Olde London Town

We arrived around 40 mins late which then puts everything back, no problem at the airport, heaps of traffic and a really bad accident made travel into the city slow going. It was quite pretty though with all the Christmas lights.

We checked into our Apart Hotel - Citadines Trafalgar Square unpacked and went to find some dinner. We were unlucky in that department as it was now midnight and everything was closing. We settled for a tesco express ( think 7/11) and got some supplies for our apartment along the lines of breakfast food so we had some toast and honey a cup of tea and went. To bed.

On waking we had to attend Paddington station to retrieve one of Kelly's bags that I will bring home for her then off to lunch with Ann Flynn, Sarah's mum at a restaurant in Covent Garden called Cantina Loradeo, a very nice Mexican place, food and company were fabulous. Ann showed us around a Christmas market in Covent Garden before leaving us for her trek back to her mums. Thanks Ann we had a great day!

Prior to meeting Ann as you would have seen on FB, e had a drink at the Sussex, cause we were early

Kell had me on the g&ts Hendriks no less with cucumber !

Kell and I then purchased tickets for that nights performance of Guys and Dolls at the Savoy.

Kelly had not see this one before and it had been probably 20 years since I saw it.both glad we did it was a fabulous rendition to a packed theatre, and at £25 each who could complain.

Trafalgar Square was jumping everywhere there were santas that had been drinking for the best part of the day, I must say everyone seems to get into the spirit of Christmas here! 

We had a quick dinner at 11.30 after the show at Garfunkles ( not my favourite place but all that was open) and then home to bed.

There will be more photos as we will be sightseeing over the next few days, with some washing on the agenda first thing this morning, then the red bus tour. Monday is our day trip to Stratford on Avon and Oxford, and Tuesday afternoon it's Harry Potter World!

Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”

Last day in Ireland then off to London!

I must say that this was not the best place we stayed at by any stretch, it was however the best night sleep we've had in Ireland. Thank you Travelodge express in Waterford. 

We had arrived too early yesterday to check in, so we went to the onsite restaurant, Rockin Joes Diner! An American inspired restaurant of burgers, shakes and fries. Burgers good, shakes great, fries average. This was a late lunch /very early dinner then we checked in and packed for the trip to London.

We awoke to a spectacular looking day, but knew better than to get our hopes up. We had packed all our stuff the night before and made sure the car was cleared of all rubbish, souvenirs etc. we packed th e car and headed off into Waterford cbd to find some breakfast and do some sightseeing.

Bagel house (?) was the venue for breakfast, and it was surprisingly good.

Then it was off fora bit of sightseeing, Waterford Crystal was top of the list then the Viking triangle.

We managed to get some crystal decorations for not a bad price, they had a special, truly they did!

We oohed and ahhed over all the lovely things we would never be able to afford including a €13500.00 desk top bar, for the executive that has everything, Gregory yours is being freighted home, let me know when it gets there (haha).

We wandered around for a while, took the obligatory silly Viking photos ahead of the masses of school kids and then headed off for a scenic drive to Dublin international.

I forgot, yesterday when we were leaving Kinsale, we stumbled upon the moving statur of Mary, this part of the worlds miracle 

Anyway, we left Waterford,and headed off towards Dublin, trying to avoid the motorways as much as possible. To our surprise the weather just got better and better.

That is actual sunshine, the first we'd seen since arriving.

There really sent anything left to report on this leg of the trip. We arrived in Dublin airport without incident, and checked our overweight baggage in, my bag had gotten heavier, whilst Kelly's, had miraculously gotten lighter, must have been another miracle of Kinsale!

Next up London days and nights

See you there!

Cork to Blarney and Cashel, then on to Cobh and Kinsale

Well some travelling has been done over the past 2 or 3 days.

We arrived in Cork and stayed in a hotel this time, the Commons Inn for 2 nights.

Day 1

We headed off in sunshine to Blarney to visit the castle and kiss the stone.

By the time we got to the top of the castle, the heavens were threatening to unleash another downpour on us. Nothing for it but to suck it up and get on with the business at hand......laying flat on your back, legs askew, leaning the top of your body backwards over a sheer drop of around 4 stories high to crane your neck to kiss a stone that is about 6 inches in front of your face that countless others have already slobbered on and placing all your trust in two hand rails and an attendant that is there to make sure you do it right. Attractive sight but of course! We have the official and expensive photos to prove it.

