VIII BLOG Toto travels
18 May
Traveling toward Shannon Airport
Rising refreshed, we were glad to have yesterday behind us. Although this morning, I could appreciate the beautiful countryside and seaside we had seen yesterday. The frustration and fatigue of the long travel had dimmed and the scenic journey was at least equal in my mind. I am not sure Karen felt that way yet.
Breakfast was served at 9:10, we certainly wanted to be spot-on for that! And it was lovely. Marian was a most gracious hostess, asked us about our evening and wished us well on our journey.
I still find the narrow streets and traffic daunting as we try to find our way through Kenmare and toward Killarney. I am excited to go through Killarney even though I know we won't spend much, if any, time there. We ended up taking a different route to Killarney, probably because I wasn't listening to my navigator Karen. But we arrived in good shape through beautiful lush greens with flowers blooming all around. I saw the turn to Muckross House and went to check that out. So we actually saw a bit of Killarney National Forest and parked and walked up to Muckross House in the blustery wind. There were lads with horse drawn carriages taking people around the lake. One offered us a ride. I said, "Oh, it's too cold." he called warmly to Karen, "I have a blanket to wrap you and keep you warm." She just laughed, he was quite charming.
Spent a while at Muckross House grounds garden - wow, beautiful does not begin to describe the well groomed, lushly growing flora everywhere. Azaleas were amazing - giants! We did not take time to tour the house, although it was obviously splendid.
The next stop was for lunch in Adare in County Limerick, the 2010 "Tidy Town" winner. It is truly charming. We spent a while shopping in the cold wind and rain - yet again, then had a quick lunch at the Dove Cot restaurant in the Adare Heritage Center tourist building. Very good quiche and a great scone!
The countryside continues to be charming, stunning, wonderful, amazing greens with sheep sheep sheep, cows, horses and pubs next to every church (sometimes even attached to the church).
The priest/rector at the Church of Ireland in Adare chatted with us quite a while and then gave us directions - exact ones on how to get to Ennis without going through the industrial town of Limerick. Saved us at least 30 minutes and a whole lot of STRESS. He smiled when we thanked him and said, " Oh, you don't want to go through Limerick, it's CRAZY" as he waved his hand in the air. We have been adopted and tutored by many an Irishman or woman - so very friendly and accommodating. The Irish seem to be one of the most genuinely friendly folk on our planet. When they hear our American accent - which is after one or two, at most, words - they become instant ambassadors.
Now on we go Ennis to find our BnB which is out in the country, Lakeside Country Lodge.
The roads are narrow and crazy unless you are on a motorway. Speed limits appear to be somewhat less than a guideline or suggestion, maybe just a formality? NO ONE pays the slightest attention, driving way faster or very slowly - it's always a road adventure.
We successfully avoided Limerick and took the tunnel under the Shannon and we were on the road to Galway, although we will stop well before Galway (sadly). Taking note of the exit for the Shannon airport, we knew about where we had to go to pick up our hubbies tomorrow.
Karen had the written step-by-step directions to Lakeside which is a good thing! She is great at navigating, she keeps me out of trouble. Of course, every now and then I don't listen and end up going the wrong way. My sense of direction in County Clare got really topsy turvy. I did not want to follow the directions because my feeble turned around brain was just sure we turning north when we were, in fact, turning south. Sheesh!
But we arrived early evening to an absolutely quintessential Irish country home: sheep, cows, a horse and her foal, a dog and the huge back bay window overlooking a beautiful garden, a pasture, a lough, and an old abbey ruins.
Joan greeted us, showed us our room and the room we would have the next night when the Mikes arrived and told us a bit about Ennis. She mentioned the "store down the road" which turned out to be a Costcutter petrol station and it did have quite a nice store. After a stop for cheese (still had crackers and bread), we took a wee drive down the road from the BnB toward the Shannon River. It was Wednesday night and there was some type of ado at the village church, loads of cars and people meandering between the church and the pub. We drove until we could see the Shannon with, of course, lovely fields, green, sheep and cows. There was some sort of industrial plant just a bit further down the road. So it was back to Lakeside and cheese and crackers for us tonight.
While I was downstairs enjoying the bay window view, an English couple from Southampton came in. We chatted a while. They had come through Moneygall, the town that Present Obama will visit. They said there were American flags everywhere and some people had painted their houses red, white, and blue, others with the Ireland flag. They also had a funny GPS story of the day where they were led to a field and told to turn right.
A much easier day and a splendid place to spend a few days.
This has been a marvelous time with my dear friend, Karen. I know we are both ready to see our Mikes, but this trip together has been a treasured time. To spend 10 days 24/7 with someone who puts up with all my "stuff" is such a blessing of friendship.
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