Back to the normal starts of 7am bags and breakfast, and 8am start. We are heading to Limerick.
Today we drive around 100 miles of the Ring of Kerry. The scenery is better than yesterday and the weather is much better.
The bogs - they are everywhere. Low lying, with low grass and no trees. People cut the turf and dry it to use as fuel (peat) although most these days use coal. The western side of Ireland has poor soil for growing things. I guess that explains why it is so tourist orientated.
Nothing really stands out about the day. In between scenery highlights, most people doze. There are a few with bad coughs now.
Hay - everywhere we have been recently, England, Wales, Ireland, there have been bales of hay lying in the fields ready for winter. They cut the grass and roll it up into big 'wheels' of hay. Then they are encased in black plastic. I guess that means they don't have to store it undercover.
Tonight we stay in Limerick at Clarion Hotel. It is right on the river Shannon and the tallest building around.
We have opted to go on the optional excursion tonight. A medieval banquet at Knappogue Castle. It is a good 30 minute drive from the hotel. Once there, we are greeted at the door by a costumed butler and maid. Inside we are given cups of mead, and offered a taste of brown bread that you dip into salt before eating. Odd combination but not unpleasant. We are entertained by two girls in costume - one playing harp and the other violin - then by a group of girls singing.
After some preamble by the butler and maid, we are shown into the main hall for dinner. There are long tables set with only knife and fork for cutlery, a pottery bowl and cup. There are also jugs of white and red wine, water and large platters of brown bread, and a dish of butter. The jugs and platters are frequently refilled throughout the night and some members of our party get very merry. A little different to the one included drink that we usually get. First course is salmon and salad; we keep our cutlery. Then soup (tomato with herbs, delicious) is served from large jugs into our bowls. We drink it from the bowls - no spoons. After this we get chicken cooked in wine with plentiful vegetables. I can;t eat it all - so much food! Dessert is a lovely apple cheesecake dish - again I can't finish it.
After dinner, we are entertained by the same people who did the earlier entertaining and also the serving. Some of the guests have been dubbed as kings and queens for the night, and there is a villain who is punished - must sing a song.
The night was very enjoyable and possibly the best we have had so far. We finally arrive back at the hotel close to 11pm.
Today we drive around 100 miles of the Ring of Kerry. The scenery is better than yesterday and the weather is much better.
The bogs - they are everywhere. Low lying, with low grass and no trees. People cut the turf and dry it to use as fuel (peat) although most these days use coal. The western side of Ireland has poor soil for growing things. I guess that explains why it is so tourist orientated.
Nothing really stands out about the day. In between scenery highlights, most people doze. There are a few with bad coughs now.
Hay - everywhere we have been recently, England, Wales, Ireland, there have been bales of hay lying in the fields ready for winter. They cut the grass and roll it up into big 'wheels' of hay. Then they are encased in black plastic. I guess that means they don't have to store it undercover.
Tonight we stay in Limerick at Clarion Hotel. It is right on the river Shannon and the tallest building around.
We have opted to go on the optional excursion tonight. A medieval banquet at Knappogue Castle. It is a good 30 minute drive from the hotel. Once there, we are greeted at the door by a costumed butler and maid. Inside we are given cups of mead, and offered a taste of brown bread that you dip into salt before eating. Odd combination but not unpleasant. We are entertained by two girls in costume - one playing harp and the other violin - then by a group of girls singing.
After some preamble by the butler and maid, we are shown into the main hall for dinner. There are long tables set with only knife and fork for cutlery, a pottery bowl and cup. There are also jugs of white and red wine, water and large platters of brown bread, and a dish of butter. The jugs and platters are frequently refilled throughout the night and some members of our party get very merry. A little different to the one included drink that we usually get. First course is salmon and salad; we keep our cutlery. Then soup (tomato with herbs, delicious) is served from large jugs into our bowls. We drink it from the bowls - no spoons. After this we get chicken cooked in wine with plentiful vegetables. I can;t eat it all - so much food! Dessert is a lovely apple cheesecake dish - again I can't finish it.
After dinner, we are entertained by the same people who did the earlier entertaining and also the serving. Some of the guests have been dubbed as kings and queens for the night, and there is a villain who is punished - must sing a song.
The night was very enjoyable and possibly the best we have had so far. We finally arrive back at the hotel close to 11pm.
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