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We are staying in Connemara, which may be the farest south spot in Irelans. Not sure but it's close. It is west of Galway. Did y'all know that the country of Ireland is half the size of Illinois?
Now you do. Everyone who asks us where we are from in the US tells us we brought the good weather with us. It's almost getting comical.
Twenty years ago Ireland was not as expensive. I blame the Euro.
We have put many many miles on the rental car. We had to adjust from the gourmet food on the boat to pub food, but pub food is good and it's fun, too.
FYI, no one has said a dispariging word to anyone. We have even shared B&B rooms. Must be the adult beverages.

We have visited breweries, castles, museums, cathedrals, graveyards, statues with white hair (thanks to the pigeons) and many cute little town centers. Barb and John kissed the Blarney Stone. (We kissed it 20 years ago, so we just went for the scenery.) Some people thought we were nuts for letting John kiss it and "get the gift of gab," but we figured he couldn't get any more gabbishness from a rock at the top of a 600 year old castle.

We went to Cobh which is the last port of call for the
Titanic before...well, you know.

I like the way they say "wakey" and "drinky" and the advertisement for the "Breakie Mac" at McDonalds. Plus the way they rhyme everything is endearing. For example, a tall monument in Dublin is called "The Erection in the Intersection" and the "Stiletto in the Ghhetto" or the "Pole in the Hole."

We are doing the B&B and Pub thing, which I like because it puts us in one to one contact with the local people.

BTW, did y'all know that an Irish guy was the first one to discover America?
That Chris Columbus story is a myth. Just so you know.

Hop on, hop off, hop on, hop off, etc.

I am a drinker with a writing problem. Today we went to the Guinness brewery and then, as if that were not enough we went to the Jameson Whiskey Brewery. They both gave free samples. (and purchased even more.) We got a certificate for pulling a perfect Guinness out of the barrel. I got scolded for not tipping the glass correctly.
We saw the graveyard where the inventor of the crossword puzzle was buried. The guide told us his headstone was 4 across and 3 down.

We saw an advert for a radio station. It claimed to play music for people who remember when George Michael was straight. AND for people who remember having to push "Record" and "Play" at the same time. We plan to listen to it when we get the car tomorrow.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Anyway, that's how it sounds in this B&B room. Richard is even making the P-P-P-P-P-PH sound that is in old cartoons.
We just got back from a pub called the Porter House where we ate pub food and drank all of their samples of micro-brews. And then some more... Both of the guys said, "I don't want to go to sleep yetttzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Barb is studying maps. I think I'll go back to the book on my Sony reader right now. The Help. Gigi-OUT

Indecent Bumbling Boobs

We are off the barge and back at the La-De-Da Hotel. Tomorrow the boys come. Tomorrow we move to the Egan Hotel. In two days it's B&Bs all the way. John stayed up half the night last night down-loading IRELAND GPS bidness so we won't get lost. The last time I was here I wrote a thing called, "How to make roads in Ireland" and it still stands true today. As I recall it began with -"Place two cars side by side almost touching. Add one inch. Put tar stuff down exactly this wide...." It goes on. of course.

The boat was fantastic. Food? Out of this world. Company? Wonderful. Laughter? Oh, Yeah.--- until we were weak.

Our computer comes with the guys, so there will be pictures. Meanwhile we are at the hotel Bidness center.

Barb just knocked on our neighbors door thinking it was our friends. It was an annoyed guy in a bathrobe. No telling what she interrupted.

Someone suggested we go to a store called Doors and Knockers. Someone said, "I've got your knockers right here." Don't know who...

Some impertinent little thing just opened the door wondering when I would be done so I'm out. Love!

Galway

We have no internet on the boat. Richard and John will be here Sunday with a laptop and we'll be more communicative. The cruise barge is great and the weather has been also. The food is M. O. !!!!!!!
We have been to two castles and now we are in Galway and are about to go shopping . I have taken a lot of notes and I'll write it all down here when the boys get here.
But I'll tell you right now that a girl danced for us yesterday while her da played a pennywhistle. The people are great and I hear Pink singing inthis internet cafe.

Love and kisses!

We're on a boat!

ITENERARY
DAY 1 Meet in Dublin at Aberdeen Lodge Hotel and transfer to Killaloe to board 'Shannon Princess II.' After a champagne welcome, explore the charming riverside town before dinner on boat.
'Shannon Princess' Barge B L D
Day 2
Cruise the waters of the River Shannon onto lovely Lough Derg. At the lake's widest point, ease westward to a mooring at Mountshannon, perched high above the water. After lunch, visit Ireland's living past at the Craggaunowen Project, a re-creation of everyday life in the Iron Age and early Christian Ireland.

'Shannon Princess' Barge B L D
Day 3
Cruise to Terryglass, a small and beautifully maintained village. Have lunch ashore at the quaint Derg Restaurant, followed by an excursion to Leap Castle, Ireland's most haunted house. Learn the fascinating history of the castle from Sean Ryan and his family who, as they demonstrate, are also talented traditional musicians.

'Shannon Princess' Barge B L D
Day 4
Take an excursion to the lively university town of Galway, Ireland's third-largest city and a stronghold of the Irish language. Legend has it that Christopher Columbus prayed in Galway's Lady Chapel at the Church of St. Nicholas before setting off for the New World. Today's visit includes a tour of the famed Irish crystal factory and lunch at the popular Quay Street Restaurant. After lunch, there is time to shop before rejoining lunch, there is time to shop before rejoining 'Shannon Princess II' at Banagher.

'Shannon Princess' Barge B L D
Day 5
Travel toward the riverside town of Athlone, stopping en route at the ruins of Clonmacnoise, a famed 6th-century university and early Christian settlement. Continue north through Europe's richest examples of "callows" landscape in one of Ireland's finest wildflower reserves.

'Shannon Princess' Barge B L D
Day 6
Cruise to Lough Ree to explore some of the 365 islands, mooring at pretty Quigley's Marina on the beautiful "Inner Lakes" of the Lough. After lunch, visit Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre with its excavated bog road built of oak in 148 BC. Return to 'Shannon Princess II' for a final farewell dinner on board.

'Shannon Princess' Barge B L D
Day 7
After breakfast, transfer back to Dublin where your tour ends at Aberdeen Lodge Hotel.B