Day Three..Adventure continued...

Another beautiful day here in Ireland! We went to breakfast around 9:15 here at Heaton's guesthouse. Like yesterday..the buffet is put out before you even place your hot order. Again several homemade breads, including delicous scones,homemade jams, fresh compote of plums, granolas, homemade yogurts, meats, cheeses, juices, tea and coffee...then you place your order!! Shannon chose a ham and cheese omelet..I ordered the fish of the day which was fresh hake in a delicate lemon and basil butter. It was absolutely wonderful and light after the breads and fruits. We got on our way and drove the Sleah Head Drive. It's about 25 miles..but took us nearly four hours with all the stops we made! First stop was the Vestry Bay. The scenery is beautiful and the waters were calm. A solitaire fishing boat was in the water adding to the charm. Don't worry, friends, I got you souveniers! (~Shannon) We stopped several times just to enjoy the scenery and a couple of times for places of interest. One that was a favorite for both of us was the Dunbeg Fort. This remaining structure dates to 500BC and they believe was continued to be used up until 450BC. It was amazing. It has yet to be determined if it was actually a fort, a monastery,a fairy circle, or just a place that people lived. The fence around it and the huts inside, the ledges the lookouts are all made from stone. Only half remains as the rest has fallen into the sea..literally! We stood on the edge of the cliff...two feet away and looked down the side to the crashing waves below. It was absolutely breathtaking to view and the trek back in time to another way of life left us appreciating our comforts and admiring those who had been there. A few miles down the road we came to the BeeHive huts. A settlement made of little stone huts that look exactly like a bee hive. All spaced around each other, complete with tiny courtyards, fences, fields, sheep and beautiful views of the sea and cliffs. We had to climb the side of a mountain to get to them..but it was worth every step up and slide down!! From there we continued around the drive stopping to view the Blasket Islands..the drop off cliff we were edging our way around and anything that looked interesting! Our car was mostly in a good mood..although she did challenge me when I had to come to a complete stop at a stop sign placed directly ON the side of a mountain. I would have been fine if a local had not come flying up behind me and stopped a foot behind me. I could not her into first without rolling..so conceded and let the local get me past the stop where the ground leveled off. It was embarassing..but it also prompted us later this evening find a hill and learn how to slide into first while using the emergency brake to keep from rolling. A little tricky that is...emergency brake and sliding into first gear dont usually go so well..but apparently if you are going to drive up and down mountains..you have to learn it..so learn it I did! So Sybil has been tamed once again. I can proudly say we went the whole day without burning the clutch one time! Once we made our way back into Dingle..we decided to park the car in town and walk around. We first got some fish and chips and went and sat at a bench at the pier to watch the boats. We had a little lady from Northern Ireland come and sit with us..share our chips and visit. Her son lives in Philadelphia and they Skype when they can. People tell me things..my children will think this is funny! After our outdoor lunch we decided to go on the hunt for an antique store. Following a locals directions we traipsed through the whole town..uphill, until we came to the shop with Antiques above the door. We opened the door and walked into a dimly lit room where four people at a bar turned around to look at us. We asked if this were an antique shop..and the answer was "No..it's a bar..but you can purchase anything that is not screwed down". We kindly thanked them then left! We can say we've seen all the streets, alleys and colorful shops in Dingle! We decided to have our dinner at Murphy's Pub. A little homier menu..food we were more familiar with. We shared a bowl of seafood chowder with local fresh fish and a basket of brown bread which is quickly becoming a favorite of ours! Shannon ordered the smoked, curried salmon and I had the Shepherds pie. Both were delicous. Mine was very homey...served with fries (chips), but Shannon's won. Smokey, sweet and spicy it was wonderful. We were too full to do anything more than share a dessert..so we forced ourselves (poor us) to try the strawberry, rhubarb crumble with fresh cream. I wish I had had it first! The weather has been perfect. It was sunny and about 50 degrees. The wind is cold and we find that we are being whipped around pretty good by it. Every time we get out of the car we are assaulted by cold breezes of which feel both refreshing and exhausting at the same time! We have loved the mountains of Dingle and are looking forward to the valleys of Killarney tomorrow. We are on our way to Kenmare, but will be spending most of the day tomorrow in Killarney on our way. Castles, manors and abbeys, oh my! Again, this would all be perfect if those we love were with us. We think everywhere we go how much one of you would enjoy something. We did pass an education book store..out of great love for our children...we resisted the urge to go in. We are still on a quest for an antique store. Not sure what we'll find..but we are looking! Something that has been used and loved from here..to go back to be used and loved at our home..that's what we are looking for! XOXOOXO to our loved ones..just hugs for everyone else!! (Here is my attempt at video load up. these are short clips because the HD takes so long to load if over a minute. Let me know if these work and I will load more! The WiFi connection at this B&B is horrible. If these work and we get a better connection at the next b&B, I will load many more. I had to load to Windows movie Maker and then to YouTube. Hope it works!~Shannon) Test videos:

