Day 8: Galway & Connemara experience.
I must first tell you of our journey from Killarney by taxi yesterday afternoon with driver Dougal O'Donahue who entertained us with his blarney for not only the 3 hour journey but for the additional half hour it took him to find the Connemara Coast. Yes, Insight had told him our destination;  no he hadn't written it down - he didn't have a pen on him; no he didn't have a GPS - he couldn't work them.
We stopped en route at Adar. (I posted a photo of that enchanting tourist town yesterday). It was the first day of sunshine that we've had. There were 2 weddings being celebrated and they totally overtook the town.
Then we did the 2 hour run to Galway at which point our Dougal started asking me where to go. He turned left for awhile, then turned right for a change, then tried a roundabout and chose a random exit from that down a country lane. Why would the Connemara Coast be down a country lane? When we finally came to a halt for a flock of endearing Connemara sheep (those long-haired ones with black faces) he got out and asked another driver where to go. "Oh no, if you want to get there I wouldn't start from here." Well, how do you get out of here with a flock of sheep in front of you and a queue of cars behind you on one of Ireland's little narrow bog roads? With extreme difficulty accompanied by raucous laughter. But get here we did just in time for tea, for sure. And of course we're in this wonderful hotel right on the wild coast (as shown in yesterday's photo)
Now that you've caught up with yesterday, let's share today.
It began with the ghastly news that 3 other men of our group have succumbed to Peter's bug. Why has it taken 8 days, and why all men? So our tour guide did a block booking with the doctor and we have yet to hear the outcome.
So we piled into our coach without those men and their wives, but with Peter who felt well enough to go on his first optional tour. I even took photos to prove it. They're on FB. The day dawned overcast and drizzly - a soft Irish day. Our first stop was at the magnificent Connemara marble factory (see FB photos). The usual shopping frenzy followed a fascinating talk by Ambrose, father of Ambrose who saw us safely across the road to the quaint house (see FB photo of Peter and me warming ourselves by the peat fire). Grandson Ambrose was not on duty today as it is Saturday. This branch of the factory specialised in multi-coloured jewelry. It was grand to be sure, but I didn't like it. A major saving of many euros.
As we moved on for the long scenic drive through the rugged landscape of Connemara with its " wonderland of trout-filled rivers, lakes and silent hills" the weather deteriorated and we missed the lot. The tour guide announced our arrival at our primary destination which was the palatial Kylemore Abbey, billed as one of Ireland's greatest neo-Gothic castles on the shores of a picturesque lake. So we donned our wet weather gear and opened our umbrellas and sloshed off to see it. Well,  blow me, it stopped raining. Peter and I headed off for a lunch-time soup and by the time we had consumed great bowls of steaming soup, slabs of black Irish bread and my daily tonic of Irish coffee,  there was the sun to greet us and illuminate this spectacular piece of architecture. We meandered further around the shores of the lake, looking for the fairies which I'm sure inhabited such enchanting woodlands. All to the accompaniment of joyous songbirds celebrating the sun's appearance. By the time we had to return to the coach, the magic ended and the rain fell. Certainly the highlight of our first Irish week (which needed highlighting)
Peter is now tucked up back in our room sleeping off the day before dinner.