5 Nights in Eire

The Emerald Isle was one of the cooler places I have been. My grandmother and I flew into Galway and began driving north to our cousins who live about an hour away in a province called Connemara. It took longer than that as we were "admiring" the scenery but eventually we got there. The O'Dwyers welcomed us with lots of food and alcohol. Seeing as they are Irish, they can really put it away. We must have gone through 10 bottles of wine between 4 people...plus a few beers on my part. They even prepared wild irish salmon that had been caught the day before. probably the best salmon i've ever eaten and of course, we ate it with potatoes. the following day, we drove north and west of them and saw the west coast, ate fresh crab claws in a little sea village and had a guinness. That evening, Simon (my cousin) taught me to play the didgeridoo and the Irish horn. While I can't circular breathe with makes a continuous sound, I can now play these 2 instruments pretty well. The next 3 days, my grandmother and I spent driving around the 3 southwestern peninsulas including, the Dingle, the Ring of Kerry, and the Beara. probably the famous Ring of Kerry was the best but only the southern part. Eventually, we met up with her step-cousin who she hadn't seen in 50 years. He and his wife live on a farm just outside Kilbritain, which is just outside Kinsale, which is just outside Cork. Confusing? I know. He was a sailor so we saw his boat, and his wife is a Connemara Pony breeder so we saw her horses. check out the photos, really cool horses. Other than that, just a lot of driving on my part (1100 kilometers or just under 700 miles) and Guinness. Funnily enough, Murphy's, another Irish stout is almost better than Guinness, or so I think. But both were really freaking good. it just sucks that they both taste like ass anywhere else. oh well...check the pictures. today I'm going to the English Championship Rugby math with my cousin, Rob. This week, I'll try and see more family but no set plans. Next weekend (Friday-Sunday), I'm going back up to Birmingham to spend a few days with my cousin, Michelle and my other cousin, Andrew, is coming up as well. then, next monday (May 25th) I end my 3 month adventure and return back to good ole' texas.

Pictures (Ireland): http://www2.snapfish.co.uk/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=538776021/a=159650618_159650618/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfishuk/
Funny Pictures. Check these out: http://www2.snapfish.co.uk/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=538775021/a=159650618_159650618/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfishuk/