The Sugan Hostel Killarney

... the touristy thing to do in Killarney don't you know! We trotted past the race track, which was built on landfill and has a 9 hole golf course in the middle!. We stopped at Ross castle, the scene of many a wedding photo as we found - at least 4 weddings stopped by while we were there!

So tonight is the last supper with the tour group. Dinner with everyone then out for drinks - just for something out of the ordinary!

XO

... br>
Back onto the (new) bus - we picked up some new travellers today, some canadians, an indian and some hawiaan americans. Not too sure what they thought of us all at the start, but i'm pretty sure everyone has bonded now (karaoke is about to start in the pub next door, so everyone is well full!).

We then crossed the river Shannon from county clara into county kerry - which is just spectacular green rolling hills, along the ...

... coming through, and a rainbow. It is the wierdest weather. How do people live in this fulltime. Back home when it rains we all feel like it gives us a good excuse to lay in bed all day and be lazy...imagine the lives we would live if we were fulltime residents in Ireland.

This trip is going to be a huge test for us girls...thereis going to be some serious trials and tribulations that we're going to come across and it'll be ...

Drove the Ring of Kerry today and it was beautiful. We did drive counterclockwise which is the recommended direction in order to minimize traffic concerns, especially since the road is so, so narrow!
About 30 minutes into the trip we saw some locals with donkeys on the side of the road selling trinkets. We decided to stop and take a look because there was also a tourist bus there too, besides it was a nice place to get some ...

Today we were driving from Kinsale to Killarney, and had several stops planned along the way. The first stop was the Dromberg Stone Circle. This place is a mini Stone Henge. It was a ways off the beaten path and we were back on the cow paths to get there. We traveled past a cute little town right on the water and then into the countryside. We then had to go down a narrow, one-car, gravel road to reach the Stone circle. The place was ...

... Mom were planning to head out to the Dingle area, too, so we decided to meet for lunch in Tralee, which is at the "beginning" of the Dingle peninsula (most-inland point? I don't know my geographical terms very well!).

The drive was of course part of the experience, with great countryside views all around. Tralee is a bustling little city and we quickly found a casual Italian place with room for our party of 10. The kids ...

... the friars might have a place for us--> we got to stay in a cottage in the rose garden in return. It was a big room with a kitchenette and bean bags...unfortunately no beds. In the middle of the garden is a half/greenhouse/half mini cottage, a marian shrine, and a larger than real life willow tree. Celeste and I went exploring. The greenhouse/cottage is a meditation center. So beautiful. We went to mass for Sunday (shortest mass of my life!) and went to the store for dinner ...

... After walking for a while with Steve and Sophi, we left them to go on another marathon walk up to Muckross House, further up the lake. The day was stunning again, with the vapour trails of jets heading west to America from Northern Europe hanging in the sky like streamers at a birthday party - very pretty. The walk to Muckross house was very pretty too, and most of the time we had the walking trails to ourselves. That changed pretty quickly as soon as Muckross ...

... and I can't say I feel any different about Guinness. I did get a pic of me at least pretending to enjoy my first Guinness though. I think I'll stick to my girly drinks, thank you. With such rainy weather I definitely see why the pub is the focus of social life. I'm off to Galway tomorrow. Should be there for two days before heading back to Dublin.

... lots of tourists. \our driver, Patrick, aiming to please. \huge bus with tables, weaving and swaying down the narrow highways. Killarney sits below Ireland's highest mountains, lovely. Will talk to you tomorrow. kh, the historian\storyteller.