Heading to Dublin for a two day stay.
But first a tour of the Waterford Crystal showroom.
Crystal clock
Waterford seahorse logo. Notice the clover design in the tail
Got to hold the football that is part of the college bowl trophy.
Me holding a BCS Trophy football
Lunch in Kilkenny
In Dublin and finally a hotel with a mini fridge.
Heading to Waterford today.
I downloaded an offline gps map app. Giving it a test while here also switched back to my galaxy s3.
Pictures and updates at the next free wifi I find.
First stop is Blarney Castle. And no I’m not going to kiss the blarney stone; that has to be the most unsanitary spot in Ireland.
Blarney Castle
Blarney Stone from ground level.
Blarney Stone up close.
At the Blarney Castle is a garden of poisonous plants guess what was in the garden…
What the hell? Is that marijuana?
Took the stout challenge at the Mill bar and got the 3 samples right. Beamish was the best of the 3, and being so close to Cork you really can’t get Guinnes they make Bemish here. Think of it as a Bub vs Miller rivalry yet with good tasting drinks.
Hotel charges β¬4 for Internet access and the signal in my room is crap. Will have to go looking for a coffee bar with free wifi.
This room here in Waterford has had the best view. My window is directly over the hotel entrance facing the river.
Walking tour of the city very soon.
Getting ready for breakfast. Today we are doing a 179km circular tour of the county, called the ring of Kerry.
Stopped at a shop called Macken of Ireland for an irish coffee and some shopping. The coffee was not the best even if it had a dram of whiskey in it. The place had some very nice jewelry. I just bought some polo shirts with Ireland logo on them.
Old ring house/fort.
Note: add above view of a ring fort
Stopped for a potty break at Waterville.
Photo op of irish coast from a high vantage point, in fact we are in a cloud atm
Costal bay in Ireland
Lunch at a B&B in Sneem . Why must all sandwichs come smothered in mayo. π¦ The fresh scones made up for the mayo.
Water fall in Sneem
Street in Sneem
180Β° view from the Ladies Viewpoint.
Went back to Bunratty Castle and saw more of the castle.
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Off to Adare for lunch. Had some very ominous birds watch me eat my sandwich in the park.
Park in Adare
Two nights in Killareny, laundry time.
Staircase in the hotel.
Went on a horse cart ride.Β Was a nice ride through the local national park here in Killarney.Β Even got to see another castle.
panoramic collection of castle near Killarney
Had dinner at a small little restaurant called Cronnin’s Restaurant.Β I’m trying the grilled sea bass.
Grilled sea bass
After breakfast today, we head off to Limerick with various stops on the way.
Stopped in Cong for tea. This is the little town The Quiet Man was filmed.
Lunch in Galway.
Dinner tonight at a castle here in Limerick. Food was good, plenty of wine and the entertainment was good.
Tomorrow we visit the castle again where they’ve recreated life in the olden days.
Details as the day progresses
Before leaving Derry-Londonderry, I had a short driving and walking tour. Saw the site where “the bloody Sunday” happened.
Memorial for “Bloody Sunday” in Northern Ireland
Street in Derry-Londonderry
Saw the parliamentary building that looks more like a church and was blown up on more than one occasion.
Walked across the peace bridge.
Guildhall from the Peace Bridge
Walked along the old city walls.
Skyline of Derry-Londonderry
In the museum inside the Guild hall, they had an exhibit that told the history of the region. The troubles in Ireland started way back in 1600’s.
Me and the statue of Queen Victoria in the Guild Hall
Donegal for lunch. Seems my UK mobile data doesn’t work here in Ireland. I guess I will be begging for free WiFi until I get back into the UK.
Pottery place.
Stopped here along the coast, I think mostly to stall for timeΒ since we were going to get to the hotel before the scheduled check in time.
Irish Coastline
W B Yeats grave.
Grave of Yeats
Waiting for the sun to set to get the view from the Radisson Blu here in Sligo. They have free WiFi here for guests. π
Leaving Glasgow, heading to catch a ferryΒ then two hour ride to Ireland.
Made it to Northern Ireland. The ferry ride was very smooth. The ship had a café on board that let you buy breakfast or lunch. I opted for the muffin and coffee deal.
The Giants Causeway
Portnaboe
Do you see a camel?
Rock formation at Giant’s Causeway
Wall of rock at Giant’s Causeway
The Giant’s Organ
Purple flowers along the path at the Giant’s Causeway
Pink flowers along the path at the Giant’s Causeway
Made it to Londonderry in Northern Ireland.Β Staying at the Ramada Da Vinci.Β This is the first hotel I’ve seen were you need to put your room card into a slot by the main light switches to get the power to work in the room.Β Seems like an interesting idea to help conserve power or possible charge people for their usage.
Heading to Glasgow today, my last stop in Scotland.
House looking over the docks in Ullapool
Had a chance to get a pic of the Skye Bridge as we left the Isle of Skye.
Eilean Donan Castle (famous because of the movie Highlander)
Various pictures of Skye.
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Mountain with snow on the drive from the Highlands to the Lowlands.
Don’t expect pictures from Glasgow.Β Its just a big city.
The view from the hotel in Wick.
Street in Wick
Today is a drive to the Isle of Skye. The place we are staying is small so we have been asked to downsize to just an overnight bag. For me that means the laptop backpack stays on the big bus and the Kindle Fire becomes my web browser.
This Sunday morning weather in Wick is what is shown for the typical Scottish morning, lite drizzle, overcast and a damp chill in the air. Although I would hate to wake up to this frequently, it is a pleasant sight over those hot muggy mornings in the valley.
It was nice of the staff at the Noresman in Wick to wave goodbye as we left. They had a busy night last night a birthday party, a wedding reception and then my tour group.
Stopped for tea and scones in Lairg, saw Little House on the Loch
A very drizzlly lunch, in Ullapool, but the fish burger from The Seaforth was very good.
Crossing the Sky Bridge, it’s too covered in clouds for me to get a good picture.Β Look for tomorrows post to see it.
Taking a short ferry ride today to see the Orkney.
Highland Park distillery tour with samples. π
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Lunch in Kirkland.
Standing Stones of Sterness.
Earliest known dealing of people in the British Isles at Skara Brae.Β Earlier than Stonehenge.
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