We are served breakfast each morning at each Hotel restaurant where we are staying. Sometimes it is buffet-style and other times we can order off the menu. We left the Radisson BLU Hotel this morning, after staying here for two nights.
Today, we are passing through the ruggedly beautiful Burren area. on winding, narrow roads with hairpin "S" curves, that for me is unbelieveable that our motorcoach can even navigate! Noel is a very good driver!
We visit the Cliffs of Moher. What incredible, natural beauty! 700 feet high cliffs plunge straight down to the surf of the Atlantic Ocean! Leaving the Visitor Center, Norma and I walked up and down the paths on both sides of the Cliffs, and snapped many photos. It was spitting a little rain, however the sun came out while we were walking!
We went back to the Visitor Center and watched a short virtual video, which gave us a flying bird's eye view of the Cliffs and on below the water's surface! Pretty cool!
We looked for souvenirs and afterward we enjoyed a whipped ice cream cone, before boarding the motorcoach for the picturesque drive to Bunratty Castle and Heritage Park, where we are to experience a Medieval Banquet in the Castle.
We had a fun surprise during our Medieval dinner, when one of Tour guests, Bubba Hayes (from Athens, Tx.), proposed to his friend, Anna Richardson, all as a part of the evening's entertainment, right up on the stage with a couple of hundred dinner guests looking on! Anna was so happily overwhelmed by the sudden proposal, she cried tears of happiness the rest of the evening!
The happy couple: Bubba and Anna!
I guess love is in the air in Ireland, because there is another budding romance in our little group! Stanley and Jeanne went to school together, knew each other, married other people and lived happy lives for nearly forty years, before each lost their respective spouse, about three years ago. Well, about three months ago, a mutual friend of theirs reconnected them. However, Jeanne and her sister, Bonnie, had booked this trip to Ireland awhile back. But when Bonnie saw how happy her sister was to meet up with Stanley again after all those years, she asked Stanley if he would like to accompany the sisters to Ireland; of course, Stanley immediately booked himself on this Tour. They look so happy together, sharing the beauty of Ireland together, and reconnecting with each other!
Here isthe happy couple: Stanley and Jeanne!
Norma and I neither one cared too much for the Medieval play-acting at the Bunratty Castle, but the food was plentiful and delicious! The young violin player was so incredibly talented and was playing a very old violin that had a lovely tone! Eating our vegetables with our fingers was quite an experience! (Sort of reminded me of all the "eating with my fingers" I did while on my A.T. Hike last year!) We enjoyed the gardens in the Bunratty Heritage Park while we were waiting for our Medieval Banquet.
Ireland has a lot of quaint customs! Earlier today, as we passed through the small village of Lisdoonvarna, Noel explained that it was a "Matchmaker Town" for 30 days in September each year, when Irish singles can pay 60 Euros to place their name and personal information at the Lisdoonvarna Town Hall in the hopes of finding a spouse! They take this quite seriously! So the town of Lisdoonvarna is decked out with flags and banners everywhere encouraging this tradition!
We pass thru many fascinating villages each day, and Noel narrates a little background info on each one. There are so many interesting town names such as: Knockalough, Ballynacally, Labasheeda, Knocknagashel, Bealaclugga! I have difficulty even pronouncing most of the village names on my map as I follow our route each day.
Today we were in view of Ireland's highest mountain chain: the Macgillycuddy's Reek!
9:30 P.M.
Tonight we are at the Savoy Hotel in downtown Limerick. Most of our hotels are right downtown. The Savoy Hotel is a 5-Star Hotel and we are on the top floor which is the Executive level. Oh my goodness, what luxury! The most plush of everything in our spacious room! Oh my! I know we will probably sleep good tonight, after our long day of adventure in Ireland!
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