Seeing More of This Place I Call Home!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that my Aunt and Uncle came for a visit. At first I was concerned about the timing of their visit because I had just spent the week prior touring around Ireland with my parents. I was concerned about seeing all the same things over again just a week apart.  However, that was not really the case. Although we did visit a few of the same places, it was different company, and therefore a different experience. Of course we did manage to see several new and different sites. Ireland may be a small country but there is sooooooo much to see!

Here are a few of the places that were first time visits for me:

Spent one day and night on the Creaden Head Peninsula in Waterford which is in the South Eastern part of Ireland.

Hook Lighthouse, Co. Waterford

Brightly shining, as usual! ; )

At the top of the Hook Lighthouse.  It was windy!

I love the shadow the lighthouse is casting in the photo.

Headed Slightly North West to check out Kilkenny

Kilkenny Castle, Co. Kilkenny

Then across to the West coast where we spent two days exploring the Dingle Peninsula.

Dingle Penisula, Co. Kerry

Dunbeg Fort a prehistoric fort on the cliff edge of the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry
If it were not such a cloudy day you could see the Ring of Kerry across the inlet behind me.

Dunbeg Fort

Beehive shaped huts like these dot the landscape all over the Dingle Peninsula.

Ancient ring forts like these can be found all over the hills and along the cliffs of the Dingle Peninsula. 

An ancient sundial.

The Galarus Oratory on the Dingle Peninsula.

Part of one of the many monastic settlements, the Gallarus Oratory is believed to have been built between the 6th and 9th century.

Lots of amazing scenery!

a mountain stream flows right across the road as you head out to the tip of the  peninsula.

Looking over the edge!

Hanging over the edge!

We spent the night in Tralee at Ballyseede Castle Hotel.  My favorite part of our stay was the four legged residents that love to hang out with the guests.  An Irish Wolf Hound named Arthur was possibly the most docile dog I've ever met. A mixed breed named Einstein entertained us by fetching rocks.  Yup, rocks! Really small pebbles.  He would carry around several pebbles at once and knew exactly how many he had at any given time.  Apparently his record is 23 pebbles at once!

Einstein guarding his pebbles.

Ballyseede Hotel

Aunt Jane with Arthur the Irish Wolf Hound.

Einstein and Arthur hanging on the hotel steps.

 And as usual no trip in the Irish countryside would be complete without getting up close and personal with some of the animals!

Adam thought this was so funny and wanted me to share. He is easily entertained.

So overall it was another wonderful week visiting with family. Thank you Jane and Jim for spending time with us exploring this beautiful country we are currently calling home!

More in 7 Days than in 7 Months!

 I am sorry I have been MIA for the last week. I have been off on yet another holiday! I would make a terrible travel blogger, because when I am off traveling I am too busy enjoying the act of traveling to stop and write about it right then and there. 

I saw more of Ireland last week than I have in the seven months we have been living here! The reason for this was my parents came to visit. Adam and I have sort of been holding off on seeing some of Ireland's major attractions with the knowledge that we had visitors arriving in the Fall. My Aunt and Uncle will be here next week, so more Irish travel lies ahead!

As for my parents' visit we spent a few days here in Cork and then four days on the road exploring the West Coast before heading east to Dublin for a day. 

Thought I would share a quick post with just a few highlights from the visit.  I may expand upon a few things in future posts, but for now hopefully this will give you an idea of what an amazing country Ireland is. 

 Here is what we managed to cover in 8 days:

1 Fort

3 Castles

2 Manor Houses

1 Brewery

1 Distillery

2 golf courses

3 Mountain Passes

28 hours of scenic driving

4000+ sheep

almost as many cows

2 National Parks

4 very different hotels (each with their charms)

60 pints of Guinness 

40 pints of Murphys

13 bottles of wine

1 birthday (Lynn's)

and 

7 Rainbows!

We visited historical sights:

Charles Fort in Kinsale

The Blarney Castle

Roger kissing the Blarney Stone

The Rock of Cashel

The Rock of Cashel

Rock of Cashel

Cahir Castle

Thatched cottages in Adare

The Kylemore Abbey in Connemara

toured breweries and distilleries,

The Jameson Distillery

Roger holding his diploma after becoming an "official" whiskey taster

The Guinness Storehouse

drank a few pints (OK many, many pints),

Enjoying a pint at Doheny & Nesbitts in Dublin

saw some of the most amazing scenery I've ever seen,

Killarney National Park

The Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher

The view along the Dingle Peninsula

Outside The Europe Hotel situated on the lake at Killarney National Park

Adam battling the high winds at Old Head golf course in Kinsale.

made some new friends,

experienced the ups and downs of the crazy Irish weather,

Winds were gusting up to 60 mph the day Adam and Roger teed up at Old Head!

stayed in several amazing hotels,

The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin

Exterior of The Shelbourne Hotel

The crazy pink room in The G Hotel in Galway.

The G Hotel lobby

Anyone else a little Dizzy?!

The Europe Hotel in Killarney

The Europe Hotel

The Europe Hotel

Adare Manor Hotel

Roger enjoying his tea by the fireside at the Adare Manor Hotel.

enjoyed delicious food:

Adam made this amazing chocolate, coconut, and almond  delight from scratch in honor honour of Lynn's birthday!

and overall had a wonderful time!

Killarney National Park

Thank you Mom and Dad for coming to spend time with us, and treating us to a wonderful week exploring Ireland!