Friday 24th April 2009 to Monday 27th April 2009

Last night we went to the optional banquet at Bunratty Castle. This involved a bus ride to the castle, which was about 30 minutes away. When we got there, we had been advised that there was quite a few stairs via a spiral staircase up to the reception room where mead and bread were to be served. However, Deb and I (and a couple of other oldies) had been advised that we didn’t need to climb the stairs as they would let us go into the banquet room and have our drink there. This is what happened, and Deb and I discovered that Mead is really nice to drink.
The process of the banquet was explained, in that it replicated what was supposed to have happened in a medieval castle, and therefore we would be drinking our soup from a bowl without a spoon, and eating the rest of our meal with just a sharp knife – no forks or spoons, just fingers and a knife.
There were no photos allowed, which was a shame, as we would have liked to take some to remember the occasion, anyway, we really enjoyed the food – lovely vegetable broth with huge chunks of soda bread, followed by ham ribs which had a sauce on them, - they were also delicious, then a chicken dish with vegetables – no greens, just potatoes, parsnips, turnips and carrots – very tasty, this was followed by a desert which was not strictly medieval but delicious just the same. There was far too much food, and an awful lot was wasted. There was a light hearted play and singing by the cast who also doubled as the waiters and servers of food. There was plenty of wine and mead as well for everyone.
Afterwards, we returned to the coach to go back to the hotel and collapse for the night having eaten far too much.

Limerick and West Coast Excursion
Today – Friday we were off to do the above excursion, however, it was very wet and overcast as we started off, so Ian, our guide told us that he had decided to turn our day around, and start with the drive to the Connemara region, and visit the Connemara Marble Factory first so that we could do the Cliffs of Moher at the end of the day when it was hoped that the weather would have improved.
The marble factory was quite interesting, and we were told that the beautiful marble, like all other resources, is rapidly running out – so much so that they only use it for jewellry making and tourist items. We had the obligatory visit to the shop, and purchased a couple of mementoes, and then it was back on the bus to continue the tour.
For the rest of the morning and into the afternoon we travelled across the limestone plateau of the wind swept region called The Burren until we reached Galway. The Burren was quite beautiful, but difficult to photograph because of the weather.
At Galway, we stopped for lunch, then wandered around the town until it was time to return to the bus.
From Galway we travelled to the Clare coast to view the 668 foot Cliffs of Moher – we were fortunate, as the weather had cleared a bit, and had stopped raining, so we were able to take photos, and then inside the information centre to get out of the cold, have a cup of coffee, and then back to the bus to return to our hotel at Limerick. We had another optional excursion planned for the evening, so Deb and I had a rest before getting ready for the evening’s entertainment.
We joined the bus again at 6.30pm to travel once again to where the Bunratty Castle was, but this time went to the section called the Irish Folk Park, where we were able to take some photos of the thatched houses that made up the park.
We were taken inside where the entertainment and meal was to be served, and once again we supplied with a choice of Irish Cream or Mead – I tried the Irish Cream – Deb had the Mead again. I liked the Irish Cream !!
This time we were allowed to take photos, so I was video of the wonderful Irish dancing that the performers did, also some of the singing.
This time the food was presented in a more normal manner, and we had a choice of soups for starters, then either Irish stew, salmon or a vegetarian choice for mains, followed by apple pie or another desert, with tea and coffee.
Once again we had a great time, then returned to the hotel for a well earned sleep.

Saturday 25th April 2009
Day 12 Globus Tour
Today we woke to a wet and miserable day weatherwise – we were scheduled to travel to Adare, the Ring of Kerry and on to Tralee for the night. Unfortunately, we really didn’t get to see any of the beautiful scenery as it was far too wet and overcast.
As we tried to leave the hotel, we had a lobby full of cyclists and their support personnel filling the lobby and entrance, it was a bit chaotic, but we managed to get the bus out of the drive before the cyclists left.
We started off with a visit to the village of Adare with its thatched cottages, but it was not possible to take any photos due to the rain, then we headed off to do the 100 mile drive from Killorgin on Dingle Bay to Killarney. The drive was interesting but as mentioned before – not spectacular because of the weather.
The temperature didn’t go above 10°C all day. We stopped at a place called Macken for shopping again, bought some T-shirts and other souveniers, and we were given some Irish Coffee to warm us up. Very nice too !!
We had a “forced” stop for lunch at a place called Skellig View – talk about a rip off – Deb and I are finding it more obvious that the various stops are for the benefit of the place that we stop at – and are wondering what sought of “kickback” goes to the tour company.
We were barely able to see the lower lake of Killarney, and passed the ruins of an Abbey - McCross.
Somewhere along the way we passed a statue of a goat with a crown called King Puck, and Ian told us the story associated with the statue – very interesting. We also passed many peat bogs and could see where the peat had been cut out. Ian explained how peat is a living thing, and therefore requires water to live.
We stopped at Killarney for a short while and had afternoon tea there, then back on the bus to our overnight stay at Tralee. Because it was Anzac Day, and it didn’t appear that anyone was going to even recognise the fact, Deb took the microphone from Ian to remind the Australians and New Zealanders on board about Anzac Day, and then recited “The Ode”. Some Canadians who were there, gave Deb a lovely Canadian badge which they use for rememberance of the Wars, which was a nice gesture.

