Day 2
Sunday, August 28
As we chatted with Kerry on Saturday, we decided we would go to the Cliffs of Moher on Sunday, as it would probably be the sunniest day of the week. We slept until 10:00, then headed west toward the coast of the Atlantic. To say the country roads are narrow would be a gross understatement. The driver must frequently pull as far left as possible and stop to let mini-vans or larger (i.e. panel vans or, aargh, trucks) pass. We drove through Ennis to Lahinch and the turned north to the Cliffs. Just north of Lahinch we passed a golf course that made us gasp – right along the coast, insanely hilly and rocky and dotted with sea grasses.
The cliffs are every bit as amazing and beautiful as you’ve ever read. I shot numerous pics that I’ll upload to a photo service when we return.
Then we headed both along the coast, amazed at the rockiness of the soil and musing at hot difficult it would be for a landowner to clear the land. We also understand the rock walls zigging across the land when we see all the rocks everywhere.
Stopped at Doolin for lunch at Gus O’Connor’s Pub, surrounded by people of all nationalities. There was some sporting event on the telly that involved a soccer-sized ball, a lot of running, and a few chest-bumps. As we were leaving, a woman said to me, “You’re leaving now? You can’t leave now!!” I had to confess to the woman that I didn’t even know what sport we were watching. It turns out the game was the semifinals of the Gaelic football national championship, and everyone with any green in his or her blood was watching the game. We ceded our seats to other avid watcher, and walked down to the waterfront to watch some boats leave for the Aran Islands.
Then we continued north up the coast. After a while we wanted a break, and noticed a little house by the side of the road with a tea/coffee/scones sign out front. We walked in, and a young woman was sitting at the table with tea and a scone, talking to an older women (70s, probably) who was the proprietress, Bridie. She turned on the telly, and the young woman proceded to explain the game to us. Bridie said she had been in that location for “farty-three” years. She was just darling. My tea was brewed from a bag; Jas’s coffee was instant! Quite a change from similar establishments in the U.S.!
We continued on up and over to Ballyvaughan, where we walked out on the pier and had a drink at Monk’s, which is nationally and internationally renowned. Then we headed back to Bodyke, arriving back to the condo around 8:45.