Day Two...Amazing!

Although yesterday was exhausting, frustrating and stressful...today, however, was everything yesterday was not!

Shannon and I decided last night..that today would be better! Of course we did say a prayer and ask the Lord for help! We started with a traditional Irish breakfast served at our B&B. Homemade brown bread, sweet breads and toast. Fresh stewed fruit and homemade yogurt and then our eggs, sausages, ham, potatoes and grilled tomato. Coffee and juice and we were ready for a nap! ha! But instead we loaded our bags into the horrid little car and began our second day in Ireland!
Turns out the car is right up there with Sybil. Multi personalities. Yesterday she hated me. Was bent on seeing me in an Irish jail cell. She embarrased me more than what was fair. She refused to go when I said go..billowed smoke out of the engine if I went a way she didnt want..knocked things over. Stalled right next to a police officer...repeatedly. It's a wonder we survived! Today...she was lovely. She allowed me to navigate her all over the countryside. Stops and starts..hillsides..one lane mountain passes..roundabouts and quaint Irish villages without a peep from her. I think her and I understand each other better now.

We lost seven hours yesterday because of our delayed flights. As we had planned a few stops for yesterday..we had to adjust our schedules which meant we had to pick and choose things from yesterday as well as today. We were in Doolin this morning..and decided to head down to the Cliffs of Moher on our way to Dingle.
There really are no words to describe this natural wonder. We expected to be there about an hour..we were there for three. I'm so glad we were not on a bus tour, but could go and stay till our hearts and minds were ready to leave!









The site is beautiful. Pictures will never do it justice. We stood at the top and looked down to the Cliffs...heard the birds below us...felt the wind blow on us..heard the sea. We climbed O'Brien's Tower and stood at the very top. We sat in the grass and watched an Irish woman play her harp and sing her songs.We saw sheep and cattle grazing in the fields. When we'd had our fill..we had a cup of tea and a scone..at the Cliffs of Moher!









We traveled on to catch the ferry to cross the Shannon River.


Once across we headed to Dingle. One of the things that was on our list for today that we had to drop was to visit the "Loop". Another option, was to drive the Connor Pass. I just couldn't give that up. In spite of the warning by those around to not do in bad weather..and despite the signs that said "Turn Back Now", we decided to go. You see, there are bragging rights when you drive Connor Pass. First you drive for miles up a winding mountain..it seems a little crazy..and then you see why there were signs to turn back!


The road disappears into a tiny one lane path. Of course..there is often two way traffic..and nothing between you and the ciff but a stone fence! Yesterday...my little car would have thrown us off the side Thelma and Louise style...but since we're friends today..she was pretty good to us! She did try to make a break for it as we descended the mountain. But we came to the bottom safely..drove straight to the sea and into the town of Dingle!


We are staying at the Heatons. We will be here for two nights and it will be nice not to have to pack up in the morning. Just get our breakfast and head to the next adventure!

