summer 2011

summer 2011

Paul and I, all 16 kids and Ashley, Benjamin's wife...Christmas 2012

Paul and I, all 16 kids and Ashley, Benjamin's wife...Christmas 2012
family

Thursday, October 12, 2017

the west coast of Ireland...

The Wild Atlantic Way...

We are staying at a little cottage up a narrow windy road, with stone walls and hedges, and cows, and a view of the sea....



This isn't the cottage but it's on the road to the cottage.


We may or may not have stopped in at a chocolate shop...







Fish and Chips!


Chips...they're just fries.


Coffee in Galway...



Back at the cozy cottage (don't you love the stairway?) We spent the day in the city...walking around, having coffee, then lunch, then an afternoon Guinness...which is not my normal, but hey, when in Ireland...

We came back here as the rain started. The little fireplace warmed it up, and we may or may not have a bag of pastries...I made some coffee, and here we are, almost packed to leave tomorrow to drive back across the green isle, all the way to Dublin to make our way back home.

Yesterday, we went to the Cliffs of Moher...

It was windy up there! And stairs! I walked up so many stairs! I'm glad I've been going on my walks every morning, so it wasn't so bad. It was so lovely...




After arriving at our cottage yesterday, after a long day of winding narrow roads, and beautiful views, we were hungry. We drove back down the lane to this place:

Right on the water!

A local brew from down the road...

A local cider....

Slow roasted beef and gravy over potatoes, with veggies on the side...it was just the thing after a long day, and on a chilly night.

This trip has been interesting. It's been and adventure taking double decker buses in Dublin, and for Mirielle to drive on the wrong side of the road. We had to get used to the alarm system in the first apartment we stayed at, and figure out the shower, and how to lock the door, and how to start the car (there's a trick to it, we almost had to call roadside assistance but Mirielle figured it out!). We enjoyed the city today, but it was pretty touristy.

Things are different here. They don't flush toilet paper, and the sink spigots in the bathrooms, the taps, are usually two separate units, as if you want either cold water or hot water, and not WARM water. Seriously. Coffee, regular yummy coffee...is not to be found. It's espresso. With...milk. Good thing we know to bring our own bag of Starbucks, some filters, and the pour through filter thing-y, and to buy the cream at the grocery store. The coffee in the shops is okay, but not just a real cup of coffee. But the people are friendly and fun, and we have had too many good laughs. Now, I'm tired, and we need to get ready for our last epic adventure...driving back across the country...:)



8 comments:

Marilyn from Canada said...

I’d like to ask a question and I’m sure others would like to know too. What on earth do you do with the toilet paper after you wipe?? I don’t recall that when I was there many years ago. I think you did go to the chocolate shop........I see lots of boxes on the table 😁 The pastries are just delicious.......or they were........and the roast beef dinner looks scrumpie 😋 Have a good drive across the island of Ireland and a good trip home!!

Marilyn from Canada

Donna bogie said...

Sounds wonderful, safe travels.
Donna, NY

16 blessings'mom said...

Well, Marilyn, there are little garbage cans next to the toilets. There weren't signs in all the places, but there were cans. The chocolate shop pic with Mare is IN the chocolate shop. We only bought three bars!:) And the pastries there were so yummy. Do not ask how the diet went. But we did walk a lot!!!!

Clamball said...

I am from Ireland, and I have never come across any place in Ireland where there was a sign not to flush toilet paper. I can assure all readers that flushing toilet paper is completely normal in Ireland.

Marilyn from Canada said...

That is the weirdest thing. 😲 Anyway you left just in time as hurricane Ophelia is heading for Ireland!!! It will just be very strong winds when it gets there. I hope you had a good trip home.

Marilyn from Canada

Anonymous said...

Have never heard of not flushing toilet paper down toilet. Perhaps it's sanitary products? BTW I'm Irish.

Anonymous said...

We do flush toilet paper down toilet...the bin is for sanitary products.

16 blessings'mom said...

Well I stand corrected! I drew the conclusion the first day at a coffee shop, where in the bathroom next to the toilet was a garbage can full of used toilet paper. Then I was in a bathroom where there was a small sign that read: "ALL sanitary ware must go in bin". The word "ware" made me think that perhaps t.p. is referred to differently, so like all things I wonder about, I googled it, and found references to an older sewer system in the country in general, and suggestions not to flush the t.p. So...that's what I thought was the normal. And shh, I flushed it anyway, hoping an alarm wouldn't go off, or worse, the toilet overflow. Sorry to the Irish for the misunderstanding! Very sorry!!!

Della