better late than never?!!

I must have been away a while. Run out of moisturizer, hair needs colour (again), and at latest count have been to 17 countries.

Bought a newspaper today (Daily Telegraph) to read on the 6 hour train trip from Milan to Naples (on the very very fast train) and rather wished that I hadn't. Why spend E4.80 to read all that depressing news (especially at todays exchange rate)!

but I am conscious that my communication has been a bit(!) lax...and rather than tackle Naples in the dark, have tried to set up this blog..... and if it works, then I can let you know...

so...as I sang in Salzburg.... lets start at the very beginning... a very good place to start....

18 June was the date that Claire and I left the NZ winter behind to find that the Irish summer was not much different. Poor Claire - there we were in Dublin on a Saturday night and I couldn't keep my eyes open, no matter how hard I tried. Very strong body clock, and a very bad cough. I think I was a bit like a stunned mullet for a week or two.

However we braved the elements and explored Dublin: Guiness Factory, hop on/off tour, Trinity College and the Book of Kells and the Robert Emmett statue were some of the sights seen.

We picked up a rental car and drove down to the southern coast (by Waterford) and explored the countryside, including some very narrow country lanes. Memories include Hook Peninsula lighthouse and thatched cottages and I commenced research on fish pies.

Of course we visited Waterford factory and purchased some glasses (as you do) and then continued along the coast to Cobh, stayed in Kinsale - very cute town and sampled more fish pie at Fishy Fishy restaurant.

Continued on to Cork, kissed the Blarney Stone along the way and on to Kenmare. Visted a few pubs along the way (surprise!) and had a singalong with the Irish Weavers and another with a solo artist who had his children singing with him.

Drove round the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula; stayed in Tralee with Claire's cousins and sampled full on Irish hospitality.

Then up the West Coast to County Clare,the Cliffs of Moher, through the Burren and onto Galway. Ferry out to the Aran Islands and stayed there a night. On to Clifden and stayed in the grounds of the Ballynahinch Castle (except I can't spell it) Onto Sligo and then back through the middle to Dublin to drop Claire at the airport for her to continue her travels to France and Portugal.

I headed north again and that was the day that I backed into a car and still couldn't see it even after I had hit it! (have I mentioned how bad the rear vision was in the rental that we had!!)

Spent nearly a day at Newgrange and Knowth (passage tombs - 5200 years old) ie older then Stonehenge and still no leaks. Fascinating.

On to Cavan, then Donegal, visiting craft villages, Castles, and Glenveagh National Park along the way. Then to Derry (walled city) along the northern coast, Giants Causeway and down to Belfast. Hop on/off tour and lots of walking.

Loved Ireland, and must do more research on the family tree for next time!

My new expressions "grand" and "wrecked" have been used alot since then.