Hillgrove Hotel Dingle

The sun was trying to make its way out as we planned our last day in this area. At breakfast we met a couple from Ravenna, Ohio who are on their honeymoon, so we talked with them for quite a while. Morty gave us some suggestions for our drive today, and John hoped the road would be good.

We wanted to drive the south side of the Ring of Kerry and make some stops that the tour buses pass. We also wanted to be off the roads before the buses made ...

... b, I took a nap while John read, then we got ready for church. Marian’s family was going into town for the 8:00 Mass because it was being said for her father. She told us to go to the little church around the corner because it was much nicer. She said the priest in town was “long-winded”, and we much preferred the 7:00 Mass time.


The Dawros church is a lovely little country church with a priest who is allergic to flowers (the arrangement on the ...

... of Bantry Bay. The island had been privately owned until the early 1950’s when it was deeded to the people of Ireland. It’s a very beautiful place, and there were just a few of us walking around. I imagine in the spring and summer that it looks like paradise with all the plants and flowers blooming, but there was still some residual beauty for us. We walked around the entire island, then stopped in at the little tea room for a sandwich while we waited for the ...

... we had dinner at a Thai restaurant and I must say it was just like home!! Well Thai they serve up in Australia. I did think and Amy agreed that Ireland was quite expensive, meals etc were quite dear. Accomodation seemed to be on par.

Drinks at our hotel.. there was a hunters annual general meeting going on when we arrived.. lol very funny, the members were not what I thought a typical hunter would be!!

A complex of churches in this area. The ruined cathedral is from the 12th century. Two churches are in the graveyard - one is the Teampall na Griffin from the carving of the Griffin. (Couldn't see it due to maintenance, but got a photo from the exhibition).
A short walk away was another ruined friary.

... owner was a definite put off. I would never recommend it. The view from our room was very nice though.
After breakfast we spent the day exploring Dingle village, the quay (pronounced key) and the rest of the peninsula. The village is very colorful and bustling with tourists and locals. The rest of the peninsula was breathtaking. We stopped in the tourist office for some ideas on what to do next. The woman that waited ...

... boiled, lol. Was very good though. Kip had a hamburger and we shared a very tasty bowl of fresh seafood chowder...homemade and delicious. But the important news is that I had my first Guinness Stout in Ireland and can officially confirm that the stories are true! It really IS better in Ireland! It had less of a metalic, tinny taste and some clearly pronounced, toasted malt flavors. The head was firm and creamy ...

... and I caught up over tea. We found a little hidden alcove off a main street that had a small gallery where we purchased a pretty Irish watercolor and then poked into a tea shop. It was fun to tell stories about our respective days. (When you're together all the time there are very few stories that the other wasn't there for) We chatted with the shop owner who was so young! She was heading to London for university in the fall, but had opened the tea shop on her ...

... Maybe Pennsylvanians fail to acknowledge the mountainous beauty in their backyards, but this vista is very similar to the scenery we pass by daily. Or maybe without a bright blue sky the scenery is overrated? We drive on to Torc Waterfall. A large parking lot accommodates buses. No admission charge. Small visitor center. A short four minute walk up the hillside and I am standing before the tallest waterfall ...