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well i think i did ireland...really and truly...
2 weeks was almost more than enough of green, green, green and pubs and somewhat stodgy food...
but...what a gorgeous country! we were very lucky with the weather - only a couple of days in that whole period with rain...
started in belfast, northen ireland...felt a little more special there as every second person walking down the street wasnt an aussie or an american or etc etc...delightful people - very friendly and welcoming, a sense of hope in the air, pride, fire, you name it...the murals were interesting, we took a black cab tour which was SOOOOOO worth it...real irish taxi drivers...geez its difficult to understand them though! specially when theyve had a little to drink...great place, sad to leave...should be an excellent tourist spot once they get things up and running a little more...
then off to derry...on the way went over the carrick-a-rede rope bridge (bloody scary for this adrenalin avoider) and saw the giants causeway...nothing is ever as big as you imagine it though...and why must there be people in every photo i take ;) people i dont know...
then donegal...then galway...highlight of the trip here - went to the aran islands - absolutely fantastic - lots of gaelic speaking, funny people - different life on an island with tiny roads, mad drivers, saw the jumpers (pullovers), people in ireland seem particularly fond of the flora and fauna that surrounds them, and with every right to be...got a horse and cart ride here - very cool...
then kilarney - also a favourite of mine (like belfast)...our spot to see the ring of kerry however kilarney had a lovely feel to it...beautiful national park, another horse and cart ride...lovely people again (they were everywhere!!!)...
no wonder they call this place the emerald isle - ive never seen so much green in my life...hiring a car was an excellent way of getting around and although many people said the irish drivers are a little mad, cant say we noticed...although the signposted speeds of 100 kph on narrow roads round corners may be most at fault here...daft limit...
the ring of kerry? wasnt sure what to expect - just a coastal drive yeah? but magnificent...something for everyone from the mountains to the beautiful bays and the winding road...couldnt say gorgeous enough...
then off to cork...too big a town for me (not big at all but compared the other places we went)...along the way we did tipperary and limerick - both nothing to write home about but had to be done didnt they ;) well corks main purpose was for blarney castle - knocked that off in a couple of hours :) yep - i kissed the stone as i bent backwards over the chasm...has it made a difference? dont think so ;)
then through waterford to kilkenny....crystal was awesome and good tour of the process - so hand-made! whatever happend to automation...amazing...amazing chandeliers too...
finally to dublin...gotta say dublin didnt inspire me - just another big city...the guiness factory is worth a visit, just for the sheer size of it...and had to go to trinity college...
all quite reasonable to do if youre sharing a room - hostels along the way averaging 20 pounds a night and most with private bathroom...if youre happy to live on soup and sandwiches and water, you could get by on maybe 30 euros a day spending??? some places included brekkie too...bout some lace and belleek pottery as a souvenir...
having a blast...off to greece and the isles now...might never come home
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