Nice ass... ;-)

Pam and Trav say 'Man that is a good lookin donkey' and so it is a nice ass! All you perverts out there thought this was going to be something else didn't you!

The weather was very ominous this AM and it seemed like it was going to be a potentially pub heavy day, but as Jeff said, 'one could say we got a lazy start, or that we were just timing the weather', and so we headed out under cloudy, windy, rainy conditions with no real plan other than to head to the Burren Perfumery and into Doolin for some shopping.



It was a pretty drive to the perfumery, and it had a lovely herb garden and display of essential oils, soaps, cremes and lotions etc.






After the perfumery, the clouds parted and the sun shined and the remainder of the day was a bit blustery, but decent temps and no rain. We took all kinds of little tiny roads to Doolin and enjoyed the scenery and company all along the way.







Once in Doolin we took what we thought was a good parking spot just a bit off the edge of town, assuming the parking by the shops would be crazy. As we rounded the first bend I to what we thought was town, we realized we parked more than a half mile outside of town. Hungry, we stopped at the first pub on our walk, a place called Fitzpatricks. It was a very nice pub, modern and clean inside with pretty decent food and most importantly cold beers.



After a good feeding and plenty of ale we headed back on our hike towards Doolin, laughing at ourselves all the way due to our parking predicament. We wondered in and out of a few shops, eyeing the hand knit fisherman's sweaters and other swag, but just couldn't pull the trigger. At the last shop we kept wandering up the street to see if maybe there was more? There wasn't, just this little pitch and putt and some decent views of the cliffs...






On the way back, we got thirsty... So Jeff drew us a few more pints at Fitzpatricks.



We headed home for a break and an aperitif and got busy blogging et. Till Trav reminded us of the time and our desire to head to O'Donahues for a last pint and some fish and chips (first of the trip). Well, we quickly counted our cash (50 euro) and then rushed out the door hoping to catch the kitchen open, as it was closing in on 10PM. Luckily, though I think the kitchen was actually closed, they served us our food 2 fish and chips, 1 hawaiin pizza and two pints (it was all we could afford, they don't take credit and we only had the 50 euro) which we ate/drank to our hearts delight. Now, our tummies might be thinking the fried food at 10:30PM may have been a bit much, but it was worth it for our last night here! A good final day in Ireland...

So, the ass, we never would have met this cute guy without our parking faux pas, so it was worth the walk to get to title this post, nice ass...goodnight.

The visitors are here!

Just taking a few minutes now to start my post since maybe tonight will be a party night - our visitors have arrived and we will likely head to the pub later for their first pint o Guinness. We did set the alarm and were headed out to Shannon after a piece of toast and some banana. Adopted not to stop at the bakery and just be in time to the airport. As it turns out we were 25 minutes early, but the Crum's were just walking out so it was good timing.



They didn't appear too weary and insisted they were ready to go see something so we headed towards the Cliffs of Moher. We stopped in Lahinch thinking about lunch, but it was only half-ten so we opted for a place still serving breakfast. It was a very tasty breakfast with perfect scrambled eggs, I had smoked salmon with mine and the boys had bacon, all in all we had a nice chat, a fair amount of coffee and tea. Feeling somewhat alive we headed off to the cliffs and walked around there, it was very beautiful and definitely not a place to go cliff diving.



After the cliffs we headed toward Doolin and took some more pictures, then headed straight to Fanore, so the visitors (makes them sound like aliens eh?) could rest up and be ready for some dinner and music and maybe a pint or two later.



Oh, and look it is another nice clear sky day, a bit of Irish luck shining down on us!

After a bit of a nap for everyone but me and some quiet time with all of us reading our books, we cleaned up and headed out to dinner in Ballyvaughan. We chose a newer Italian place called L'Arco and it was wonderful. The interior was lovely and the food was the best we have had since arriving - go figure, in Ireland having the best Italian. We weren't expecting the Irish food to blow us away and it was for once a good expectation. It hasn't been bad, just nothing amazing like we have had in other European locations.

Once dinner was complete we headed on our drive back to Fanore, and I realized why I have tried hard to this point to not drive here at night. Last night brought the addition of a light rain too, so that and the dark and I was very thankful there wasn't much traffic on our tiny road between Fanore and Ballyvaughan. Just before the turn to our house, I asked if the visitors were ready for their first Guinness (the Italian place was true to it's name and was only offering Italian beverages). Truth be told, I think Trav was going to say no but Jeff was faster and said of course he wanted his Guinness, so we went into then local place and enjoyed a wonderful dark, mustache leaving beverage!






From there the Crum's still rallied and we had another libation at home before finally calling it a night at around 11pm here. There were total troopers and it was a great first days visit.

It is morning now and the Irish luck is no longer shining on us weather wise, so tonights post may be a bit more about the inside of pubs!

Links anyone?

Today was really all about the golf... We slept in again this morning, in fact we are going to have to set an alarm for tomorrow - we are picking up the Crum's at the Shannon airport - they are joining us for the last 2 days/nights in Ireland before we all join the Infinity gang in London on Thursday. Of course on the way to golf, Trav spotted a bakery in Ennistymon which will be our breakfast stop on the way to the airport.



I made our tee time several weeks ago from the US at a course called Lahinch. Lahinch actually has two courses, one - the old course - is a champion level links course, the other - The Castle - was also links style but off the ocean and more normal. So of course I chose the Old Course and holy moly this was real links at it's best. The greens, which I expected to be wicked fast and undulating were actually the easiest part. The fairways were HILLY and fast and of course lined with bunkers not to mention we didn't often get to see where we were going. We had what was considered a twilight tee time, so no free course guide and I didn't think to ask about buying one at the green fee check in, so we were totally playing in the blind.

