Before I get into Ireland, this is my 100th post. Yeah! Okay back to our regularly scheduled program.
Camping in Ireland Part II
Killarney – Killarney National Park
We started at 8 in the morning. We spent the morning exploring the Cliffs of Moher. We found the tourist spot to go stand up on the side of the cliffs and take lots of pretty pictures. We drove along the ocean for a while to head toward Killarney. We spent a nice lunch in the car during the rain in a car park overlooking a beach. We had fun watching the surfers trying to catch a wave. Then back in the car to the ferry crossing. First ferry crossing for everyone in the family. Lady Jane slept. Finally we arrived in Killarney. Impressions from driving along the countryside: most buildings are amazingly newer, concrete built houses are in a multitude of colors, ruined buildings line the roads with no signs of preservation. We found our campsite and put up the tent as the sky alternated between raining (downpour) and sunshine. Currently sunshine, wait five minutes and it will start to rain. We went into the enclosed picnic area for dinner and found a tour bus/hotel had taken up almost all the tables. A couple, who had been in there earlier when the kids and I went in to make sure their snack didn’t get rained out again, were nice enough to give us half of their table. We had hot dogs, veg, and mini apple pies for dinner. We currently sitting in the game/tv room. It’s a nice campsite.
Day 3 in Ireland Day 2 in Killarney
Babbling brooks make great white noise generators. All the noises that bothered me the night before, I didn’t even hear last night. So we woke a little slower than the morning before. Phil and Little Man hit the showers first (we only brought one set of shampoo, conditioner and soap). So Lady Jane and I sat and ate our chocolate chip brioche. After the boys got back we hopped in to our 10 minute shower with time to spare (barely). Thank you very much. We spent the day in Killarney National Park. We rode a horse drawn two wheeled carriage type thing around the park. It was very nice. We got to see Torc Waterfall. Then we headed over to Muckross House and had a picnic with the bees and the blackbirds. We were probably very amusing to watch since we were eating our picnic standing up and moving around to keep the bees away. The birds were happy that the kids didn’t want their crusts and tried to shove all of it into their beaks before the other birds caught on. We began our tour of Muckross House. Shortly into it Lady Jane decided she didn’t want to play nice and Phil hauled her out of the house. Lady Jane lost her allowance to repay for daddy’s ticket. We drove to Ross Castle next which is a fine example of an Irish Medieval Castle. We took the tour again and fortunately, though not the best children ever; they at least made it through the tour with little complaint. We found an Internet café to check on our balance since everything seems to be in cash and not charge. We’re fine. On to the pizza place for dinner. And Hagendaas for dessert. Well everyone but me. Ice cream and I aren’t talking to each other anymore. We had a good relationship for a while, but after time I realized what a sickening friendship we had and decided it best to go our separate ways. Sure I take a small bite from time to time, but it only serves to remind me why we can’t be together. Anyway, back to reality. I’m currently sitting doing laundry in the laundry room at the campsite. Yeah, spend more money. Did I mention that the showers cost 1 euro for 10 minutes? Exchange rate is about $1.36.
Killarney Day 3 – 4 days in Ireland
Today we decided to do the Dingle Peninsula. We started out under overcast skies. We have realized that poor Jane (tomtom) is daft when it comes to Ireland. She alternates between thinking we’re on one road when we are actually on another or in the middle of a field somewhere with no roads to be found. So we followed the signs and a road map to the city of Dingle. Along the way we stopped at Inch Beach, a long piece of land that juts out into Dingle Bay. The skies were still overcast and it was decidedly chilly. We headed down to the beach and while I picked up small sea shells, Phil thought it would be fun to convince the kids that they should take off their shoes and walk into the frigid water. The kids loved it. Lady Jane’s ever present skirt was soaked from her kicking up water while running out of the incoming tide. Fortunately I did laundry yesterday and had a second skirt, dry and clean, in the car. We continued on to Dingle and ate PBJ’s in the car before going into the Aquarium. We got to see pretty fishes and pet stingrays, who actually wanted to be petted. We then piled into the car and took the scariest road ever to find an excellent view. We drove across a small stream of water across the road. The stream was about 4 inches deep. The next part was meeting a caravan in a narrow spot where the side of the mountain on their side and a short rock wall separating us from a straight drop to the ocean. We pulled out side mirrors in and I stuck my head out the window to make sure we wouldn’t scrape the wall. I think Phil closed his eyes while driving, but I was occupied so I can neither confirm nor deny the fact. When we pulled into the scenic outlook, it was gorgeous and the rain was coming down sideways. More of a penetrating mist than actual rain which was driven into your flesh by fierce wind. A car pulled in beside us and the guy got out and looked at the damage to the front and rear of his rental car. He didn’t have as much luck getting through the narrow piece as we did. Phil and I took turns going out and staring down into the ocean. Phil left me sitting with the two kids in the car. After 15 minutes I got worried and decided to give him another 15 minutes before going and looking for him. He came back within the next 10 minutes. Whoo. I really didn’t know what I would have done to find him especially with the two kids. We stopped at an ancient fort and we all got out in the misting rain. Again some amazing views of the cliffs and ocean. Then we piled back in and drove to another site, Gallarus Oratory. We covered ourselves in raincoats and rain parkas and walked out into the wind and driving rain. We went into the reception, bought tickets, and went to the 10 minute film on the site. Then we bravely ran our butts off to the ancient chapel and dove inside. The movie was right, it’s as dry inside as it probably had been when it was built. We took turns ducking outside to take pictures. Then we ran back to the car. The kids fell asleep while we drove back to the campsite with a slight diversion to the grocery store. We had a good dinner of spaghetti, a bit late, but it was good. Tomorrow, Cork and on to Tipperary.
