This day had some big shoes to fill after yesterday.
Left Galway around 8:30 this morning, had a 2.5 hour drive to Killarney, but stopped halfway in a tiny little town called Adare. Considered to be one of the prettiest towns in Ireland, we had an hour to explore - coffee shops, gardens, the thatched roof cottages. Absolutely precious! Made it to Killarney with time for lunch and no lie, had the BEST meal I've had in a long time - smoked salmon sandwich on Guinness rye bread that was almost cake-like, but filled with walnuts and pumpkin seeds. Capers, lemon cream cheese...ok, just look at the picture and drool.
Started a (what turned into) 2.5-hour & 11 mile bike ride through town & all through the Killarney National Park. Ross Castle was stop #1: built in 1410 as a tower house (which is different than a castle in the fact that defensive components are sometimes sacrificed for convenience, such as having the front door on the main level, which can be more easily invaded), its nestled right on the water and guess what...another perfect day for viewing.
Stop #2 was the Muckross House, built in 1843 originally for a British Colonel, visited by Queen Victoria and later owned by Arthur Guinness himself. The gardens were something you see only in a movie...I cannot imagine the manpower it takes to keep all of that acreage up, but they do an incredible job.
Final stop was the Muckross Abbey, founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary. It apparently had a pretty violent history and after several raids, there isn't much left but the core structure is still in fact, home to burial grounds of some of the great Kerry poets. Mike led a great tour today and I'm so thankful for the opportunities we've had to get out and be active, especially given the beautiful weather and the fact that the food is even more beautiful.
Pizza date for Jill and I tonight while the others went to the Celtic dance show. The town hosted an American celebration for the 4th of July all day today, which meant hundreds and hundreds of tourists packed on the streets, so not too much exploring happening this evening. However, we did get a brilliant sunset at a decent hour since we've moved a little more south.
Back at our cute B&B - off to explore the Ring of Kerry all day tomorrow!
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