EIS – To Tramore (Day 16)

EIS – To Tramore (Day 16)

(9/2/2010) Today is mostly a driving day with comfort stops. We start the day in with early mist on the mountains which look dramatic.

As we continue driving along country roads, we pass many tree tunnels. The hedges grow so close to the side of the road that when another large vehicle passes by our left mirror rubs the hedge. It does look nice and sometimes a little scary, especially when a big truck passes only inches from us.

We continue to pass fields and we begin to come out of the mountains.

All of a sudden after coming around a curve in the road, we come to a cattle crossing, in use! Amazing, look at the traffic cone they are using, it reads, “Caution cows crossing”. Well of course they are.  On the way to the milking machines I think.

We pass a town which had a castle which I do not remember if it is there any longer. (Our tour director gave the name of the castle and who lived there, but none of it sunk in.)  But, the gate entrance to the Castle still remains and has become part of the roadway. Very old and very cool.

Our next stop is at Blarney Castle. Our first mission though is a toilet break though. We head over to see the castle.

Also, during a helicopter ride around Blarney Castle we took this picture.

And then here is me kissing the Blarney Stone.

Well, okay I have to confess, when we got to the entrance to the castle entrance we find they are looking for €10 (that’s 10 euro) each to get in. Well we didn’t pay €20 just to look at the castle let alone go on a helicopter ride just to get a picture. So, the castle pictures and the one of me kissing the Blarney stone (although it does look like me, on the other hand I am wearing shorts today) are from postcards. Sounds like blarney to me!

Continuing on, we pass more fields with cows and sheep and rivers.  I think Carmen and I slept for a little while, but the scenery still looked pretty much the same.

I have to admit, we have passed many rather large stone churches, many with elaborate stained glass. Not sure how old the stained windows are, but some of them look very impressive. This one was at one of our comfort stops.

As we near our destination, we pass one of many stone bridges. These viaducts are very old with some of them dating back to when the Romans occupied Great Britain.

We reach our destination for the night. The hotel has an ocean view. Well some of the rooms have ocean views and Carmen and I just happen to get one of them. Here is a view from the room. Notice the swans swimming in single file in the pond.

Tomorrow we head to Dublin.



Until later, Bob and Carmen – EIS.