Monday-lakes, the Dingle peninsula

I'm not the greatest writer because every day when we get back from our travels all I can think of to say is awesome. Today is no exception. We started off by shopping at an Irish woolens company, mackens. Gorgeous stuff, some completely out of my price range....and that's without figuring in vat tax and conversion from euro to us dollars. I still had fun looking and did pick up a couple of less expensive things.

From there we went to a lookout point where we took a group picture overlooking the lakes and took time to take some pictures of our own.

We piled back into the bus and headed for the beach town of Inch. Surfing lessons were available, but not for us as it was just a brief stop for photos. Off again, we headed to the town of Dingle for a quick stop, then on to Slea Head, as close as you can get to the US and still be on european soil.

The views as we were driving we're amazing, old castles, patchwork fields, lakes, oceans... It was especially interesting being on a bus on very narrow roads riding along the cliffs. One particularly dicey area was called the devils elbow. It has devils slide beat by a mile. Not sure how the bus made the turn, but we arrived at the next vista point in one piece.

To say that the views were spectacular would be an understatement, islands in the distance, waves lapping the shore, clear blue water...

From there we drove back to the town of Dingle for lunch at one of the best fish and chips places in town. Janelle and I had a quick wander along the street, but all too quickly it was time to climb back on the bus and head back to Killarney for our next adventure, a jaunting cart ride through the Killarney national park.

The ride, a horse and cart took groups of 7 on a ride through the beautiful park, just outside of the main town o. F Killarney. No cars are allowed in the park, so it is a bit like riding into a time long passed. There's a castle at the end of the ride that was fun to explore.

Then it was back to the hotel and time for a walk into town for dinner at Harringtons. They have a creamy vegetable soup that is served at lots of places that has become a favorite of mine. We took a long walk after that and capped off the evening with an ice cream cone and a walk back to the hotel.

What a great day!! I'm attaching pictures below. Wonderful blogger seems to have no rhyme or reason as to what order pictures go in, even if I put them chronologically, that's not how they turn out. I'm hoping I can go in and edit when it get home, but at least for now you can see some of the beauty of Ireland.

The Beach at Inch

Row Boat docked near the castle in Killarney National Park

More boats at the National Park

The Castle at the National Park

Views from the lookout point where we took our group picture

Round tower at the lookout point

Very narrow turn (in a big tour bus) close to Slea Head

Another picture of the lakes at the lookout point

Cliffs at Inch

The Ocean

Picture of the sleeping giant at Slea Head

Cute duck

Horse - at the lookout point

Zoomed in picture of the village just north of Slea Head

A side street at the lookout point

Thatched roof at Killarney National Park

The town of Dingle

The Dingle Peninsula - Slea Head

me - had to prove I was really there

Slea Head

I want to make a quilt from this photo - taken on the way to Dingle

Slea Head

Dingle

Beehive hut - no internal structure - rocks are just placed so as to hold the structure up.  Was used by monastics in the 1800's.  Property is now owned by an older woman - who comes out as people come by to look and accepts 2 euro for those who wish to walk among the structures.

Round Tower on the way to Dingle

Our Jaunting Cart

Leaving Slea Head

Round Tower - Killarney National Park - swans sitting among the grasses

Leaving Slea Head

The lakes at the vista point where we took pictures

Just simply breathtaking

In the town of Killarney - my traveling companion - Janelle

Ruins of a church near the vista point where we took the group picture

That crazy sharp turn at Slea Head

The Sleeping Giant