Trip Report - Emerald Isle 2009 - Part 4

[redzinner]

Monday 05/25/2009 Day 3 of Tour

Celtic Kingdoms (or the day of food and more food)

One last breakfast at the Westin and then we boarded the coach to begin our travels outside of Dublin on toward County Tipperary and the Rock of Cashel. The guides kept us entertained with facts and stories for about an hour of our two hour journey. I didn’t think the roads from Dublin to Cashel were terribly twisty and no one complained of motion sickness.

There was a surprise stop at a restaurant before we reached Cashel for a snack of scones and tea (or hot chocolate, coffee). There was no clotted cream on the tables or serving bar so I asked for some and they gladly provided a dish.


What history at the Rock of Cashel! The seat of the Munster Kings, where St. Patrick supposedly converted the then King to Christianity. The guide Ann was fabulous at this site. I don’t now how Disney does it but they are quite good at getting excellent local guides. I think we spent a good hour here and then more time to take photos.


The little ‘heads’ in the stone work are thought to be self portraits of the stone carvers.








Lunch was on our own in Cashel but who was hungry! We had breakfast and scones already and it wasn’t even 1 o’clock. 4 of us found a place and just ordered soup and a slice of brown bread. The food was good but the service was so slow. The guides warned us but since we didn’t want much we thought it would be okay. We had to go to the bar to order and then again to pay our bill. Sorry I don’t remember the name.

* Tour tip:Listen to the guides recommendations!

Off to Killarney my favorite of the whole trip!
The towncrier welcomed us and presented us with our pin of the day.


We unpacked and hit the streets of this delightful town.


View from our room


Our group dinner was at Petrus a very stylish restaurant in the hotel. Here we had a selection of entrees and I chose the Salmon. It was absolutely the best, light, melt in your mouth salmon I have ever had and I have tasted Alaska and British Columbia’s. Too late I remembered food porn but here is the dessert which I thought was a very delightful presentation of a white chocolate pistachio parfait and cookies.


Later that evening on the suggestion of the guides several of us tried Sheehan’s for Traditional Irish Music. It was literally two doors away from the hotel. Crowded but very good fun and friendly people.



Tomorrow the National Park!

Part Five

[sayhello]

Great pictures! The Rock of Cashel looks so very, very cool!

Scones & tea... Yummm!

Sayhello

[TewEpcot]

The apple pie at Petrus was the best apple pie I'd ever had... go figure! I had begun to notice as the week went on that apple dishes were on dessert menus everywhere we went... which led me to ask the guides if the Irish grow apples. They deferred to our lovely driver, George, who told us that yes, they do indeed. He even told us the county, but I don't remember, of course.

[Aburns8]

I am loving this report!

[clarabelle]

I have a couple of questions. Does everyone go down to breakfast at a specific time? Or do you have a time frame that you eat and get ready in then meet at a specific spot?

Also -no kids in the pubs after dark? Is that right?

Thanks
Loving the reports

[cappygirl]

Is that a computer on the desk in the hotel?

[redzinner]

Originally Posted by clarabelle

I have a couple of questions. Does everyone go down to breakfast at a specific time? Or do you have a time frame that you eat and get ready in then meet at a specific spot?

Also -no kids in the pubs after dark? Is that right?

Thanks
Loving the reports

There is a time frame for breakfast at all the hotels. The only thing you need to be aware of is meeting time for the first activity of the day. Then you schedule your own breakfast accordingly.

The guides will give you 'next' morning information the day before.

I believe the pub rule is no children past 9 pm since it gets dark late in the summer in Ireland. Having said that, we did see a little girl in Sheehan's in Killarney one evening. She wanted to dance to the jig music but her parents wouldn't allow her. It is a pub and alcohol is consumed but it was so friendly and even family friendly. They were not asked to leave. You might ask the proprietors or the guides about the rules. The traditional Irish Music at Sheehan's started at 7:30 and lasted until 11. In a room behind the main pub/fireplace/bar area there was a stage for the next music group that then started at 11 and it was usually young bands playing rock music.

I'm glad you're enjoying the reports. It's great therapy for me since I sort of get to relive every day.

Originally Posted by cappygirl

Is that a computer on the desk in the hotel?

No, it was just a small flat screen TV.

Killarney Hotel and the Castle each had 2 computers for guests use, free of charge.

[cappygirl]

Great! Thanks!
My mom will be thrilled when I tell her we'll be able to check in.

[clarabelle]

thanks!!