Camping in Ireland Part II
Killarney – Killarney National Park
We started at 8 in the morning. We spent the morning exploring the Cliffs of Moher. We found the tourist spot to go stand up on the side of the cliffs and take lots of pretty pictures. We drove along the ocean for a while to head toward Killarney. We spent a nice lunch in the car during the rain in a car park overlooking a beach. We had fun watching the surfers trying to catch a wave. Then back in the car to the ferry crossing. First ferry crossing for everyone in the family. Lady Jane slept. Finally we arrived in Killarney. Impressions from driving along the countryside: most buildings are amazingly newer, concrete built houses are in a multitude of colors, ruined buildings line the roads with no signs of preservation. We found our campsite and put up the tent as the sky alternated between raining (downpour) and sunshine. Currently sunshine, wait five minutes and it will start to rain. We went into the enclosed picnic area for dinner and found a tour bus/hotel had taken up almost all the tables. A couple, who had been in there earlier when the kids and I went in to make sure their snack didn’t get rained out again, were nice enough to give us half of their table. We had hot dogs, veg, and mini apple pies for dinner. We currently sitting in the game/tv room. It’s a nice campsite.
Day 3 in Ireland Day 2 in Killarney
Babbling brooks make great white noise generators. All the noises that bothered me the night before, I didn’t even hear last night. So we woke a little slower than the morning before. Phil and Little Man hit the showers first (we only brought one set of shampoo, conditioner and soap). So Lady Jane and I sat and ate our chocolate chip brioche. After the boys got back we hopped in to our 10 minute shower with time to spare (barely). Thank you very much. We spent the day in Killarney National Park. We rode a horse drawn two wheeled carriage type thing around the park. It was very nice. We got to see Torc Waterfall. Then we headed over to Muckross House and had a picnic with the bees and the blackbirds. We were probably very amusing to watch since we were eating our picnic standing up and moving around to keep the bees away. The birds were happy that the kids didn’t want their crusts and tried to shove all of it into their beaks before the other birds caught on. We began our tour of Muckross House. Shortly into it Lady Jane decided she didn’t want to play nice and Phil hauled her out of the house. Lady Jane lost her allowance to repay for daddy’s ticket. We drove to Ross Castle next which is a fine example of an Irish Medieval Castle. We took the tour again and fortunately, though not the best children ever; they at least made it through the tour with little complaint. We found an Internet café to check on our balance since everything seems to be in cash and not charge. We’re fine. On to the pizza place for dinner. And Hagendaas for dessert. Well everyone but me. Ice cream and I aren’t talking to each other anymore. We had a good relationship for a while, but after time I realized what a sickening friendship we had and decided it best to go our separate ways. Sure I take a small bite from time to time, but it only serves to remind me why we can’t be together. Anyway, back to reality. I’m currently sitting doing laundry in the laundry room at the campsite. Yeah, spend more money. Did I mention that the showers cost 1 euro for 10 minutes? Exchange rate is about $1.36.
Killarney Day 3 – 4 days in Ireland
Today we decided to do the Dingle Peninsula. We started out under overcast skies. We have realized that poor Jane (tomtom) is daft when it comes to Ireland. She alternates between thinking we’re on one road when we are actually on another or in the middle of a field somewhere with no roads to be found. So we followed the signs and a road map to the city of Dingle. Along the way we stopped at Inch Beach, a long piece of land that juts out into Dingle Bay. The skies were still overcast and it was decidedly chilly. We headed down to the beach and while I picked up small sea shells, Phil thought it would be fun to convince the kids that they should take off their shoes and walk into the frigid water. The kids loved it. Lady Jane’s ever present skirt was soaked from her kicking up water while running out of the incoming tide. Fortunately I did laundry yesterday and had a second skirt, dry and clean, in the car. We continued on to Dingle and ate PBJ’s in the car before going into the Aquarium. We got to see pretty fishes and pet stingrays, who actually wanted to be petted. We then piled into the car and took the scariest road ever to find an excellent view. We drove across a small stream of water across the road. The stream was about 4 inches deep. The next part was meeting a caravan in a narrow spot where the side of the mountain on their side and a short rock wall separating us from a straight drop to the ocean. We pulled out side mirrors in and I stuck my head out the window to make sure we wouldn’t scrape the wall. I think Phil closed his eyes while driving, but I was occupied so I can neither confirm nor deny the fact. When we pulled into the scenic outlook, it was gorgeous and the rain was coming down sideways. More of a penetrating mist than actual rain which was driven into your flesh by fierce wind. A car pulled in beside us and the guy got out and looked at the damage to the front and rear of his rental car. He didn’t have as much luck getting through the narrow piece as we did. Phil and I took turns going out and staring down into the ocean. Phil left me sitting with the two kids in the car. After 15 minutes I got worried and decided to give him another 15 minutes before going and looking for him. He came back within the next 10 minutes. Whoo. I really didn’t know what I would have done to find him especially with the two kids. We stopped at an ancient fort and we all got out in the misting rain. Again some amazing views of the cliffs and ocean. Then we piled back in and drove to another site, Gallarus Oratory. We covered ourselves in raincoats and rain parkas and walked out into the wind and driving rain. We went into the reception, bought tickets, and went to the 10 minute film on the site. Then we bravely ran our butts off to the ancient chapel and dove inside. The movie was right, it’s as dry inside as it probably had been when it was built. We took turns ducking outside to take pictures. Then we ran back to the car. The kids fell asleep while we drove back to the campsite with a slight diversion to the grocery store. We had a good dinner of spaghetti, a bit late, but it was good. Tomorrow, Cork and on to Tipperary.
posted by Amanda @ 6:25 AM
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