Misty met me in Dublin where I had work to do. Not a lot in Dublin, luckily Misty had scouted out some things in the Irish countryside. This was one of the great cathedrals in Dublin though.
We rented a car to get around, it was a very small Hyundai with the steering wheel in the right side! I had quite a crook in my neck from leaning over to the left the whole time trying to look out of the windshield from the left. Never could get the blinker/wipers right, they're all on the wrong side...
We stopped and snapped a picture of this cute house on our way South and West.
We drove up to Newgrange to start, and the satellite took us right to the monument...unfortunately they don't let you in there, you have to go to a visitors center and take buses in to try to keep the original agricultural feel intact. This was just oppose of Newgrange, just gorgeous fields.
Here's the famous Newgrange rock. Has interesting spiral designs. This is just outside the big tomb (there are dozens of these all over the area, but only a few have been excavated, they are tombs. They date back 2000 years BEFORE the Pyramids in Egypt. Hard to believe there were people there so long ago.
This is the big Newgrange tomb from a distance. Meticulously built. It rains constantly in Ireland (locals told us they had only 2 weeks of sun all summer, and that we were enjoying unheard of sun, fairly warm days for October. The stones are stacked in a spiral, with no mortar, and to this day (6000 years later), the tomb is water-tight. Not a drop of water inside the tomb. This one was designed such that sunlight enters a small passage near door once a year on the winter solstice and illuminates the tomb-chamber inside. It actually works 3 or 4 days around the winter solstice as well. I can't believe they could do this, or take the time. I thought 6000 years ago a person's existence revolved around finding enough to eat and keeping up shelter.
Looking away from the Newgrange tomb. Beautiful fields...no irrigation necessary!
On our way back to the visitor's center, a guy was herding some huuuuge cows along a road to a new field.
We then wanted to head further West to the Ring of Kerry. Long drive though, so we stopped at a B&B in Casheel. We had a view from our room of one of Ireland's top attactions, the Rock of Cashel.
On our drive up to the Rock of Cashel, we came across these old monastery ruins. Just open to the public, we wandered all through them (as did a herd of cattle), saw old graves and stuff.
And this is the Rock of Cashel. Beautiful old castle on top of a rock-hill.
We pressed on the next day to the Ring of Kerry, that loops along the Irish coast. It wanders high through the hills and overlooks the most amazing views of the ocean and fields.
Another coastal view.
One of the beautiful fields right on the coast of the ocean.
More of the same, so green!
There are lots of islands and rocks jutting up from the coastal waters, and all the farmers and ranchers have build these great rock walls.
The sunset was so pretty along the coast
We finished the Ring of Kerry and stayed that this amazing B&B in Kenmare. Nicest room we ever had in a 400 year old house made of stone. The hosts were so fun, the the tiny city had Irish music and pubs all around. It's called the Shelburne Lodge, and the owners also owned a great restaurant in town that we also hit--called Packies. http://www.shelburnelodge.com/
On our way home it did rain, we stopped for a few more roadside pictures. Lots of cows and sheep. If you get to Ireland, don't waste time in Dublin, get to the West coast and especially the Ring of Kerry!
Misty met me in Dublin where I had work to do. Not a lot in Dublin, luckily Misty had scouted out some things in the Irish countryside. This was one of the great cathedrals in Dublin though.
We rented a car to get around, it was a very small Hyundai with the steering wheel in the right side! I had quite a crook in my neck from leaning over to the left the whole time trying to look out of the windshield from the left. Never could get the blinker/wipers right, they're all on the wrong side...
We stopped and snapped a picture of this cute house on our way South and West.
We drove up to Newgrange to start, and the satellite took us right to the monument...unfortunately they don't let you in there, you have to go to a visitors center and take buses in to try to keep the original agricultural feel intact. This was just oppose of Newgrange, just gorgeous fields.
Here's the famous Newgrange rock. Has interesting spiral designs. This is just outside the big tomb (there are dozens of these all over the area, but only a few have been excavated, they are tombs. They date back 2000 years BEFORE the Pyramids in Egypt. Hard to believe there were people there so long ago.
This is the big Newgrange tomb from a distance. Meticulously built. It rains constantly in Ireland (locals told us they had only 2 weeks of sun all summer, and that we were enjoying unheard of sun, fairly warm days for October. The stones are stacked in a spiral, with no mortar, and to this day (6000 years later), the tomb is water-tight. Not a drop of water inside the tomb. This one was designed such that sunlight enters a small passage near door once a year on the winter solstice and illuminates the tomb-chamber inside. It actually works 3 or 4 days around the winter solstice as well. I can't believe they could do this, or take the time. I thought 6000 years ago a person's existence revolved around finding enough to eat and keeping up shelter.
Looking away from the Newgrange tomb. Beautiful fields...no irrigation necessary!
On our way back to the visitor's center, a guy was herding some huuuuge cows along a road to a new field.
We then wanted to head further West to the Ring of Kerry. Long drive though, so we stopped at a B&B in Casheel. We had a view from our room of one of Ireland's top attactions, the Rock of Cashel.
On our drive up to the Rock of Cashel, we came across these old monastery ruins. Just open to the public, we wandered all through them (as did a herd of cattle), saw old graves and stuff.
And this is the Rock of Cashel. Beautiful old castle on top of a rock-hill.
We pressed on the next day to the Ring of Kerry, that loops along the Irish coast. It wanders high through the hills and overlooks the most amazing views of the ocean and fields.
Another coastal view.
One of the beautiful fields right on the coast of the ocean.
More of the same, so green!
There are lots of islands and rocks jutting up from the coastal waters, and all the farmers and ranchers have build these great rock walls.
The sunset was so pretty along the coast
We finished the Ring of Kerry and stayed that this amazing B&B in Kenmare. Nicest room we ever had in a 400 year old house made of stone. The hosts were so fun, the the tiny city had Irish music and pubs all around. It's called the Shelburne Lodge, and the owners also owned a great restaurant in town that we also hit--called Packies. http://www.shelburnelodge.com/
On our way home it did rain, we stopped for a few more roadside pictures. Lots of cows and sheep. If you get to Ireland, don't waste time in Dublin, get to the West coast and especially the Ring of Kerry!
4 comments:
hoooweee, that sure looks pretty. but no way is that better than paris and london. no way.
good to see another yearly post.
-gym
Great pictures. I think I would have loved Ireland more than London and Paris also. Not so many people and much more peaceful.
Some of the pictures with both of you must have been taken by "fellow tourists".
Good to see this blog is still alive!
When I first looked at your last picture on this post, I thought the cow was a sheep hanging on the fence post next to Misty. Pretty strange - at first glance that's what it looks like.
looks like misty is enjoying a martini at that b&b
Post a Comment