The Burren & Kerry City
I guess we must be getting used to the time difference and jet lag, because today we got up early enough to have breakfast at the hotel. It was buffet-style with a choice of juice, grapefruit or stewed prunes, cereal, bacon (which was more like ham), fried or scrambled eggs, two kinds of sausage shaped like little triangles that were seeded— very good, then there were beans, broiled tomatoes, a vast variety of bread, bagels, biscuits, and jams. The attendants were friendly and extremely courteous— they went from table to table to serve the guests and they went back to replenish anything you desired. We really enjoyed the meal and the experience.
Today we are going to visit the Burren; it is a place with a historic past. The Burren is a karst limestone region of 300 square kilometers (about 116 sq. miles). It is a very rocky, barren place eroded by water and riddled with underground caves and rivers which flood when it rains. Early inhabitants were more or less cavemen— very primitive people living in caves, dressed in animal skins. They hunted with spears and cooked over open fire. We saw replicas of funeral rites…etc.
Over the years the ocean wore away the land and it became more or less barren, covered with the most incredible species of flowers. In time the Burren will disappear completely.
Ireland has a history that includes beauty, hardship, poverty, famine, castles, quaint cottages, rural villages, great cathedrals and country churches. In recent years, thriving towns and businesses, tourists, and trade have boosted the economy and evolved the country into a prosperous nation with employment for everyone.
I’m not sure if this is the afternoon we went to Kerry or not, but one of the days we took in two sites. We drove to Kerry and rented a jaunting cart in the center of the city. The driver wrapped us in heavy blankets and a waterproof covering as it was misty outside. We toured the city and the driver took us to a national park with a castle donated by a wealthy American. It was over an hour’s ride and the scenery was breathtaking.
When we arrived at the castle we strolled around the grounds, came back and hugged our horse and chatted with the driver. He was a wealth of information and a perfect gentleman, as were all we chanced to meet on our travels. We had a beautiful ride back and we visited many shops...etc. then Brenda and I headed back to our hotel.
On the way we found what we thought was a fancy restaurant. In reality it was a very elegant sports club. We had a delicious drink, chatted with locals, and then we were ushered into a beautiful dining room. I had a chichen dish that was extremely good, but after salad and rolls I could not eat very much of it. Naturally —being me— I asked for a doggie bag. Don’t know if I was the first or not.
Anyway, it came back wrapped in heavy foil with a handle. Looked like an Easter basket. After that wonderful experience we headed back to the hotel for a very restful night.
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