Killarney and Blarney
Our hotel, the Killarney Park Hotel, is a relatively modern hotel and Christin is in love! It is hip and fabulous and for some reason (we didn’t ask), they upgraded us to a mini-suite. With a DVD player, flat screen TV, air-conditioning, a fireplace, nice slippers, down comforters, Christin could have stayed a week! From the moment we arrive until we check out, the service is impeccable, the room lovely, the food delicious. After our very late arrival, gluttons that we are, we had dinner in The Garden Bar in the hotel, even though we’d had two teas today!
The morning of Day 6, we have a fabulous Irish breakfast at our hotel. Already in the heart of Killarney, as we walk around the area, we come across a host of jaunting cars and drivers, much like taxi drivers in America that congregate around airports and hotels.
In case you aren’t sure what a jaunting car is, it’s actually a horse-drawn carriage. Several of the drivers attempt to engage us for a ride in the cars and we decline, but ask for directions. On our way back, we have to walk past them to our hotel to pick up Big Bertha if we want to go anywhere else. So, when we walk back, one particularly pushy charming driver, named Michael, engages us in conversation again, quotes us a price to take his tour, and guarantees us a good time. So, we take a chance on Michael and hop into his cart.
Well, Michael took a quick shining to Christin and flirted with her the whole time. He tells her all about his horse and lets her drive the whole way.
Ross Castle
Michael, with Christin driving, takes us on a journey in his jaunting car through the beautifully tranquil Killarney National Park, providing narration the whole time and drops us off at Ross Castle for a brief visit. Located on Lough Leane, the largest of the 3 Lakes of Killarney, Ross Castle was built in the late 15th century. It is now open to tourists, so of course we toured it! There are two Ross Castles in Ireland – this one in County Kerry and a Ross Castle in County Meath that is now a Bed & Breakfast. This Ross Castle in Killarney was a military barracks for centuries.
Deenagh Lodge, built in 1834, is a Tea Room. Located across from St. Mary’s Cathedral, it’s a great place for a hot cup of tea and a brief rest before or after a hike around Killarney National Park. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to stop and have a cuppa; just a brief stop to take this picture!
Wishing you always…
Walls for the wind,
A roof for the rain
And tea beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire.
After touring a small part of Killarney National Park and Ross Castle with Michael as our guide, we head back to town. Incredibly charming, as Irish men are, Michael was a great guide and as we drove away (in the wrong direction), he blew us a kiss! Such a flirt! Anyway, once we figured out we were going in the wrong direction (yet again), we turned around, went through the same roundabout and waved good-bye to Michael again as we headed in the right direction!
It is a good horse that draws its own cart.
The story continues on Page 11…
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