We climbed down from atop our castle battlement and headed for a wander around the poison garden complete with bella donna, wolfs bane, opium poppies and an extremely healthy cannibis plant. We continued our wandering snot Blaney house, unfortunately closed for the season then back to the visitors centre for a baileys coffee and souvenirs, just in time for the drenching that would then continue for the rest of the day.

We thought then we would travel further afield and head to the Rock off Cashel. I'd never been before and it was a decent drive to get there, straight up the middle towards Tipperary.

The weather had made wandering around on foot unpleasant so we bit the bullet and took off for the centre. We arrived in Cashel around 1 o'clock and walked up to the Rock. This is purportedly the beginnings of Christianity in Ireland. It has been many things over the years, but it is impressive. It was abandoned eventually because it was a bit u comfortable.........this I understand, I don't think I have ever been that cold. Our hands were frozen to the point of not being able to press the button on my camera, and once they started warming up again it was painful.

From Cashel we headed back to Cork for a well deserved drink and some food, before retiring to our room where we watched a movie and got a good nights sleep.

Day 2

After checking out the next morning we headed into Cork thinking of picking up the hop on hop off bus for a tour, alas thwarted again, the bus does not run outside of the high season! We wandered around on foot for a while then headed off to Cobh (pronounced cove) the last point of call for the Titanic before she left to cross the Atlantic to New York.

We went to the Titanic memorial garden and then did the Titanic experience, finishing off with a baileys coffee at Kelly's White Star Line bar.

The memorial garden is at one end of Cobh on the harbour, over looking where the titanic was anchored. It was as windy as all get out and the noise made by the masts and ropes were quite eerie.

The Titanic Experience is at the centre of town on the harbour and is actually the original white star line ticket office where 123 people purchased their tickets for the ill fated trip. Heartbreak pier is still there, only just and was being repaired after almost total destruction last week in storm Desmond. This is the location where the passengers were farewelled by their families and friends a sad place as they were leaving for a better life, never to return. The majority of the passengers that left from here actually survived, Kelly's ticket persona lived mine however did not!

We travelled from Cobh to Kinsale and checked into our accommodation for the night. Kinsale is a very pretty seaside town that is all lit up for Christmas. We will be exploring its surrounds before heading off towards Waterford and the last day of our Irish adventure.

Put a ring on it Skellig and Kerry

Leaving Dingle we headed south towards Killarney. With Kelly at the helm we had a plan in mind, but last minute took a left instead of a right and headed to the rings.

With all the rain over the past days , rivers and creeks were up and flooding was the order of the day.

As we drove we decided we would stop somewhere on the ring of Kerry for the evening so set about enjoying the scenery. I took over piloting duties and Kelly sat back to enjoy what really is a beautiful part of the world.

Next stop was Kells Bay.

Then the turn off onto the Skellig ring came into view and we made the turn into what I think is such a beautiful place. With towns like Portmagee with its brightly painted houses on the harbour. Seen from across the bridge on Valentia island it's a pretty sight on even a rough and windy day like we had.

The view from the top

We kept moving and reentered the ring of Kerry looking for accommodation as we went. Due to the time of year a lot of places are closed. We would have liked to stay in the place that markets itself as having the best view in Ireland the Scarriff inn, but alas it was shut for the season.

It was starting to get on in the day and we started looking in earnest for accommodation. Each opportunity that presented itself was either closed or no vacancy, so we kept moving all the time conscious of the lengthening shadows it is full dark here by 4.30. Eventually we just made for Kenmare, one of the largest villages/towns at the top of the ring. First few places we tried in town were full, the next place Rose cottage looked promising, however they were closed for the night but we're kind enough to ring another b&b just up the road.....success they had a twin room available, so we headed to Druid Cotrage to be greeted by the lovely Bernadette, who too, wonderful care of us for the night.

The next day we headed to Killarney through the national park, it's so beautiful and a great drive.

Then it was onto Cork and Blarney but that's for next time see you soon.