Ring of Dingle Part 2...

I must invite all readers of this blog to stay at the Milestone House when you come to Ireland. The owners, Michael and Barbara, ex architect and athlete, are so helpful and cook the killer breakfasts that you've seen on the last post. Their B and B is one of the top rated on both Trip Advisor and with Rick Steves... In the front of their property is one of the 1000 year old vertical stones that once you see them all over Ireland, you realize that Stonehenge is no big deal...

The drive for the Ring of Dingle is a very windy, albeit only 30 mile drive, through the very westernmost portion of Ireland...as they say, if you look west, the next parish is in Boston.

One group of islands, the Blasketts, housed about 200 people up until 1953. The government could not longer support them and could no longer ensure their ability to stay alive on these tiny islands just of the coast. All their food had to be imported, even the cows had to be floated over the 1/4 mile span between the mainland. It was so windy there that they actually couldn't open their front doors for a week. Many of the few hundred inhabitants became writers, journaling their experience and then they built a memorial museum to their stamina and way of life..for preservation purposes. I didn't pay the 5 euros to check it out, since Peggy Jon and Ann did want to go, and I wanted to chill from driving...but I did love the huge stained glass window that fronted their exhibit (the photo captures a wall about 30 feet by 12 feet!)

The beehive huts I referred to on my previous post were waterproof and served as great protection against the wind, rain and cold...if you consider staying inside one of these babies to be great... The woman who had these on her property has lived there for 52 years, and prior to that she lived 4 miles away. 84 years within the same 5 miles, and most of the time, collecting 2 euros from visitors 7 months out of the year. Her name is Mary and she was a sweetheart!

The drive around the ring of Dingle...and yes we were blessed with the most perfect weather, had many spectacular views...one of which you'll see at the end of this blog with what else, Peggy kissing me...but the capper at the end of each day, and the total surprise of this trip...is the quality of the food. We never expected Ireland to boast fabulous eats.. Here's Ann's Crab spring roll for example:

Here is my sizzling gambas (shrimp) in spicy thai oil with pesto and fried garlic...Stu would die for this dish:

So good in fact, that even the empty bowl, after 2 pieces of bread to sop up every drop of oil, was worthy of a photo and place in this blog..

The kissing photo is at a location that an elderly Irish couple told us was their favorite spot on the planet. We took a short hike from the "end of the road" and found them, and this view..and it was to die for.

Jim, to answer your question about a short 1 sentence summary of the trip...I guess I would have to say...unexpected sunshine, amazing food, beautiful scenery, enjoyable people and fantastic relaxation. (I actually have become very comfortable with the left handed stick shift driving...although it has scared my companions a time or two!)
So after the lovely dinner, we all went to a folk concert in a small church. 2 hours of amazing Irish folk music made us all believers in the simplicity and haunting elegance of this style of music. I wanted to put some sample on this blog, but learning how to accomplish that is in the advanced course of bloggery.

Be sure to post your comments and let me know if you prefer the large or small photos, if you want more of me and Peggy kissing, or more food shots. Today we have arrived in Doolin, where the famous Cliffs of Moher are located (the cliffs filmed as the cliffs of Insanity in the Princess Bride), and where some of the best music is to be heard from 9:30 at night until 1am in any of the 3 local pubs. I'll let you know more about that tomorrow. A call out to Steve B for his blog response! If Steve can communicate with us, you all have to be able to do so as well...bless each of you today!