Sunday, September 22nd
Woke up and the ship had docked sometime early in the morning. We had to be off the ship by 8:30am so we were a bit rushed.
After retrieving our luggage we grabbed a taxi, and got to the hotel by 9 am, but since check in wasn’t until 3 o’clock so we had a lot of time to kill. Fortunately, the hotel stored our luggage for us, but showed no sympathy for early our plight. Our first priority after leaving the hotel was to find a place to have breakfast so we headed out into the rain and found a spot to eat. We shared our first Full English Breakfast and we didn’t even eat the black pudding or brown bread. It was huge and reasonably priced. We stopped by the storage facility which is very near the hotel and chose our locker. And then set out in the rain, to tour Southampton on foot, walking almost 8 miles according to the Fitbit. So glad to have waterproof hiking shoes.
Monday, September 23rd
Skipped going out for breakfast and just had coffee and protein bars in the room. Needed to get our luggage reorganized and walk the four pieces to the storage unit ahead of the rain. Turned out to be another rainy day in Southampton, but our feet remained dry. We continued our walking tour and found a “hidden” mall. Just walked into some unassuming door to find an entire mall! Treated ourselves to a nice dinner. Found a great Italian gluten free beer, Peroni.
Southampton is a bustling university town with a multitude of nationalities and languages. It is a major port with cruising ships, ocean liners and cargo ships using the docks. This is the same port from which the Titanic made her fateful maiden voyage.
Tuesday, September 24th
Up at 3:30am to catch a 6:30am flight to Dublin. Everything went smoothly with the taxi showing up at 4:30 in the rain, there was little traffic, we got through customs quickly and the flight was only delayed 20 minutes. We flew in a twin engine prop which took us an hour and a half to reach Dublin. Retrieved our luggage and then headed over to the car rental.
We had reserved a compact with automatic transmission. There began the day’s turning point. Phil got to drive on the left hand side of the road on the right side of the car. It was an experience not to be forgotten by either one of us! We were smart to have purchased full, no deductible insurance. For the price we could have bought a used car! Midway to Cashel we stopped for lunch to let the car cool down as the engine temperature light came on. Fortunately, a little ways up the road, we found a mechanic who added coolant which seems to have fixed the problem. After lunch we had to take the smaller back roads that are extremely narrow often with stone walls on each side of the road. The stone walls are frequently disguised as hedges. Phil did a lot of hedge trimming while Diane sat at a 45 degree angle away from that side of the car.
Harried and hungry, we came upon the little town of Cashel around 5pm. Easily decided to spend the night. Found a beautiful B & B, the Aulber House, with a view of the Rock of Cashel, paid in advance for two nights, only to be told by the owner’s wife that we couldn’t stay as she had a medical appointment in another town the next day. So we found the other B & B, the Ashmore House, listed in our tour book and stayed there. A bit disappointing, but clean and nice in its own way.
Wednesday, September 25th
We got up had another Irish Breakfast with too much meat, then headed out on foot to the Rock of Cashel. The Rock of Cashel dating back to about 1100 was a fortress which was donated to the church and the chapel was added. Later a cathedral was built. The majority of the buildings date to the 12th and 13th century.
After visiting the Rock we walked to the nearby Hore Abbey about a half mile away which was constructed in the 13th century.
Afterwards we walked the length of the town and had a delicious late lunch at a lovely little restaurant called O’Neills. That evening we went out walking again, but this time in the rain. We picked up several items we needed at the small shops and discovered that having your own shopping bag is a must. Relaxed with coffee and a snack of rice cakes covered in dark chocolate which we discovered on the flight to Dublin.
Thursday, September 26th
We had still another Irish breakfast, oh, so much meat! Then a walk to the ATM since Laura didn’t take credit cards which gave us a late start. However, we left Cashel with a mission, to head south to Cork to find another camera for Diane. Just as Phil had predicted, the traffic in Cork was horrendous. We had to park in a parking garage with few inches to spare. We left the garage through a mall and used Google maps to find the camera shop. A camera was secured. Mission accomplished! A quick lunch and then back to the car to head towards the Ring of Kerry. We made it as far as Kenmare where we found a B & B, the Melrose. Walked into town over a little bridge and stopped at a neat pub for a great dinner. Walked back to the B & B in the rain. Then set up Diane’s new camera.
Friday, September 27th
We headed out to travel the Wild Atlantic Way, stopping at a garage in Sneem, after discovering one of the headlights was out. Found a spot to pull off to get our first pictures of the coastline. Unfortunately, it was down a muddy slope. Too bad we didn’t get out the hiking poles. They could have prevented Diane from slipping and ending up with a muddy soggy bottom and having an uncomfortable rest of the day.
Today’s mission was to find the Staigue Stone Ringfort dating back to 300-400 AD. We traveled via an extremely narrow one lane road. When we arrived we were so surprised that the sun was shining brightly and we wouldn’t need our rain gear. By the time we walked to the ringfort we realized our mistake. It poured! We waited out the rain and got some pictures. Mission accomplished!
Continuing on, we stopped to photograph fairly recent ruins of stone homes which litter the countryside. Traveling another off the path road, we found McCarthy Castle a 15 th century Tower House. Nearby we discovered the Ballinskellig Priory a 12th century Abbey. As we drove along we stopped to take some photos, a local man stopped his car, hopped out and asked if we’d like him to take our picture together. So he did and then hopped back in his car and drove off! Talk about friendly.
We made our way to Cahersiveen – another bustling little town with no where to park. Drove from one end to the other hunting bnbs. Every place we checked was full up until we reached the outskirts of town. With some struggling the Skoda Citigo we rented made it up the steep driveway of Iveragh Heights. There was an odd burning smell on and off today from the Skoda. Must check the oil in the morning. Headed out after dark, driving this time, for some live music. It was not to be. Bustling town by day, ghost town by night