Sunday 26th April 2009
Day 13 Globus Tour
A later start this morning (8.30am) which is great as the early mornings are starting to take there toll on everyone.
The weather is still overcast, and light drizzle, but better than yesterday.
We start off to our first stop Blarney – with its castle and famous “Stone of Eloquence” – we have nearly 2½ hours here – and as Deb and I don’t plan on climbing the many stairs up into the castle or lying on the ground and bending over backwards to kiss the stone, we have a lot of time to fill in after our arrival at 9.45am.
We wandered around the village where there is very little to see, and being Sunday, not a lot open. The bus had dropped us off at the Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel, which is just another huge tourist shop.
After our walk, we go to the shops to have a look around, and see if there is anything there we want and can afford. The price of everything is really expensive, so we don’t buy much, then we head into the restaurant to have our lunch, as this stop was meant to cover lunch as well.
So we had soup, and a scone, and tea – as we weren’t really hungry, then headed to the bus for the next stop.
We pass through Cork, and don’t stop but continue on until we reach Waterford – our overnight stop.
Because the Waterford Factory has closed, Ian has organised a walking tour of Waterford with an Irish guide – Jack. Jack had the greatest sense of humour, and took us on an entertaining tour of the historical part of Waterford, and told us about its history from the early invasion by the Vikings, while pointing out places of interest. The tour took about an hour, then it was back to the hotel to get ready for our next excursion, which was an evening’s entertainment at an Irish pub with a couple of drinks, while being entertained by an Irish singer.
Deb decided that she didn’t feel up to any more bus riding, so chose not to go. I went along and was glad I had. We had a lovely tour of a place called Dunmore East which was a coastal town, with many 300 year old thatched houses to see. Unfortunately I didn’t take the camera, so missed the opportunity to take some great photos. We also saw a rookery where Kittyhawks were nesting – this is the only rookery where these birds nest so close to humans, and of course is closely protected.
The pub where we went was another of the 300 year old thatched buildings, and we were told the history of the pub which has been run by the same family since it was established.
I had some more Irish Cream to drink, and the entertainment was great. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
Back on the bus at 7.00pm, we returned to our hotel at Waterford, where Deb joined us for dinner.
We had originally been assigned a room with disabled facilities in the bathroom, which was great, but there was only a small double bed – not enough room for the 2 of us, so I asked the receptionist whether it was possible for us to have another duvet and some pillows sent up so I could sleep on the floor.
Well, they would have no one sleeping on the floor, so they opened the adjoining room to the one we were in, and gave us another room – this was fantastic, as we now each had a double bed, and also the shower was one that Deb could use, so we had a really comfortable night, and given that we had to be down for breakfast at 6.15am for a 7.00am start on the bus – this was most important.

Monday 27th April 2009
Day 14 Globus Tour
Well as mentioned above – an early start, as we were travelling to catch the ferry from Rosslare to Pembroke in Wales. So we managed to wake on time, and get down for another lovely breakfast after a good night sleep. The bus took around an hour to get us to the ferry and then we were driven on board, and I am taking the opportunity to catch up on this blog. Deb is having a lie down on a lounge while I do it. Apparantly we are crossing the St George’s Channel – the weather is fine, and the seas fairly smooth.
We had a rest on the trip over, not many chances for photographs but as we entered the port of Pembroke in Wales we sailed into a harbour, which was quite interesting.
We disembarked from the ship, and then set off for our tour through South Wales towards our stop for the night at Bristol. On the way we passed Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire. Most of the trip was down the motorway, but it was still quite pretty, and the weather was fine and sunny until just before we got to Bristol, when we had a very heavy downpour, but it has cleared away.
We arrived at our hotel at 4.45pm – The Mercure Holland House – we have a lovely room, with two King size beds, along with a shower – the facilities are described as for disabled but, the shower doesn’t have a seat – but we aren’t worrying – as it is a shower, and that’s all that matters.
I have the TV on at present, and the outbreak of “Swine Flu” is being covered very widely on Sky News and is causing some concern for the Americans and Canadians on our tour.
We have had a cold sweep through the bus, and of course I have caught it – but it is only a cold, so fingers crossed, that nothing worse develops.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, we go to Bath, Glastonbury and spend two nights at Torquay – with an excursion to Cornwall on Wednesday. Our final day of this tour is Thursday when we travel from Torquay via Stonehenge, Salisbury, etc. back to London. Depending on internet access – the next update will probably be when we get back to London.