Day Four...

It's almost a sensory overload here. Everyday is wonderful...everything is beautiful...and it's hard to imagine topping something you've experienced, and then you get up in the morning and go out the door and do it all over again!

Today Shannon and I left Dingle and headed to Kenmare. We stopped in Killarney on the way to see the Ross Castle and to see the Muckross Manor and Abbey. The Abbey was the top thing I wanted to see. Hopefully when I finish my images you will want to go and see it for yourself!

Ross Castle was first. It is surrounded by water on three sides and was built to defend against invaders. We took the tour inside and saw where they slept, ate, used the toilet, prepared for war, entertained..and how they built the castle. We loved it! They would not let us take pictures inside the castle...but we could outside. We spent a bit of time there then headed to Killarney National Park which hosts the Muckross Manor and Abbey.





We pulled into the parking...and stepped into what we now know is the Hundred Acre Forest. Once in we were amazed at the natural beauty...the solitude, as we trekked along the foot path to the Abbey. It seemed to take a bit...a few kilometers it turns out...when we reached the Abbey. It was all I had hoped it would be.


Beautiful castle-like building...standing in ruin...a shell of what it once was. The cemetery outside was filled with history and decorated with ancient celtic crosses. The photographer in me felt like I fell into a pot of eye candy! Once again I was reminded how our American history is so relatively new in comparison to these old grounds in Ireland. We were standing in castles, in friaries, in cemeteries of old! I could almost picture in my mind what it might have been like in its own time.


We lost track of time a bit..but then realized the Manor was still on our list of things to see. So we got back on our path and headed forward. We began to fatigue after the Abbey. Afterall..we were hiking through the National Forest, complete with coats, hats, scarfs, camera equipment, tripods..2 backpacks. It just seemed to go on much longer than we had expected. There is a reason for that. Turns out we parked in front of the entrance to Ireland's National Forest and then WALKED IN. Approximately 10 kilometers later we stepped out of the darkening forest to the land of the living. We had spent the entire morning hiking through the forest completely alone. We stepped out of the path from the woods to a bustling metropolis! The Manor in all it's majesty was teeming with people...happy people...people who had obviously NOT been hiking through the woods. As we stood there trying to catch our breath and wipe the sweat from our brow..we looked to our left and saw a huge parking lot...filled with buses and cars. Cars that had driven UP to the Manor.

Problem was..now we were exhausted and realized that our car is parked 10 kilometers back the other way.
We had wanted to go on the tour to see how the other class lived. Had planned this event into our trip. Had hiked 10 ridiculously long kilometers to get there. The problem was...it was now raining and the fog was moving in. Surely...SURELY there was another way back! We went to the desk at the information office and asked if there were a better way to get back..the answer was...no. The quickest way back to our parking lot..was the way we had come.
Shannon said..."ok.We have to go now. Bye." We turned around and walked BACK into the 100 acre Forest. Mind you...we were the only ones walking into the forest. Everyone one else was enjoying the Manor! So although we did see the outside of the Manor...there was not enough time to actually step inside and get back to our car. So off we went!
We arrived completely spent and exhausted. Still laughing about how ridiculous we were!!

Once we recovered... we headed to Kenmare. We are staying at the Arthur's Lodge Wood where we were greeted by the owner Liz who served us tea and biscuits and visited with us about the history of Kenmare. Once we got settled...we put on our rain coats and headed out the door..walking...again.

We are only a few minutes from town so we went to find some dinner. We ate at O'Donnahgain's Pub. Inside there was a fire going and candles on the old wood tables. I ordered cannelonni stuffed with ricotta and spinach topped with sundried tomato sauce. Shannon ordered a cast iron pot filled with fresh caught from the Kenmare Bay (this morning), mussels cooked in butter, garlic cream sauce. To. Die. For.


We walked around town and window shopped planning everything we wanted to see, do and eat tomorrow!
Kenmare is filled with colorful shops and hidden tea houses. Tomorrow the plan is to see them all! We get to catch up on some much needed sleep..and just shop and look until we feel rested and ready to head on another adventure.

The car has been good today. She hugged the roads as we flew around the mountains..she went when I said go..stopped when I said stop. I'm growing quite fond of her. Of course there are a few more scratches on the left side than there were earlier this week. But overall..we're getting there! Hills, town, mountains, valleys, one lane mountain passes and all!!!

We are still not managing to get to bed before midnight or 1 each evening. But we are sleeping well so far. Who knows...we may even get a nap tomorrow!

You know who you are..we love you!