Our Ireland Adventure Day 11

Aran Island Day Tour 

 

Yesterday was a bit rough. Paul could not get comfortable in his bed and breakfast bed. Breakfast was not served until 8:30 a.m. and we had to walk about a half a mile to our pick-up point for our Aran Island day tour, so we just picked up a quick pastry and left.

The weather in Ireland finally presented cold and rainy. That plastic poncho AAA supplied us sure did come in handy. The tour company had us wait across the street from the aquarium, in from of the dog poop disposal!!!  We got there about fifteen minutes early and of course they were about fifteen minutes late; so it was a long wet wait out in the Ireland elements.

The bus picked us up for the half hour bus ride to the ferry to Aran Island. The boat was sitting there waiting for us and the forty-five minute journey to the Island went quickly although the seas were lumpy. However, Aran Island was cold, and super windy.

We walked up the hill to the front of the Fisherman B&B to wait for our bus tour. Our driver was very knowledgeable and fun. He was born and raised on Aran and it showed. We stopped at an old cemetery but it was flooded from the recent storm.

The bus wove through the narrow path through the island and the driver narrated expertly. However, it was just too cold for us to really explore. Paul and I found a nice warm café and enjoyed a long lunch. We also enjoyed the warmth of the little shops.

We had to wait for the return ferry back in the rain. Then when the doors finally opened, the horde of youngsters pushed their way forward and tried to run though us. They did not realize that we are not pushovers. We found a good seat and relished as a group of high school kids squealed every time a big wave rocked them violently.

Of course the bus was forty minutes late picking us up for our return ride to Lower Salt Hill. Of course it hailed during our wait.

Aran Island was fun but the trip left us cold, hungry and tired. I really do not do well when I have to wait. It certainly did not help that I was suffering from a headache. Not the best day but still a great day in Ireland.

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Our Ireland Adventure Day 10

St. Judes B&B and the National Aquarium of Ireland

 

It was a good day for a travel day due to the wind and cold. However, before leaving Dromoland Castle for our jaunt up to Galway, Paul met Patrick at the front of the castle for a stint of Clay Pigeon shooting. Patrick drove us to a secluded area of the castle grounds and gave instruction. Paul had thirty shots and hit quite a few targets. What fun, but it did leave his shoulder a bit sore.

The drive to Galway was an hour and twenty minutes. It is a harbor city on Ireland’s west coast and sits where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic. 

Our bed and breakfast, St. Judes offered a small room with an en-suite bathroom. Most importantly the internet worked well enough for me to get a bit of blogging and work in. It is also located just a half a mile from the beach.

You can see from the photos below that it was cold. But you cannot feel the wind that almost blew us over as we walked the city. 

Considering the weather, we picked an indoor activity, the National Aquarium of Ireland. It was eight euros per senior to enter the Galway Atlantaquaria.

Galway Atlantaquaria, National Aquarium of Ireland seeks to present a comprehensive view of the world of water through clear and interesting displays, informed helpful staff and exciting live presentations and animal interaction sessions.

It was fun and I enjoyed taking photos.

We ate an early dinner/late lunch at Da Roberta's Ristorante & Pizzeria. Yummy food, good atmosphere, friendly service but no alcohol due to the Good Friday ban. . . . . . . I did enjoy some tasty grape juice . . . . 

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Treasures Beneath Your Feet

by Stacey Kuhns 

 

For the past year or so, my boyfriend and I have been collecting rocks and gems. We are both on a very limited budget so how do we satisfy our "collection cravings?" Easy. Local mountains, beaches, roadsides all have treasures if you are willing to look.

We noticed that at the beaches, most people just walk out to the space they want to claim, plop their stuff down, and either go into the water, or settle down in their chairs. They never bother to look down or really look around them. When we see beaches, like the ones below, we think, "SCORE!"

 

What may look like a bunch of boring rocks holds a treasure trove of items, from amazing shells to quartz, citrine, jasper, jade, and other amazing finds. We always have at least 4 heavy duty bags with us, as the rocks get heavy quickly. 

