What day is it?????

Hello, one and all. Greetings from the North of Ireland (not to be confused with Northern Ireland... as we say in Texas, it's a whole other country!). We have at last made our way to Sligo, along the Atlantic Coast of Ireland. I have to stop and think about our last blog.... I think it was on Saturday from Dingle. If you look at the map, you can see that we have covered LOTS of space over a very few days. Especially if you think that we started out on Friday from Clonakilty, the other end of the island.

We left Kingdom View and our lovely hostess, Eileen early on Sunday morning. Because we were so close to the Gap of Dunloe (literally, just down the road!), I thought we should drive and walk a wee bit so John could see one of God's greatest Cathedrals. (AFter all, it was Sunday, yes?) (http://www.killarney.ie/dunloe.htm) Quite a place the Gap and as lovely a place to spend a Sunday morning as any church. I'm not sure it's easier to be closer to God anywhere else. We spent about an hour and a half walking up to the second bridge, where you can actually see down the Gap. We had thought it might be too chilly to take a jaunting cart, but it might have been better. Anyway...the walk was refreshing and afforded us the opportunity to stop and shoot wherever the muse struck. There were LOTS of opportunities to take incredible pictures, though early morning light is not always the best light for photos. (Well, it depends on which direction your shooting and where the sun is, but that's another story for another day.) We enjoyed the walk immensely and am delighted we did it. It's one of the few "repeat" experiences from my first trip in Ireland.

After this, we stopped off in Killarney and did a wee bit of shopping and then headed out for whatever came next, enroute to Cloghan (up in the midlands, County Offaly). We were blessed with good roads the whole way and the trip went much more quickly than we had anticipated. (Always a blessing!) We were met in Cloghan by Carmel Finnerann, another of Ireland's lovely B&B proprietors. Carmel and her husband (Padraig - pronounces Paw-rick) were great fun to sit and chat with. Carmel greeted us with tea and her dilemma of wanting to leave very early this a.m. so should could accompany Padraig to the doctor) then after we ended up chatting on the stairs, just as Padraig arrived home from his nephew's confirmation, Carmel insisted on making us a "proper tea" and we sat and talked for over an hour. What delightful people. Truly gracious, humorous and endearing. We discovered that much of what currently faces Ireland, with regard to economics, health care, youth.... is exactly what we've been facing in the States for several years. Interestingly enough, the economy in Ireland is currently in a boom phase. (Easily recognized by the ever present building site at every turn!) Seems that young folks are mortaging their futures on 40 year mortages and LARGE houses! Doesn't sound much different from home, does it!

We collapsed, with an emergency bit of laundering (and NOTHING dries as fast here, where radiators seem to be turned off through the night -- more about that later!) and a very light supper (bread and cheese and the requisite tea!) we settled in for an evening of TV... ending up watching Law & Order after watching Men in Black... a definite evening of American accents!

Got up this a.m. praying for the radiators to be turned back on.... we had a new record when I looked at the clock and realized it was 57 degrees in our room! YIKES! (Or as Carmel would say, "Crikey!"). We did manage to get underwear washed and dry... finished off my pants this morning as we had the house to ourselve since Carmel and Padraig left early for this doc's appt. (Can you imagine... these lovely people left their house AND keys with total strangers! A trusting and gentle people these Irish!) So... we took our time and got back on the road around 9 a.m.... heading for the next adventure!

Then we were off to Clonmacnoise (http://website.lineone.net/~tom.dunne/clonmacnoise.htm) As one of the oldest and most intricate monastic sites in Ireland, this had long been on our list of "must sees"... and worth every minute. (Perhaps I should say, worth every shiver as we always seem to end up near wind blowing over the water!). I was thankful for my CuddlDuds! and my ear muffs! As always... simply spectacular! (you know... I'm starting to wonder if any pictures will turn out since my hands are always mid shiver when I click the shutter!)

As we left Clonmacnoise... we had yet another adventure... which, dear John will no doubt talk about in his blog.... needless to say... I got my anniversary present!

Hugs to all... Until next time... Dawn