Try to buy the first round and other handy pub tips

Uh, let me fill you in on this thing about Irish pubs...so, if you're in a pub and you're chatting with folks at a table or at the bar, whoever needs the next drink customarily buys a round for the group. Now, at first, this seems very polite, but keep in mind, they often don't ASK if you want another drink, you just get one. Again,this might seem alright until you are trying to leave and your nice table mate shows up with another pint for you. The problem occurs when the guilt sets in and you realize you've got to reciprocate AFTER you drink this one,YIKES more pints for all! Took me an hour and a half to leave the pub the other night. Just thought you'd like to know, always try to buy the first round, then you're less obligated. :)... and yes, you CAN have too much Guinness. and it's not a good idea to try that the night before you get on a ferry in less-than-great weather.....

Doolin

I love Doolin! It's this tiny little vilage - so small there's no bank, post office or real grocery BUT it's literally world famous for it's tradional Irish music. there's 3 main pubs and the music has been great. They start early on Sun. so I was there for about 6 hours! Sessions are just local musicians that sit around to play, no plans, no set, just play. Anyone willing to play an instrument or sing can come up and play.

This is also one of the ferry stops to the Aran Islands. I went today and because it was raining, I took a cheesy van tour but saw the whole island. The big attraction is Dun Angaeus a 3000 year old ring fort on the edge of a cliff. YIKES! This place is also all rock wall. Theyre everywhere. Interesting place - they just got electricity in 1975!
I'm also staying in a great B&B here AND it's cheap, such a nice combination. I came home tonight dog tired and wet from rain and Susan brought me this little tray of tea! So cute ! I like it here so much, Im staying another day! Wheeeeeee

Dingle

Odd name for one of the cutest towns ever! Dingle is on a peninsula in the southwest of Ireland know as the "last stop before Brooklyn" A sleepy little fishing village excepti n summer when it transforms into a tourist destination (nightmare, trap, etc). It's really beautiful thoough. sort of an outer banks on a tiny scale. They thrive on a story of a dolphin in the harbor. "Fungi" has been around since 1972 (how long do dolphins live?) but it still drawing tourists for tours. He actually comes and swims with and jumps for almost all boats that pass through the bay/harbour pass. I took a horse ride UP the mountain, much easier than hiking it myself (thanks Smokey!).

Walking the Wicklow Way

Spend 3 days hiking the Wicklow mountains. Our group consisted of a Swedish couple in their 60's, another Swede (hereby refered to as "the Norweigian Batchelor farmer" - as Garrison Keillor referes to, he fit the bill to a T - except his was still living in Sweden, not in Minnesota, and he actually liked to talk), Two Australian sisters that were on the Irish trip to trace the family roots, me, and a very silly guide, Robert, born and bred in the Wicklow area. He had the "gift of gab" so they say, so we laughed solidly for two days together. We walked 12-15 miles a day, large portions of which were UPHILL and rather painful - the views were worth it though! Nothing over about 2500 feet but still amazing to see. Strangely, as we walked uphill, the great views were all behind us. hmmmmmm.... If you didn't hear the story already, we passed the "Crone House" in the Crone forest! Crone means "hard ground" so it's not really named after a family but it sure was fun to offer passage to the group for the family land! HA. Most of the group thought I was a little nuts but beware - you'll probably see these photos on a Christmas card coming to you in a few months!

Powerscourt Gardens

Powerscourt Gardens were the last great victorian garden adventure. They're south of Dublin and the first adventrure for my hiking group. We all me Sat. afteroon and were whisked away to Powerscourt to have a look. It's hundreds of acres of highly manicured stuff with a Japanese garden (seems odd for the time) and a pet cemetery for all the pets that had lived at the mansion. you can't visit the house - it's still standing but the interiors burned in the 70's

Howth

Went out the coast to a tiny village - Howth, they have these great harbor seals that come ask for fresh fish - they slat the water and it looks like they are waving at you. You can buy scrap fish from the local fishermen to feed them. so funny! Also watch a kids sailing class. you could hear them yelling at each other. They all sounded exactly like 12 year olds from the US!

Dublin

Spend the last few days in Dublin seeing all the basic sights Trinity College (hundreds of years old), Dublin Csstle (Thousands of years old)I tried to take a funny picture of me in King George and Queen victoria's thrown, but the horde of Spanish high school students wouldnt get out of the way); Christchurch catheral - (which is currently outside my hotel window - no kidding, you should hear the bells!)-

One of the first priorities was to visit the Guinness Storehouse! It's the "experience" they give their biggest fans - 7 stories of how they make it from the water and roasted barley (yum, we tasted) to the years of clever advertising- It's the Disneyland for beer! I even attended a training class in how to pour my own pint!