Ireland, Touring the South

KM COVERED 2200

TOWNS VISITED: KILKENNY - CASHEL - WATERFORD - TRAMORE - DUNGARVAN - CROSSHAVEN - KINSALE - SCHULL - MIZEN HEAD - BANTRY - GLENGARRIFF - EYERIES - KENMARE - RING OF KERRY - DINGLE PENINSULA - ENNIS - DOOLIN - CLIFFS OF MOHER - ARAN ISLAND - CONNEMARA - DUBLIN

CAR HIRED THROUGH THE SITE IRLANDANDO (EXCELLENT VALUE FOR MONEY)

GUIDE USED: ROUTARD AND THE 2009 B&B GUIDE (COST 6 EUROS) GIVEN FREE IN SOME B&Bs OR FOR A FEE AT THE TOURIST OFFICE.

AIRLINE RYANAIR

LET US IMMEDIATELY DRAW A PITYING VEIL OVER THE AIRLINE, WHICH IS CERTAINLY CHEAP BUT AS FAR AS KINDNESS AND SERVICE GOES TRULY LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED (ON THE RETURN FLIGHT THE IRISH HOSTESSES WERE INTRANSIGENT ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE HAND LUGGAGE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE SUITCASE OF A 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL WITH NAPPIES, BABY FOOD AND VARIOUS LITTLE TOYS INSIDE...................NO COMMENT........)

THE WEATHER WAS WONDERFUL: IN 13 DAYS WE HAD ONLY ONE DAY OF RAIN AND ONE CLOUDY MORNING, AND ACCORDING TO THE LOCALS THE BEST MONTH TO VISIT IRELAND IS INDEED JUNE.

WE DIDN'T BOOK ANY B&B. THERE ARE SO MANY THAT YOU ARE SPOILT FOR CHOICE. PRICES RANGE FROM 40 TO 80 EUROS DEPENDING ON THE TOWN AND THE SERVICES OFFERED. THE 40-EURO ONES ARE RATHER POOR; THE 70 AND 80 EURO ONES, IF LOCATED OUTSIDE THE BIG CITIES, EVEN HAVE THE "LUXURY" LABEL (ONLY SOME, THOUGH). THE FOOD IS NOTHING SPECIAL. BUT WITH A GOOD IRISH BREAKFAST AND A SANDWICH AT LUNCH, YOU PARTLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND SPEND LESS TOO...LIFE IS NOT VERY CHEAP...TO EAT IN A RESTAURANT YOU SPEND ON AVERAGE 50/60 EUROS, EATING LESS THAN AT HOME...

THAT SAID, THE COUNTRY IS WONDERFUL. THE PEOPLE ARE VERY KIND AND HELPFUL, THE BEER IS FANTASTIC AND THE SCENERY IS BREATHTAKING....WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR TO SET OFF?!?