(Erica) Today Tom suggested we visit the Dingle Peninsula. We hit the road around 10:30am and headed straight to Dingle Town. On our way there we came across a horse in the middle of the road with locals directing traffic, a cow tip-toeing on the top of a fence, sheep grazing along the motorway (highway) and a dog patrolling traffic - all before we hit our 1st pub - ha!
In Dingle Town we stumble across a boat ride to see the infamous Fungie - a dolphin that has called the Dingle Bay his home for the last 24 years. We saw/heard about Fungie in our Travel books and shows on Ireland so we put our name on the list for the next boat trip. It's chilly today and my fingers were in the form of ice cubes so we head to a shop for gloves, hats and another wool sweater (for me - not Tom...go figure!). (Sharon speaking here: The surprising thing is not that Tom didn't get warm clothing since he came prepared for the cold. I was freezing my hinney and bought a wool stocking cap and wool gloves too. Go figure! I'm never cold!) Now, we are all set. While on the ride we see Fungie play along the boat and Tom caught some great pictures (check them out in this blog entry).
Now we decide to do the self guided Dingle Peninsula Circular Tour. Tom's driving, I'm the co-pilot and my mom's the backseat driver (from every aspect of the name - heehee). That said..."self guided" takes on a new meaning. As my mom reads from the tour book the great sites we should/are seeing - I'm scrambling to find us on the map but afraid to say that I have no frick'n idea where we are. I can't seem to find us on the paper map, the GPS unit or see sights my mom is still reading from the backseat. (Sharon here: I'm reading factoids about the sites we are passing, or at least I think we're passing. I had no clue we were going the wrong way so I'm reading out loud thinking Erica & Tom are enjoying this.) In the meantime, Tom isn't saying a word other than which way do I go. Hmmm... We find our first site! We get out and I get some pictures of a statue of a man on a currach boat. Funny...this doesn't look like anything my mom described from the tour book. We go to the sign to see what we're looking at and find out where we are on the map. Hmmm... A local walks up and greets us. My mom tries to politely say "Where the fuck are we?" and he points to Brandon Bay which is many kilometers away from the circular tour. I cautiously look at Tom and Mom and say "I think we made a wrong turn...".
(Sharon) So from here we get back on track and see many spectacular sites along the peninsula. However, one of the sites we really wanted to see was called the Gallarus Observatory built about 1,300 years ago and is one of Ireland's best preserved early-Christian churches. The problem was we only drove past the exit for the church twice. Had we planned better we could've given it a third try but we were ready for pint by now so we missed it. (Erica) We end the tour in Dingle Town, visit a couple pubs and listen/watch live music at An Droichead Beag (Small Bridge Bar) before heading to the cottage and calling it a night. On our way to the cottage my mom and I decide we want some dinner (it's now 11pm-ish on a Sunday night so there's not much open). We pass a Pizza take away in Milltown and I figure we'll find another place and keep going. That's where we go astray a second time traversing the round abouts. After many loops on the round abouts circling Killarney - we finally find Den Joe's Burgers (which is very similar to a McDonalds's) and grab a burger with taco fries (chilli cheese fries). Mmm! Tomorrow we'll have enough gas to fuel us to Dublin - hahaha!
(Sharon) We are driving a car with the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle, and then driving in the left lane (not the right). It's really hard at times to remember to stay on the correct side of the lane, but it's also odd to be a passenger in the front seat sitting on the left side of the car. You find your self watching the left edge of the road often; especially when the bushes are scrapping your car windows. The lanes are barely wide enough for two cars and at times you have to pull off the road as best you can and stop to let an oncoming vehicle pass. The lanes can narrow at any given time making our adventure even more eventful. That's why I'm in the back seat so I don't have to watch or drive!
(Erica) For the record - Tom refuses to add his side of the story to the blog since "us girls know what you're doing". Jennifer and Lynn - you taught him right! Hahahaha! :) More thumbnails ...
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