Shamrocker Day 6

August 9th

We had scattered showers today. Fortunately there were old shelters available in some places.

Murals in Derry's Bogside. The war is over.

Shamrocker Day 5

August 8th

We had a bus driving day with occasional stops.
Aasleagh falls (included more as an example of Irish countryside views than for geographic or historic significance).

A sculpture to commemorate those who died in the famine.

The Scots seem to revel in their country's grisly brutal history. The Irish I've met don't.

Shamrocker Day 4

August 7th

Took bus and ferry form Galway to Inis Mór (Aran Islands).

"The secret is to bang the rocks together, guys."
--Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

3000 miles of stone walls on about 20 square miles of land.

This is obviously where they breed horses for use on merry-go-rounds.

Strong silent types--not so keen to chat with the tourists.

The hill was steep. Fortunately there were blackberries to soften the fall.

Shamrocker Day 3

August 6th

We walked along the cliffs of Moher. These precipices have been tamed by tourism. You can't get to the edge, at least not without climbing up from the 4 foot stone-clad tourist trench and onto the grass on the verge. Anyone who does climb up to the grass gets a severe whistle blast from the park rangers.

Sorry Westley and Inigo, you may not sword-fight close to the edge. Please keep to the designated safe walkways.

There are miles and miles of limestone covered undulating fields. No use to man or beast.

A pleasant summer's day at the beach in Ireland. The locals peeled off. We rugged up. (Note the sky. I think we're losing our touch.)

Shamrocker Day 2

August 5th

It rained last night.
Quite a lot.

We got a ferry out to Great Blasket Island.

The houses there are not well maintained.

But the permanent residents were very approachable.

Shamrocker Day 1

August 4th

We've started our 8 day tour of Ireland.
First castle-stop for the tour: The Rock of Cashel

Second castle-stop: Blarney Castle.

Of course, we had to pay our respects by romancing the stone.

Yes, we kissed it. No, they didn't disinfect the stone between kissers.
And I didn't wax eloquent after flirting with the notoriously promiscuous Blarney Stone.

Someone told me it's all happening

August 2nd

Anne and Dave (whom we met through the OEDILF) took us to the Chester Zoo. The animals put on a great tourist show.

Pachyderm tête-à-tête.

Artiodactyl tête-à-tête-à-tête-à-tête-à-tête.

"Please, would you tell me," said Alice, a little timidly, ... "why your cat grins like that?"
"It's a Cheshire cat," said the Duchess, "and that's why."

Pooh: Yes, it's a jagular.
Piglet: W-w-what do jagulars d-d-do, Pooh?
Pooh: Well, jagulars always call "Hellooo" and when you look up, they drop on you.

I, for one, welcome our marmot overlords.