442: Juli 2017

Green, Greener, Ireland - 5

While planning for our Ireland trip there was one thing right on top of our list of places to visit. This place being the Skellig Islands. Even though it was on top of our list we did not read the travel guide carefully enough and realized while calling the numbers provided just the day before we wanted to do the tour that all tours were already booked and that there would be no way for us to get on board. But F did not gave up that easily. He was calling all the numbers in our travel guide, sweet talking with the organizers of the tour and captains. Before heading to bed we still weren't sure whether we could at least get a seat on a tour circling the islands. We decided to drive to Portmagee after breakfast anyhow, just to have a look. On the way we got a text message saying that there would be a boat waiting for us to take us out. Aren't we lucky!

Fisher boat and view on Portmagee.

Smiles, with the Skelligs behind us.

We saw an amazing amount of sea birds!

Skellig Michael, old steps to the monastery.

Skellig Michael.

Boats waiting for tourists to return.

Skellig Michael, and more steps.

Skellig Michael.

The small Skellig - with thousands of birds!

Skellig Island.

Seals at the Skellig.

View from small Skellig to Skellig Michael.

Falling asleep on the way back.

After the tour we had a snack in town and made our way along the coast to Cork. Obviously not without stopping at another ruin, seems we cannot just easily pass on sights like that.

View along the way.

K infront of Staigue Fort.

Entering the Fort.

Inside the Fort 1.

Inside the Fort 2.

With that our stay was almost over. We spent the night in Cork and had to return the car the next day at Dublin airport. We decided to stop at least for one other cache and castle before saying good-bye.

Dunamase Castle.

View from Dunamase Castle onto nearby church.

Climbing the ruins.

It was the perfect playground!

Dunamase Castle.

Me and my best travel companion.

We had a fabulous time in Ireland. We got to love the Irish people with their amiable accent and hospitality. We enjoyed the lush green and even the few rain showers we encountered. And there is still so much more to see. So, get ready Ireland - we will be back!

Green, Greener, Ireland - 4

Our planned next stop for the night was Cloughane, a rather sleepy little village. On the way there the Cliffs gave way to sand beaches and we took the chance to take a break in the white sands and put our feet into the water.

If there is a sandy beach there is a sand castle to be built.

Taking a dip?

At the beach.

Cloughane, at the B&B.

Our B&B in Cloughane.

K behind the B&B in the evening.

Next morning we set out to do another cache near Brandon Point. It is here where we saw a bunch of dolphins, just amazing to watch. We walked a little along the path up the hill until the way got to muddy and we decided turn around. On our plan for the day was to visit the town of Dingle and have a look at another old castle on the way to Glenbeigh.

At Brandon Point 1.

Brandon Point 2.

From Brandon Point we took the road crossing the pass to Dingle. Dingle is a quite touristy place. We stayed for some ice cream and coffee. The best husband got some new flip flops and off we went to explore the island some more.

On the way to Dingle.

View on top of pass to Cloughane side.

View onto Dingle.

Colorful Dingle.

Dingle.

Fooling around in Dingle.

From a far we could already see a long beach, the Inch Beach, and decided it was time for another stop. Getting closer we saw that we could actually drive onto the beach. Big smiles and adventure hats on. F loved to drift on the beach - big laughs, great fun.

Driving onto a beach for the first time.

Kite surfers at the beach.

Taking some steps on the beach.

Next stop was another cache location, the Ballycarbery Castle. Another ruin to climb around in, amazing that it all still stands for us to enjoy.

Ballcarbery Castle 1.

Ballcarbery Castle 2.

Ballcarbey Castle 3.

Ballcarbey Castle 4.

Ballcarbey Castle 5.

Ballcarbey Castle 6.

Green, Greener, Ireland - 3

After Connemara our tour took us further south, on the way to Limerick we passed Dunguaire Castle, walked through the ruins of a village swept away by a tsunami wave, parts of the Burren National Park and finally saw the Cliffs of Moher from the sea. So here we go :

Dunguaire Castle.

Inside Dunguaire Castle.

View from Dunguaire Castle.

On the way to the Cliffs of Moher we stopped at a small café for a snack and coffee near Craggagh, Fanore. Looking at the geocaching app showed some interesting caches in the area and we decided to walk down to the ruins of an old fishermen village and then drive land inwards to the Burren Park.

Coast near Craggagh, Fanore 1.

Ruins of the fishermen village, Craggagh, Fanore.

Coastal wildflowers 1.

Coastal wildflowers 2.

Coast near Craggagh, Fanore 2.

Sandstone beach.

Geocaching near Burren National Park.

The Burren Park.

Walking on the street and yes it was sunny and hot!

Stone formation at Burren Park.

Stone fences.

For some reason I thought it would be cold on the sea and made my boys take their thick jackets and waterproof gear - it war very, very warm and after 5 min we took it all of, enjoying the breeze, dolphins, puffins and sun.

On our way to see the Cliffs of Moher.

Surfer near Doolin.

The Cliffs of Moher 1.

The Cliffs of Moher 2.

It's not a bad hair day for K.

The Cliffs of Moher 3.

The Cliffs of Moher 4.

The next stop took us to Limerick and we stopped at the castle. Walking through the ruins and the very informative museum, it is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. But after this visit we had enough of Irish history and museum visits for a matter of fact and decided that it would be time to just enjoy the beautiful Irish landscape.