Brook Lodge Killarney

... which was quickly on my jeans, with my lack of balance- complete with fertility stone on the top - don't worry, i didn't even touch it!<br><br>We drove past the sleeping Giant, an island that, well, looks like someone lying down and it's kinda big! Then to the Kilmalkeder church, a ruined abbey, with celtic crosses and more Non stones that predate the written word like we found in Wales! We also saw a grave with a can of Guiness ...

... ships' which desperate people took to places like Australia and America, travelling for up to 7 weeks below deck with little fresh air and no sunlight. The situation got so bad that people stole things, only to get caught and put into jail so they would get fed! <br><br>He also filled us in on the origon of the term 'Sheila' used for Aussie girls nowadays. Evidently back when convicts were sent to Australia once your term was served you ...

... 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. <br><br>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 ...

... foggy in the mountainous regions (as is often the case here) so we missed the view from Conner's Pass. We ended up going along the Slea Head drive and wow, was it worth it!! Cliffs and beaches and the ocean water lapping up against both. So beautiful. We climbed to the top of one of the hills/cliffs and had an amazing view of the vast ocean heading back towards home. We waved to everyone ;) <br><br>Today we are off to County Clare for a night. Hope to write more soon!! <br><br>Love, Mel.

... boat are weather-dependent. Added to that is the fact that a woman from Rochester fell and died there three weeks ago, there are no railings or handholds on the 656 steps, there are no restrooms either on the island or the boats, and now I would be happy with just a ride past it. The cruises around it were cancelled for today due to rough swells, so I was content to visit the center, see the exhibits, and watch the film. We&#8217;ll see beehive huts on Dingle ...

We decided to do the Ring of Kerry trip, a lovely trip around the south west cape of Ireland, approx 160 kms on our own than on a bus.. glad we did they were full of old Americans.. woops!! There was heaps here that we didn't see as we only had a few days until Amy had to head back to Australia. We did the ring in an anticlock wise direction, good in the fact eveyone else goes clockwise, bad because half way around ...

... that. Later stops included a photo op to look at Lough (Lake) Leane, and a shopping op at the Gap of Dunloe, where many of the folks bought scarves and sweaters, but H. & I (bad customers - I DID buy some postcards at the museum, though, you'll be glad to know) just took the free Irish Coffee (mmmmm) and bought nothing. Sad but true. The things were good looking but didn't seem, at the time, to be something that I HAD to have. (I am wearing my Irish sweater ...

... learned about their lives and had short performances from their works. It was excellent! We learned a lot too, for example Ireland has four sons who won the Nobel Prize for literature!! We visited Phoenix Park by bus, and sadly it was raining so we couldn't get out and walk around. The American Embassador has his home there and it makes one think about a career in the foreign service!! We also visited St ...

It's been a while since I've updated this blog. . . Which means all the details aren't as fresh on my mind, and that I'm like two days behind. So, this will be the first of a couple entries about a few of the things that I did the last 2 days. I'll start with Day #3 (Tuesday). Just like about every other day we woke up, went to ...

... It was a really nice drive through the mountains and hills...but it rained the whole time so we could not see much...but it was still nice. Then after we got back we started talking to these American guys from New Jersey and a girl they had met in Killkenny from New Brunswick. They had rented a car and were driving all-over Ireland. We all ended up going to a bar down the street and having a blast. They had a really good band playing and ...