Arrived in Shannon, picked up by Henry and he graciously organized a full Irish Breakfast of Sausage, egg, rashers, and black and white pudding.
Toured the sights of Crosshaven, in Cork County in Southern Ireland-- where the Titanic left port from.
Met Mariah after her work and went out to Finders Inn for a gorgeous feast and had first Guiness and were both pretty much blown away by the creamy, chocalately, coffee-y, heady brew of I's national drink.
Toured county Kerry, specifically the ring of kerry with old ring forts. saw the tetrapod's (first mammal to come out of the ocean) fossilized footprints - 385 million yrs old
Capped off the long night in kilarney with stunning fish and chips and an irish rock band who ended with the national anthem
hiked the gap at dunloe - a disney-esque beautiful hike through sheep, meadows and mountains
first experience with questionable irish food
went out on the town in ennis
after picking up mikel and tara, mariah and henry generously drove all of us all over -- including to the cliffs at moher -- and back to Cork
Next day toured Cork City and the Jameson Distillery and our first intro to Cronin's the legendary pub in Crosshaven with legendary locals to match. played pool with snookered size balls amongst wall-to-wall photos of misc. boxing legends. http://www.croninspub.com/FC_Dave.html
Then it was off to Kinsley (beautiful small fishing village) and Old Head - an astonishing view of the the atlantic from sheer cliffs punctuated with swooping seagulls and a wind to match.
Regrettably said goodbye to henry, mariah, mikel and tara and set off on bus for dublin. --- 5 hour trip
walked through merriam square and st. stephen green.
Pubs and coddle in the old temple bar area
our fifth and final full irish b/fast then st. james brewery (guiness) storehouse tour then rushed to the airport to catch short flight to glasgow SCOTLAND
Now, the flight is delayed..... we'll update you soon!
andy/sarah
