Poppins2000
Life is out there waiting so go and get it!
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2006
TUESDAY
On our way to Killarney today...had to have our bags packed and ready to go by 0715. We left our bags in the room (as instructed...they were magically placed on our bus and showed up in our hotel room in Killarney
) and headed down for breakfast . By 0830 we were on the bus and on our way to Killarney, stopping off in a few hours in Cashel. As we rolled out of Dublin and into the countryside - there was so much to see! A lot of green , green, GREEN grass hillsides (they don't call it the Emerald Isle for nothing baby!) farms and sheep. And more sheep and then...SHEEP. Fields of green dotted with white fluffy...well, sheep! Haha! We did see some cows and horses but the best part, with it being late spring, we saw lots of lambs, calfs and colts/foals. Babies and their mamas were everywhere. I took so many pictures of sheep, it was ridiculous (or just sheepishly obsessive). ANYWAY, about an hour and a half into our ride, we made a pit stop for tea and scones (yummy!) before we were back on the road to Cashel. Cashel is magnificent. As we approached the town, you could see the castle ruins off in the distance and could easily realize why that site and locale was chosen to build this castle.
Another local expert (whose name eludes me at the moment) gave us a tour of the castle ruins and grounds before we headed into town for lunch on our own and a little exploration. It was back on the bus by 1:30 for the final leg of our journey to Killarney (about another 2-2 1/2 hours). **TIP** The roads in Ireland are very narrow, curvy with turn after turn and they drive on the opposite side of the road. A couple of people in our group suffered from motion sickness. If you are one of those people, please make sure you pack something to take for the drive. I don't think we ever spent more that 2.5 hours at a time on the road with out a break.
We arrived in Killarney around 4pm and were greeted in the hotel lobby by the Town Squire and the Mayor. We had the afternoon to ourselves before meeting for dinner at 6:30pm. Tonight, two special dinners were planned, one for the kids and another for the adults. The six children in our group were escorted to a room from their own private dinner, an Irish storyteller and movie. Adults were whisked off to the hotels fine dining restaurant, "Mentons". Dinner was delicious and our friends boy Alex said he had an "awesome" time with his new friends.
WEDNESDAY
Our first (and thank goodness our ONLY) rainy day. It was just an annoying drizzle at this point but our guides were prepared and dispersed ABD ponchos right after breakfast for our 30 minute jaunty cart ride (think of the courting cart in the movie "The Quiet Man") to Muckross House (think of the house on Dynasty) located in Killarney park (a stone's throw from the hotel). Upon arrival of Muckross house, we took a quick tour of the gardens before the skies opened with more that a drizzle. We made it inside, just in time!! Junior adventurers were whisked off on their own tour while the adults went on theirs. Alot of beautiful pieces of furniture and some wonderful views of the mountains from the sitting rooms.
Due to the continuing downpour, we did not get to bike ride around the park and up to the falls as originally planned. We did take the bus to the falls and most of us trudged to the falls (a short walk and well worth the beauty) after all, we weren't going to let a little rain get in our way. Actually, all of the foliage acted as a sort of umbrella, we really didn't get to wet. After our hike it was off to the Muckross garden room for lunch and a chance to visit their craft store. Pottery and weaving are done on site and you can purchase their crafts and other items as well.
We were back to the hotel by 2pm and had the rest of the afternoon and evening to ourselves. The rain was still coming down in a steady pace so our little group opted for a little down time. The boys napped, the girls went shopping!!! Dinner that night was at Flesk, a great little seafood place (actually their menu had many other selection as well) about two doors down from the hotel.
More later!!!
On our way to Killarney today...had to have our bags packed and ready to go by 0715. We left our bags in the room (as instructed...they were magically placed on our bus and showed up in our hotel room in Killarney
) and headed down for breakfast . By 0830 we were on the bus and on our way to Killarney, stopping off in a few hours in Cashel. As we rolled out of Dublin and into the countryside - there was so much to see! A lot of green , green, GREEN grass hillsides (they don't call it the Emerald Isle for nothing baby!) farms and sheep. And more sheep and then...SHEEP. Fields of green dotted with white fluffy...well, sheep! Haha! We did see some cows and horses but the best part, with it being late spring, we saw lots of lambs, calfs and colts/foals. Babies and their mamas were everywhere. I took so many pictures of sheep, it was ridiculous (or just sheepishly obsessive). ANYWAY, about an hour and a half into our ride, we made a pit stop for tea and scones (yummy!) before we were back on the road to Cashel. Cashel is magnificent. As we approached the town, you could see the castle ruins off in the distance and could easily realize why that site and locale was chosen to build this castle. Another local expert (whose name eludes me at the moment) gave us a tour of the castle ruins and grounds before we headed into town for lunch on our own and a little exploration. It was back on the bus by 1:30 for the final leg of our journey to Killarney (about another 2-2 1/2 hours). **TIP** The roads in Ireland are very narrow, curvy with turn after turn and they drive on the opposite side of the road. A couple of people in our group suffered from motion sickness. If you are one of those people, please make sure you pack something to take for the drive. I don't think we ever spent more that 2.5 hours at a time on the road with out a break.
We arrived in Killarney around 4pm and were greeted in the hotel lobby by the Town Squire and the Mayor. We had the afternoon to ourselves before meeting for dinner at 6:30pm. Tonight, two special dinners were planned, one for the kids and another for the adults. The six children in our group were escorted to a room from their own private dinner, an Irish storyteller and movie. Adults were whisked off to the hotels fine dining restaurant, "Mentons". Dinner was delicious and our friends boy Alex said he had an "awesome" time with his new friends.
WEDNESDAY
Our first (and thank goodness our ONLY) rainy day. It was just an annoying drizzle at this point but our guides were prepared and dispersed ABD ponchos right after breakfast for our 30 minute jaunty cart ride (think of the courting cart in the movie "The Quiet Man") to Muckross House (think of the house on Dynasty) located in Killarney park (a stone's throw from the hotel). Upon arrival of Muckross house, we took a quick tour of the gardens before the skies opened with more that a drizzle. We made it inside, just in time!! Junior adventurers were whisked off on their own tour while the adults went on theirs. Alot of beautiful pieces of furniture and some wonderful views of the mountains from the sitting rooms.
Due to the continuing downpour, we did not get to bike ride around the park and up to the falls as originally planned. We did take the bus to the falls and most of us trudged to the falls (a short walk and well worth the beauty) after all, we weren't going to let a little rain get in our way. Actually, all of the foliage acted as a sort of umbrella, we really didn't get to wet. After our hike it was off to the Muckross garden room for lunch and a chance to visit their craft store. Pottery and weaving are done on site and you can purchase their crafts and other items as well.
We were back to the hotel by 2pm and had the rest of the afternoon and evening to ourselves. The rain was still coming down in a steady pace so our little group opted for a little down time. The boys napped, the girls went shopping!!! Dinner that night was at Flesk, a great little seafood place (actually their menu had many other selection as well) about two doors down from the hotel.
More later!!!
