Train ride from Glasgow to Oban 12-8-10

Queen street station Glasgow

Today we travelled from Glasgow through lovely highland regions to Oban. I out this photo in for my grandson Oliver who loves trains---Hi Olie!! This really is the best part of Glasgow--leaving!! We had a lovely train trip to Oban. Beautiful scenery---a castle or two, lochs,deer and Brenda saw a fox!! Many magnificent trees and wild Rhodos along the side of the tracks. It took three hours but such a relaxing trip.

Oban

Oban is a lovely old fishing port where the big ferries cross to the nearby islands of Mull and Iona and many more. Great fish and chips here. Tonight we are having some wrapped in brown paper that, according to Rick Stein, are the BEST EVER!!!! Will let you know about that!!
Tomorrow we catch the ferry to Mull and Iona. We are both looking forward to that!!
Children's Challenge for the day----check out Highland cows!!!

Last night in Dublin

Today we travelled from Waterford to Dublin--quite a trip at 7.00am!! We dropped our hire car back and had a busy but good last day in Dublin. We spent some time in our favourite park in Dublin--St.Stephens on the Green. I had a lovely ice cream and we did some last minute shopping and posting home!!

Many people were in the park at 7.00pm a favourite place for Dubliners!! We bought some fish and chips and sat in the park to enjoy them!! Tomorrow is a big day with a train trip to Belfast then the ferry to Scotland and then a train to Glasgow---Brenda's birth place!

So Farewell Ireland!!Irish flag in the Park.

Killarney to Waterford and Dublin

WE left Killarney very reluctantly as we both loved this part of Ireland. WE set off for Waterford and as we travelled along Sue noticed a sign saying Blarney so we wandered off the motorway to Blarney. A local recommended Blarney Castle---how could we resist!! So we found ourselves wandering the castle grounds up to the castle----could this be where The Blarney Stone resides?? Yes it was so fearless travellers that we are we began to climb the spiral staircase that went up and up and up!!
Sue was very white with sweaty palms(remember she is afraid of heights!) as we passed the tiny turret windows it was higher and higher!! No turning back as there were people in front and behind!! Great for claustephobics---like us!! We held tightly onto a rope---no elegant banister here---and went round and round and up and up!! HELP!!!

Brenda kissing the Blarney Stone!!

Sue Kissing the Blarney Stone!!

The top of this turret is where we hung!!

WE finally reached the top with the encouragement of a lovely young couple ahead of us who could see we were having trouble!! As the line up to the Blarney Stone drew closer to us we decide escape was not an option and that we were going to do this!! WE had to lie down on our back and HANG out over the edge and kiss the stone!!! This is when I decided we were definitely crazy!! But we did it!! Now we have a photo and certificate to show you all!!

Ring of Kerry 8-8-10

Today we travelled around the Ring of Kerry. It's getting hard now to write this blog as adjectives just run out in Ireland. Every corner we turned was just amazing scenery---breathe taking really. Incredible mountains in the distance and the Atlantic Ocean before us.

Two Leprechauns!!!

We passed through the Bay of Kells, Waterville, Dennynane Bay Sneen Kenmare and Killarney National Park also Lough Leeane. The road was very hair raising at times and I was very happy to let Brenda drive. WE had a sheer drop on one side and in the Irish way----sometimes a cement barrier sometimes a hedge sometimes nothing!!! I really had sweaty hands at times!! 
 This was incredible country to travel and we both loved it as it revealed another part of the mysterious landscape of Ireland.

TRavelling from Galway to Killarney 7-8-10

Happy Birthday Shelley!! Great to be 29 eh??

Today we left early and took the scenic route to Killarney. So glad we did as we passed close to the sea and through beautiful little villages. Our favourite was Listowel, A little village with beautiful coloured pubs and shops. We had lunch at Tralee or a cuppa and explored this town--small and quaint but a lot of old areas lost to the newer parts. Found a wonderful book here called "Vanishing Ireland"----couldn't buy it of course but it looked great----stories of individuals.

As we drove along we passed beautiful green trees overhanging and forming green arches----a beautiful canopy of green that formed a tunnel to pass through. We both enjoyed this drive and look forward to our day round The Ring of Kerry tomorrow,

Connemara National Park

Today we drove to WEstport through Connemara National Park. It was raining quite hard at times but the country was so spectacular. Swirling mists over high mountain ranges and beautiful lakes with mist above them. We passed through Joyce Country and the mountains we saw were the Maamturk Mountain Range. When we arrived in Westport it was pouring with rain but such a pretty town.I loved this day and the weather added to the beauty and mystery that surrounds Ireland.

Galway

WE set off for Galway today and after a "minor" wrong turn we ended up in the beautiful village of Slane. That is where Newgrange was and I couldn't believe we went past Tara the home to the ancient kings of Scotland!!! Good mistake eh?? I really felt my brother Stan's presence----he wouldn't let me be this close to Tara without seeing it!! Just a huge mound of green grass but one of those "close your eyes and imagine" moments. The Kings certainly picked not only the most beautiful valley but the most fertile.

Then we connetcted to the motorway and headed to Galway. Hate motorways but they sure get you there!! two and a half hours to Galway across Ireland. Galway is such a pretty place with an old city that I loved. Beautiful coloured little pubs and shops. Many shops sell beautiful knitted garments---wish I had some suitcase room!! We are in a lovely B7B with great wi Fi!!!

Off to Westport exploring the country and coastal regions today. raining but so nice after the stifling heat of London!!