Once we got checked in..we headed into town. Most of the shops had closed up..but we still had fun window shopping and walking around for about an hour. We had dinner at Fenton's. Dinner was served in three courses...I had liver pate and cherry compote. Very, very good! Shannon had a smoked salmon wrapped around a mackerel pate with toast. Also wonderful..if we had to choose between the two..probably the liver pate was the best.
Shannon's appetizer:

Mo's appetizer:


We both ordered the catch of the day..which was Plaice. A flat fish..very buttery in texture and smoothness. Flavor profile was probably that of a tilapia..mild. But the texture was wonderful! Of course served with homemade breads..pesto..salad, carrots and turnips mashed, potatos and vegetables. Wonderful after a day spent traveling and outside!

Dessert..I ordered the Banoffee. It is a pie that mixes bananas, toffee and caramel, fresh cream. Shannon ordered the Icky Sticky bread pudding with toasted pecan sauce served with homemade vanilla ice cream. Mine was good...hers was the mother load!We ended with espresso.
Banoffee Pie:

Icky Sticky:


Content, full, and ready for a walk!! We had parked our car a few blocks away..so we walked back through the village, in a cool mist and loved every minute!!

We love and miss our family. Them being with us would complete this trip. Everytime we see or do something, we think of one of them and how much they would love it! We've begun shopping..buying trinkets here and there. Tomorrow is a day filled with more adventure..driving and sights to see. We'll try to save some energy for the end of the evening so we can catch some live music in town somewhere. But so far..the fresh Irish air is finding us exhausted in such a good way!


Dave, Aaron, Krystle, Ethan, Breigha, Isaac, Shaina, Chloe, Jacob, Jesse, Todd, Hannah, Ben, Leah, Mckala and Maddy...we love you. XOXOXOX!!!

(Shannon's disclaimer- you will know when you are seeing Mo's pictures. These aren't them. And I am still trying to get video up. Going to have to get a YouTube account to put them on. Blogger is not real video friendly!)

Day One Complete

We did lose a day of sightseeing because of delay after delay at the Newark Airport. We lost seven hours. It was discouraging, but what can you do? We finally loaded our plane at 11:26pm and arrived in Shannon, Ireland at 2PM. We had missed breakfast so we ate lunch at The Estuary Cafe inside the airport. I chose Fish and Chips and Mushy Peas. Ha. Mushy Peas. They were quite good. Mo got Vegetarian Green Curry Over Rice. They were both Yummo.




Now onto the real adventure of the day- Mo driving. There really are no words to describe what happened. Hills, stick shift, smoke billowing from the clutch, people cursing, the Policeman on a bike, whom Mo did not recognize as a policeman-which explains her smart mouthing him.....well, we are hoping for a better day tomorrow with driving. The Cliffs of Moher have taken on new meaning.
(have video but having trouble uploading)


We had to switch our original schedule of seeing the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher today. It just wasn't possibe with the late arrival into Ireland. We will not get pictures of the Burren, but we will go to the Cliffs tomorrow right after breakfast.
Tonight we are staying in Cullinan's Seafood Restaurant and Guesthouse. We are staying in the guesthouse, room 2 and ate downastairs. My, oh, my! You can see the pictures and what we ordered. Here is a pic of our view while we ate:

Appetizers:

Mo's was "Symphony of prime local seafood and shellfish, florence fennel compote, cordon of chive scented veloute"
Shannon's was "Tian of Doolin crab, layered with tomato infusion and coupled with marinated baby beetroot and wild rocket"



Entree's were equally delicous..especially after the 11 hours yesterday of airport eating and waiting. Linen tablecloths, real silver, beautiful views and fresh food was a perfect ending of Day One!

Mo's was "Roast rack of Burren Lamb, (yummy little burren lamb), galette of savoury polenta, baked vine cherry tomatoes, wild rosemary jus"



Shannon's was "Flash seared plump scallops on carrot and ginger puree, chorizo disc, accompanied by a light lemongrass cream"



We had no room for desserts! We are exhausted..and have a huge day of travel and sightseeing to do! Pray for us as we travel..we need it! We are thinking of our family and friends with every new venture!

Got pictures from off the iphones and cameras of the B&B we stayed at. It was lovely.

The view from out the front of the B&B. I was a bit surprised that Doolin was not bigger!


The nice peat moss fire in the sitting room: