Lloyd is suffering some disappointment at the lack of scones to be found!! Lots more pubs with beer and whisky than coffee/tea houses but he has found a few treats along the way. We had a hot plain donut yesterday with ice cream in the middle. It was quite tasty! Some prices are high – in restaurants meals are quite high. Even in pubs a bowl of chowder is 8.50 euros. Dairy is quite a lot cheaper than Canada. Lots of great cheeses and their cream is real cream for sure!!! I suspect the prices are higher in the major centres and at the tourist attractions than they would be in the smaller villages but because we are on public transportation we have stayed in the larger centres.

Eldon and Kathy took off early this morning to go to see the ruins of a famous castle in Kinsale. I decided to lay low today and try to rest and shake this cold. Another beautiful day, sunny but windy. Lloyd stayed behind with me but I persuaded him to go out and take a jaunt on the city tour bus. He left a bit ago and I will now take a quick rest.

We are all hoping to go to a little music festival tonight downtown at The English Market. Supposed to be Local bands and sampling of foods. Maybe dinner out for a change.

Heading to the last leg of our adventure. Three days in Dublin and then home!! Where did the time go??

Hugs to all!!! 💕💕

After researching some of the tours we thought we’d like to do, we discovered some of the tours from Cork only run on Saturday and Sundays in September. So, we found a train that would take us by rail 24 minutes down the road to a harbour town called Cobh. It was a seamless trip on the train and a pretty little town on the water of course. We went to an interesting Heritage Centre which took us through the early to now years with lots of interest on the Titanic and the Lusitania – both major disasters. Had a lovely lunch by the water and headed back to Cork.

Thought we might take a Hop on Hop Off bus tour of the city but we were a bit late to get the best of it. Grabbed some food on the walk back to the Airbnb and after a rest and a glass of wine, we cooked dinner. I was feeling a bit under the weather with a sore throat so I did not tackle the pubs last night but the others did and fun was had by them!! We’ve been meeting interesting people, both from here and lots of tourists from everywhere.

Our bnb is a long walk up a long steep hill! Quaint little row house, old and small but has character with a little back garden and all the amenities we need. It does not score high on the “accessible to city centre” scale but we’re managing!

Here are some pics from Cobh. Xxoo

Bigger city of about 125,000. Arrived here about 11:30 in the beautiful sunshine! Took a cab to our new digs – interesting little row house with lots of character. Two storey, slanted roof with a tiny little back garden. Very comfortable and cute. Not scoring high on the easy accessibility to the city centre as it is a 30 minute walk up a very steep hill but we can live with that! Dropped off our luggage and then headed downtown to the Old English Market. Bought some great looking fresh food and meat for our dinner, visited a couple of tour sites and headed back to our room, straight uphill with our backpacks laden with goodies!!! Yowser, it was a walk!

Our oven would not work so the host of the airbnb came over to grab our chicken for us and cook it! They live next door. 😍. So dinner soon, and then maybe an early night. We’re off on a tour to a harbour town tomorrow called Cobh!

Lloyd and I spoke to our nephew, Cody, tonight in Dublin. He is going to College there and we will be seeing him while we are in Dublin on the weekend. Looking forward to that for sure!

No pictures today – I haven’t downloaded them yet!! Eldon’s back seems to be fine today despite his dancing bout last night!

Xxoo Lloyd and Karen

Eldon was so taken with the Irish step dancing music he practised a few steps and high kicks on the streets of Killarney as we walked back to our room. It was quite a sight to behold! Wished I had taken a video!!!

We are all loving the small City of Killarney – population of about 15,000. Friendly, clean, busy and lots to see and do.

This morning we took a boat tour of the fresh water lakes, viewed Ross Castle, took another tour of Killarney National Park in a “jaunting car” (horse and buggy). Our guide whose name was Gary was hilarious, dry humour and his horse’s name was Jimmy. Lots of jokes told along the tour and lots of history learned!! Our guide, Danny, on the boat tour was a retired teacher who had an amazing knowledge of his heritage and great pride in his country. Beautiful landscape – water, mountains, farm lands again!

We then split up our foursome and went our separate ways for the afternoon. Lloyd and I toured some of the shops and had a bite to eat, went back to our room, had a short rest, did some laundry. Eldon and Kathy hiked around the town as well and enjoyed the people!

Ate some dinner in our room which we purchased at a meat shop – tasty shepherds pie, spiced beef stir fry, at gratin potatoes and an assortment of sweets with a glass of wine, and then coffee! A meal fit for kings and queens, which we kind of feel like we are, so fortunate to be able to do this with good friends, at this stage in our lives!!

But, our day is not done – we have purchased tickets to a live Music performance called Celtic Dance. Six fantastic musicians and five dancers who were all so talented. We were treated to many styles of their dance and ballads and polkas. It was absolutely breathtaking!!

We dragged our weary bones back to our room and crashed!

Tomorrow we head out to Cork. Tickets are bought and the Cab is reserved to take us to the station for the next leg of our journey!

Fond thoughts of all our family and friends!! Xxoo