Killarney

We were thrilled to have yet another great B and B, especially for 3 nights. I absolutely loved the fact that everywhere you go in the eveningthere is music in all the bars. It varies a great deal from the typical toe-tapping Irish music with well-known sing-along tunes, to more popular music of the past decades. 

Our first night was spent in a very popular and crowded bar with some really typical Irish music. Difficult to sit still at times. Good meal, but tending towards quantity rather than quality!

After warnings about the traffic around the Ring of Kerry we opted for a tour. It was super to just sit and admire the scenery and not to worry about oncoming traffic in the centre of the road! I was enjoying driving in Ireland but drivers do tend to hog the very narrow roads!

The ring is hugely popular with  tourists, similar to the West Coast of NZ . The roads and towns must be absolutely horrendous in high season! Sadly the weather was not as perfect as it had been and we had some squally showers at some key lookout points but in general we were quite lucky. Like Milford in NZ they have over 300 mm of rain a year. 

Luckily here it was clear enough. All along the way are little old men with their animals. I felt so sorry for the poor freezing animals at times! These guys were all pretty cute though! I think it must be worth their while to be there though!

The views up thevalleys were also well worth getting out of the bus  for!

It is a peninsula with some rugged coastline, interspersed with beautiful , long , sandy beaches. Idyllic in the right weather. 

 

As we returned to Killarney, we had a spectacular , partly overcast view at the Ladies' View of the lovely lakes of Killarney. It would have been nice to go up again on one of the next two beautiful days, but we sadly ran out of time - too much to see around here.

 

Where was this taken! New Zealand perhaps? West Coast?

 

It certainly ressembles that area, but no, it is the very beautiful, brief stroll through the lush forest with its moss and ferns, to Torc Waterfall.

 

Really stunning.

Then we had a brief stop at a very colourful little village called Sneem, where the water is also the dark colour of West Coast waters due to the tanin in it.

 

Once again more fascinating locals with their loyal animals ensuring the owners get a good income, especially in the summer months. I am not sure if the man or the billy goat had the better beard! Handsome couple.

 The day ended with an absolutely delicious fish meal at a really reasonably priced restaurant, followed by a fantastic evening in a neighbouring pub, this time with popular songs and a very entertaining group of Germans. It was great to get up and dance the night away.