Ireland: February 2011 (day 4-6)

I am so full. I had a wonderful Italian dinner tonight, but before that the day started with a super home-cooked breakfast at the b&b (hmm, food here turned out to be much better than I expected). We shared the breakfast table with a Toronto couple that were traveling with their 3 month old child (brave), they were very nice nice and traveling opposite than us so provided some tips.

We checked out and visited a 13th century church in the Dingle area (Kilmalkedar Church) and then drove to Killarney for lunch. Once we found Main St, it was really charming. After lunch, it got really rainy and just not pleasant to wander. We stopped at the woolen market, tried on 80 different wool sweaters but couldn't find anything so just checked in our next b&b for the night.



Oh and I have to give a shout out to our GPS at this time. Roads are not labeled and the signs appear after we pass them, it is just so nice to let the voice guide us. Oh and car... It is still holding in there but when I put it in reverse the back windshield wiper turns on and oh the drivers door only shuts about 60% of the time.

It was so nice getting up and not having to pack up before breakfast. We could wander down for breakfast and then head back upstairs to get ready. We walked all over the town of Youghal today. A seaside town, that not during off season is a very different town I imagine. We visited the 18th century clock tower and lighthouse and then did some local shopping, but then we decided to go on an Experience. Ohooh, but before that rachel spotted a guy in youghal wearing a Minnesota sweatshirt!


Ok, so The Jameson Experience. Super fun time. After a tour of the old distillery those of us the tour sat down to earn a certificate as an official whiskey taster. I learned a lot about Scottish, Irish and American whiskey. Plus it was a real fun time sitting around the table talking with the other folks on the tour. One Irish couple told us to visit Carlow for some interesting ruins and another Irish girl mentioned Kilkenny. Kilkenny we hit first and after some GPS trouble we found it, really busy town! Kind of crazy to drive in. They had a castle in the center of town and the Smithwick's brewery! Adorable city, I could spend a lot of time here given the chance.


Next we drove to Carlow and realized the town was much bigger than it seemed, but also the most run down. We visited the city castle, well just one wall...a guy in the 1800s was trying to remodel and accidentally blew up the whole thing. Then we saw a portal grave dating back 5000 years and Carlow held one more surprise, another castle, with a grand stone wall entrance. In the setting sun it was magical.



We arrived then at our final b&b, in Athy. The owner knew of a bar playing music this night, finally! We had yet to hear an Irish band. We waited a long time, long time...but they finally got on stage. I was giddy listening to them, it was so awesome.

The next morning, our last day. :( We had the last home-cooked breakfast today, I am going to miss eggs every morning, I would never take the time for such things. After a 10 min hunt for the car keys, we packed up the car...well we tried to pack, the dog at the b&b jumped in the car!! He was so excited to come with! It was such an ordeal to get him out but super funny. Finally on the way to the airport. The airport shuttle guy told us someone earlier in the week had wrecked the rental car and ended up paying some local 400 euro to drive him around. Ha! Glad we were able to manage on our own. Wow, the flight back is long when you are not sleeping, I managed to watch The Town, Due Date and Red. After a connection in Chicago... Home!