When we all did hop on the bus, we headed to the Burren Display Centre to learn about the Burren, an area of rounded limestone hills with a rich archaeological past. The Burren is literally a 10 sq mile limestone plateau. The area at first glance is so bare, so forsaken that a 1670s surveyor for Cromwell described it as "a savage land, yielding neither water enough to drown a man, nor a tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury him." But this area contains several tombs that were used by people like 4000 years ago. Once in particular, Poulnabrone Dolmen, is considered a portal tomb. Archeologists originally found evidence of 62 different burials centuries old, including the evidence of a newborn child. It was way too cold and rainy to hang out there long. Quick walk out in field, snap pictures, then we high tailed it back to the bus out of the elements!
After driving through the Burren region, we stopped at the Monk's Pub in the small village of Ballyvaughan on the Galway Bay. They had a roaring fire in the fireplace ! It felt great! The pub had fresh seafood sandwiches and soups. Really good food and atmosphere. No Guiness for us!
Let's talk pubs for a moment. True Irish pubs are more family oriented, community social gathering places. Families with children are allowed in the pubs to eat and socialize until about 9:00 pm. Then only adults over 21 are allowed.
We arrived in Galway about 2:00 pm for a quick look at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas...(not St. Nicholas the Santa Claus!) This church is full of mahogany pews and Connemara marble floors all under a beautiful Canadian cedar ceiling. Then we had two hours of free time to walk around town for some 'retail therapy'. Didn't buy anything, but did a lot of window-shopping!
We then were taken to our hotel for the next two nights. This area reminds us of Destin, FL with all the condos and vacation places on the shore of the bay. Had a group dinner at the hotel which we were pretty happy about because the weather has not let up yet!
Day 9 - Well the weather was not much better this morning when we got up. today was a very busy bus ride day. We started out at 8:15 by making a wild dash to the bus against winds clocking at about 40 mph and horizontal rain! Our first stop was to the village of Cong. The village is where parts of the movie "The Quiet Man" starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara was filmed. We had a village tour guide who's grandfather was an extra in the movie and had shared a lot of history with his grandson. All of the exterior shots were done with buildings and bridges in the village. They even have a museum in town that contains a lot of the props used during filming. It's been 62 years since the movie debuted in the theaters. And apparently there is a worldwide cult for this movie and these fans make annual treks to Cong. We're going to have to watch the movie when we get home.
After our walkabout tour, we piled back on the bus and drove through the the Connemara countryside. It was very difficult to get many pictures since we were driving through heavy rain. We drove to the Portfinn Lodge in Leenane for a very nice lunch of Irish Stew. We had been scheduled for a cruise on the Killary Harbour. However, with the wind and rain, the captain cancelled the cruise. Thank goodness! We were concerned with turning a lovely shade of Irish green after such a big lunch! instead our tour guide arranged a change in the itinerary at the last minute for tours at an old Abbey and a Connemara marble craftsman's shop. We all were very excited about the change.
We backtracked to the Kylemore Abbey for a quick tour. When we arrived, we had to hike up a small hill to a Visitor Center and then up another hill to the actual Abbey. Now this wouldn't have been any problem on a nice day, but we were walking into the wind and against the driving rain! If it hadn't been so dang cold, it would have been comical! We literally had to lean forward and force our feet to move! After walking through this once private home turned Abbey for the nuns of the Order of St. Benedict. Beautiful place. Coming down the hill took a lot less time! You could lean back and the wind could almost hold you up! Think almost Hurricane strength!! But we made it back to the bus and off we went like a herd of turtles!
Next stop, Connemara Marble shop. This marble is mined in various parts of the area. Each area had a specific color of marble. Colors like red, jade green, beige, and black. This shop has several jewelry craftsmen making rings, earrings, bracelets and other Irish marble gifts. Some really pretty pieces and some actually reasonably priced!
By this time, it's getting close to 5:00 pm. And we head back through the rain to our hotel. Dinner was in the hotel's pub this evening.
We head to Donagel tomorrow morning at 8:00, so for now....good night friends!
PS..appears northern Ireland and England are being hit by a freak snowstorm this weekend! But hopefully all of that will be out of the area by the time we arrive in Belfast on Monday.
Just an added note, Irish hotels like hard beds, flat pillows, and heavy/VERY warm duvet coverings.
Poulna dolmen. While it looks like a stone table, this is a portal tomb. Four
thousand years ago it was a grave chamber.
Connemara marble at a local family owned factory and store.
Just read post to Gunter n all he has to say is "next time take us, when the weather is nicer!" Lol.....sounds cold n COLDER!! Kinda like here
ReplyDeletelove ya, Jen n kids
ps gare on sea headed back to la, will b home tomorrow, his favorite was Hondorus I think.