We also invested in diver's booties as it is much easier to search when you do not have to worry about getting wet or worry about your shoes filling up with sand. I have found many gorgeous rocks just sitting on a mound of dry rocks and digging with my hands and feet. It is amazing what can be uncovered.

Make sure that you are collecting on a beach or mountain area that is not protected and that allows collecting (you can usually find this information on the internet or posted in the respective areas.) Make sure if you are collecting shells that they are not harboring sea life. .

Once we leave the area, we sort through our finds and choose which rocks we want to put into the rock tumbler for polishing. Many of the rocks are very smooth and beautiful due to the ocean tumbling them first. .

When you wet a rock, that is pretty much how it will look once polished. It takes one month for one polishing cycle and it is difficult to choose which rocks will go in and which ones have to be set aside for another time. Each week, the rocks are taken out of the tumbler, washed, and a new grit size polisher is added. .

This is a great hobby for kids and adults. My boyfriend has made beautiful necklaces, earrings, and paperweights from our finds. This is the type of tumbler my boyfriend uses:

Prior to putting the rocks in the tumbler for the first time, you need to check for the size. If the rocks are too big, they will not polish correctly. If they have a lot of holes or pitting, the grit and polish will get stuck in those and it is not easy to clean out. Also remember, rocks lose a lot of their mass during the tumbling process, so if they are too small, you may not be able to see or use them once the month of tumbling is complete. 

If you are tumbling rocks from the mountains, if they break easily in your hands, they are not good for tumbling. If they are layers of slate or other materials, that will not hold up in the tumbler. It takes some trial and error to find what size to use, what you like, and what you plan to do with the rocks after tumbling. .

Here is a batch of my rocks after the third week in the tumbler. These are all rocks I found on local beaches.

And after the final polishing in the tumbler at week four.

And here are some of the things you can do with the rocks.

So if you are wandering on the beach, in the mountains, desert, or even in a parking lot near some rocky areas, look down. You may be surprised by what you discover.

Our Ireland Adventure Day 9

Dromoland Castle Hotel in Newmarket - On - Fergus, Co. Clare, Ireland 

 

Just a half an hour away from the Old Ground Hotel was our next stay at Dromoland Castle Hotel. Well it was actually only twenty minutes away but I goofed and we took the wrong exit on the Rotary (Traffic Circle); so we utilized the “scenic route.”

The magnificent, five star Dromoland Castle http://www.dromoland.ie prove to be beyond our expectations. We savored this majestic castle and its enchanting lake, as we passed through the castle gates. It was the ancestral home of the O’Briens of Dromoland who were the Kings of Thomond and whose lineage goes back 1,000 years to Brian Boru, the only High King of Ireland. The castle is situated on four hundred and ten (410) acres of exquisiteness in the peaceful Clare countryside.

Located well outside of any cities, the hotel offers a plethora of activities: golf, dining, a pub, spa; health club with indoor swimming pool, falconry, archery, boating, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, walking and mountain biking just to name a few. 

Our room (219) is housed in the oldest part of the castle but was fully modernized. It featured a cottage-style décor which is based on 18th-century botanical drawings, complementing the sumptuous upholstery designed by the French fabric house Pierre Frey. It truly did look like the photos in the advertisements. It was huge, comfy, and beautiful. 

After thoroughly exploring our surroundings, we enjoyed a late lunch. Mrs. White’s Tea is served between the hours of two and five in the afternoon and consists of a selection of piping hot teas with a delicious selection of freshly baked pastries and breads. It was presented with a traditional flair under sparkling Waterford Crystal Chandeliers that added to the enjoyment of the feasting event. 

There was only one item remaining on my list of “Irish Must-dos;” that was to drink Guinness in a pub will listening to live Irish music. A tired Paul and I check that off this evening. Tommy entertained us in the small pub by strumming his acoustical guitar and singing Irish melodies. The perfect end to another perfect night. 

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