emmet loves to tease and is so much fun!

Anita
Unregistered User
(9/30/03 9:40 pm)

Thanks

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I am loving your descriptions of Ireland. The narrow roads, the quaint houses etc. I kept a written journal as I went, and it's fun to pull it out now and remember all the day to day little things that I jotted down. It will be the best memory I have of the trip in years to come.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1883
(10/4/03 5:14 pm)

Re: Chapter 2 - I dont want to EVER go home!!!!

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Hi Robin,

I know the feeling that you don't every want to go home. Wouldn't it be great to spend a whole year in Ireland? Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip and especially about Headley Court and Granville. They are fine places to stay with lovely hosts. Thanks so much for coming back to post your trip report. Can't wait for the next chapter.

Michele

John The Man
Unregistered User
(10/7/03 7:22 am)

Looking for your sources

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One of the better trip reports I have read in a long time! The B&B's sound wonderful? Question: What book or guide did you find the B&B's to stay at? I am using the Frommers Guide. I think it is very informative. Can anyone recommend a good guide book?

Thanks!

John Manley

the other Robin
Unregistered User
(10/7/03 2:07 pm)

B & Bs

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of course, the only book I used was Michele's and I found everything she said to be true 100%. In Dingle, the one she suggests "Heaton House" I think, was booked and the other one I had chosen was "Emlaugh Lodge". The lady was very unfriendly and hadn't kept our arrangements.....so, to make a long story short, I went back to the Heaton Lodge just to ask for help in picking another B & B. The proprietors there were absolutely wonderful and gave us the idea for the "Milltown Inn". It was wonderful! I would def. buy Michelle's book. Be watching for the next chapter of our journey!