The hole above was really a this tight and from the tee box you could see the hill behind Trav, but nothin else, it was like looking down a bowling alley. At the hill, Trav climbed up to see where we were supposed to go and it was actually over the big hill across the fairway for 18 and then on down to our green. It was crazy, at this point at least three holes were crossing paths in some fashion.



The next hole was this par three, and I don't even know if you can see the flag, but is between the small gap in the hills. Totally crazy, but one of two bogies I managed to eek out all round.



Yes, that is the ocean out there, it really was a beautiful course.



Except for this hole, number one handicap hole, ate me alive! Why do I look so far away? I'm in a HUGE hole with a bunker at the very bottom, luckily I wasn't in the sand, but the grass was long and it still took me two shots to get out.



It was definitely the signature view hole, guess that is supposed to make up for the TERRIBLE score here.



Behind us was the beach in Lahinch, also fantastically beautiful!



I had a great shot, within 2 feet, out of this bunker, and yes Trav is standing on the green looking down at me. Totally crazy!



We only ended up playing nine... I think I may have fractured my foot during the run on Saturday, so all the up down and around was starting to really bother my foot, so we decided to call it good enough, and of course enjoy a well deserved Guinness. First nine I've had in a long time without a par...



On the way home we opted for the cross country route through Doolin. This parapet (?) was just outside of Doolin and seemed a beautiful spot for a photo op, so here it is...



We also stopped just on the edge of Fanore to catch the serving sun on the old chapel at the cemetery - it was perfect light. And after a pint and some dinner, we finally got to see a gorgeous sunset over the ocean - every other night so far has been too cloudy!



Now, laundry so our incoming guests have fresh towels and roommates without stinky clothes, and then beddy by for us, we have a purpose in the morning!

Do you want me to drive?

This morning there was a bike race on the only road into and out of Fanore, so, road closed... We knew this ahead of time -good advertising here - so I think it made us feel like we could sleep in, and sleep in we did!

I don't actually have any idea what time we got moving, only that there'd was an issue with the heat and the hot water, meaning we didn't have either really so it made showering a wee bit chilly. Once we we're over the cold shower, dressed and ready to go, the plan was to head to Galway City to have a looksie.

First, I must tell you that I'm getting more accustomed to the driving over here. You really just have to play chicken with the other car to Bettye to I've over and give you some space vs going way to your side. I'm a defensive driver by nature, some of my friends may even call me a grandma driver -you know who you are... So, being a chicken player is a bit out of character for me, but I've realized a pint of Bulmer's really helps me in this cause... Dont frown, I only have one pint!

Anyways, I digress... We headed to Galway, bout an hour and a half from here. And of course I was the designated driver. Well,we had a little argument once we were close to the city center - A hungry navigator that doesn't think it is his duty ti navigate - anyways we made it to the city center and found parking, and then found a pub on or second try that was serving a Sunday Roast dinner(turkey and ham with stuffing between and of all things, as if turkey and ham with stuffing between wasn't odd enough, beef gravy on top it all with mashers and veg) to kill off the hungry navigator curse. And that was all I can tell you about Galway.









We ate, walked out and went into TK Maxx - not a typo, that is TJ Maxx here - and as I went to take a photo of the TK Maxx sign, realized we had left the camera on the table at the pub, so went back to the pub to retrieve the camera and then back to the car. See, I didn't have a plan for Galway, what I mean is, I didn't know where we should eat, what we should see, what would be cool, and with Trav this type of wandering method just doesn't work... You'd think I would know that by now eh? So, back in the car after my chicken enabling pint of Bulmer's and some really wide roads by Irish standards we headed back towards Fanore.

We did actually meet a nice couple of fellows from Dublin who had been touring the west fo Ireland - Dublin is on the Northish East, geography alert terrible American geography students - and the funniest was they said the roads were so narrow and scary, so I of course said 'uh, imagine driving them on the wrong side of the road' and got lots of kudos for my efforts. They were nice and actually gave us a great education of Irish rules football which is similar to Aussie rules football but not quite and we were informed came WAY before all the sports to which it is similar. It is some weird combo of soccer (seems to be a very similar ball and there is a goal and goalie), rugby (you can score by kicking the ball thru the uprights above the goal) and basketball (you have to dribble the ball every so many steps whil running and carrying it) anyways it is very weird - their quote ' a hooligans game played by hooligans' but every one was very attentive and interested!

Back in the car, me driving of course, I did pull over at the Dunhaire Castle on the road back. It was very cool from the outside, unfortunately...






From there we headed off again and decided we were due for a stop at Monks, overlooking the peer in Ballyvaughn. So we had a pint of Guinness outside, talking with a couple very nice Irish women (got a reference for a hotel in The Bordeaux region of France where one of the ladies sisters is the proprietor) and thoroughly enjoying ourselves looking over Galway Bay.






We did head home after the pint, hoping to be in time for the local restaurant Vasco, which we were, so we enjoyed a lovely dinner and a bottle of wine and as we walked out the door Trav says 'do you want me to drive?' seriously, I just drove 2.5 hours to Galway and back, and NOW you offer to drive the .5 mile trip up the back road to the house - thanks, but ummmm no, I got it!

Now in jammies typing to you all, hoping you had as good a day as we did!


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