The Ring of Kerry drive continued----We stopped at lookout called Ladies View (we never did figure out why it was called that particular name), and across the street was a gift shop that we browed for a bit, but we didn't buy anything.
Some scenic pictures of us
Erik, trying on an Irish cap. He didn't buy this one, but he did buy another one in another shop later on.
Some picture of scenery Erik took along the drive
When we got to Killarney National Park Visitors Center, we first had lunch in the cafe on the property. It said “buffet,” but it was more cafeteria style, or like IKEA. I ordered the tomato quiche. For sides I got potato, mashed potatoes, cheesy cauliflower, soda bread, and turnips. I picked out a pastry that looked like a strawberry éclair but tasted more like a donut with lots of cream. Erik got the chicken cordon bleu, and Ian shared with us, though he wasn’t too happy about that. Then we went on a hike through the mossy forest. It was nice to get a little exercise and to enjoy the fresh air.
Lunch at the cafe. I don't think the kids liked it much.
Walking on the grassy area just before the entrance to the hike
The forest was so pretty, that we took many pictures!
Can you spot the old house in the background? The foliage is so overgrown, that's why we missed it the first time.
This cutie!!
On the same property stood the Muckross mansion, which we got to walk through. I thought it was interesting; I like to see old stuff and learn about how people used to live. It reminded me a little bit of the Biltmore mansion. We stopped in a few gift shops, and I bought Ian a personalized pen, some chocolate coins, and some chocolate for myself.
A funny way of preventing people from sitting on the chairs
Ian in front of the mansion
Then we drove and drove over to Nenagh near Limerick to our new rental house, called the Calves house. The house was really nice and spacious, but oh man did it ever smell like a cow’s arse upstairs and all around outside. P-U. I guess people around here just get nose-blind to the smell, even I couldn’t smell it at bedtime. For dinner, Erik went out with his parents to pick up some food at Bistro 41. Meanwhile, the kids and I stayed to watch Monsters Inc, one of the movies available for us to watch at the house. At the restaurant, Erik ordered the tapas (Hereford beef sliders, chicken satay skewers, spicy chicken wings, goat cheese, kaitafi, greens), a cheese board (crackers, fruit, and onion marmalade chutney), pizza for the kids, a chicken and cashew stirfry noodle bowl for Grandma and Grandpa, and a dessert box. Unfortunately, most all the food was very average. The cheese was disappointing—they gave us mostly the rind. But at least Grandma and Grandpa seemed to enjoy their food.
A random church I spotted on the drive. Churches like these are all over Ireland.
Ian and his chocolate gold coins minutes before he sat on them and costed us $100 euros to the rental company. I should not have bought him those coins.
A welcome basket. I don't know what became of that chocolate bar, but we ate the doritos right away.
Watching Monsters Inc while we waited for dinner.
Dinner. Alas, it looks a lot yummier than it actually was.
The Killarney National Park was nice with the hike in the forest. I liked the mansion which seemed like a newer castle. When Ian got chocolate all over he turned to me and said, "I was minding my own business and this happened." When we left that rental house the chocolate bar was still there, so Rick put it in his backpack and put it in our fridge when we came home from the trip. We were going to give everyone some but forgot. It tasted like waxy chocolate.
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