Over in Killarney
Today we drove south, through The Burren again and past it, around and down towards Killarney. And yes, I keep having Toora Loora Loora stuck in my head.
We said goodbye to our lovely hosts Anne and John in Galway and took the scenic route so we could take more silly pictures.
Exhibits A and B:
On the banks of the River Shannon…
…staying one step ahead of the storm (or partaking in a pas de deux)
We had pulled off for pictures of the River Shannon, behind a UPS truck. Normally there are Peugeots and caravans in these lay-bys, but we figured what the heck. As I nodded to the UPS driver on what was presumably his break, he asked in a clipped and funny southern accent whether we’d like our picture taken.
Exhibit C:
Thanks, UPS!
We then drove until we decided to stop somewhere, which happened to be Tralee. I’ve got satnav on my phone, but it’s best for getting the most efficient route from A to B, and we generally want the least. So we pick out stops along the route and drive to them before rerouting.
Tralee has a festival every year where various places (Irish counties, European and US cities) select a young woman to be their representative rose, and the most representative of Irish…ness is crowned the Rose. There’s no swimsuit part.
We walked through the town square and its rose garden, reading about DC’s Rose from a few years back, who had sadly died last year of a brain tumour. There was a sweet commemoration of her in the garden.
Actual roses
Roses and palm trees
This one was buttery and blushing
We’re heading to Killarney, not Baltimore
We also had tea at Mary Anne’s Tea Room. Mary Anne is the proprietor’s grandmother, who apparently was fruitful enough to bear 10 children, who in turn begat her 54 grandchildren. Definitely Irish. The rooms were appointed in quaint Victorian style, and there was music from the forties and fifties to match, including an Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think) cover by Doris Day, selected (appropriate) lyrics:
You work and work
For years and years
You’re always on the go
You never take the minute off
Too busy making dough
Someday you’ll say
You’ll have your fun
When you’re a millionaire
Imagine all the fun you’ll have
In your ‘ol rocking chairEnjoy yourself
It’s later than you think
Enjoy yourself
While you’re still in the pink
The years go by
As quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself
It’s later than you thinkC’mon now, you gotta have fun!
You’re gonna take that ocean trip
No matter come what may
You’ve got your reservations but
You just can’t get away
Next year for sure you’ll see the world
You’ll really get around
But how far can you travel when
You’re six feet undergroundEnjoy yourself
It’s later than you think
Enjoy yourself
While you’re still in the pink
The years go by
As quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself
It’s later than you thinkGet out and see the world!
…
Mary Anne’s Tea Rooms
There was fantastic forties and fifties music as the soundtrack
I was covetous of the velvet wallpaper
Lunch
And dessert!
We walked back through Tralee towards Juan Diego, stopping to take pictures of St. John’s Church just as the rain started falling.
St. John’s Church in rain
The rain itself, tiny tendrils of damp cloud fingers grasping for the ground
We raced the rain towards Killarney, arriving just before it did.
Over in Killarney
Right now we’re resting, but obviously we’re heading into town for a pint in a few. Daddy is ahead of me today, and that’s unacceptable.
Tomorrow we’re driving the Dingle peninsula, which still sounds somewhat lewd to me. There’s a town on it called Inch.
Dingle an’ Inch