View from bedroom windows

When we finally arrive at the next location, lug our suitcase to our new room then check out the bathroom, I usually go to the window and get excited at what we get to explore next. Notice that Hal often reads the guidebook.

Rainbows

Gloomy weather is highlighted with a spot of sunshine creating a beautiful rainbow of hope.it has a magical feel and universal symbol that was Atti's favorite transforming to his love of tie dye clothes. I saw more rainbows in Iceland and Ireland in the past few weeks than in years in California. A few sprinkles did not dampen our travels.

Northern Ireland murals

Pictures tell the story of recent history here in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It sure beats graffiti !

Moore heritage in Northern Ireland

Our last night in Northern Ireland.... We get the whole house. Just finished a pot of tea in the conservatory at the side of this farmhouse with wifi. Hal is planning tomorrow's drive through the Giant's causeway to Belfast and flight to Scotland. If we has rainy weather, I'd like one of these sunrooms attached to my house!
Coming home to celebrate my 65th birthday on Tuesday...even though I have been getting some senior discounts in Ireland already.

We when to Ulster American Folk Park. Www.nmni.com

I think the Moore clan is from Northern Ireland...Antrim. William Moore had a linen company in Ahoghill Co. I do not think our Moore's were catholic. The Ulster Irish moved to Pennsylvania and West Virginia.... Hence the link with Blue Grass music. Our family was from West Virginia

Also learned that 15 year old Irish girl, Annie Moore , was the first immigrant to Ellis Island.
Leslie is also a common name up here in the north.

Wind and rain

We had some bad weather so hung out at the condo most of one day..... A nice excuse to stop being a tourist and cook good hot food for lunch.
Today we acted like the locals and just lived with sudden downpours or high winds that interspersed with the sun breaking through.
The Galway cathedral is the newest stone one built...1960's with a mosaic of JFK in side chapel. We arrived during mass...so got the full experience. We got caught walking in a bog in Connemura National park, along the north Atlantic, at coffin sculpture showing the potato famine, and walking to Matt Malloy's pub ( the flutist for the Irish music group Chieftains).

We are now safe and warm in this cute hotel...feeling our Guiness and realizing that this trip is coming to an end soon...... To kind of predictable California weather...tho I read we got October snow this week.

Rocky ruins

I hate to admit it, but I kinda like the rocky ruins that dot the Irish countryside... Using the stones found all over. Pegan tombs, round forts of the Iron Age, round towers of the early Christians, Viking forts, semi fortified mansions and fences. Against the green, green grass, it is beautiful....and they are all over the place.

Home cooking

Rick and Nani got us a condo for 3 nights on the west coast of Ireland. The most exciting part is the ability to cook for ourselves! We stopped at a large supermarket, Tesco, on our way and bought what we have been craving.

Monday: steak, cooked mushrooms & onion, red wine, salad and chocolate cake
Tuesday: BBQ pork ribs, fresh beats, roasted potatoes, Irish coffee, green salad
Wednesday: lamb chops, roasted turnips, white wine, ginger sponge pudding
We also got spinach & gruyere lattice pie, thick sliced bacon, Irish cheddar, fresh eggs, quark, pears, apples and bananas. For drinks.... Pear Hard cider, Irish stout beer, cola, low fat milk
Butter, salad dressing, Greek yougurt ,cookies, eggs ..... And all this cost less than 2 pub dinners out.

We will worry about weight loss or gain after we get home.... Actually we think we have lost because of all the walking.

Celtic crosses

Celtic crosses....I am kind of in to them. I never knew or even cared much about Irish religious history. Hal got me to go inside a pegan ritual site called Newgrange that was built 3200 BC.... Yep, that is 500 years before the pyramids at Giza!

St. Patrick came to Ireland to convert people to Christianity around 450 AD. He used the 3 leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. It is said that the circle around the Celtic cross helped the Pegan sun worshipers incorporate their circle sun symbol.

Our BIG car

We asked for an automatic since shifting with the left hand while driving on the opposite side seemed like too much. Avis gave us a diesel with a huge trunk....better to hide all luggage. (Our rental in Iceland held only 1 large suitcase so we filled the back seat.)
It has taken me a few days, but now I am kinda comfortable that I am not going to hit parked car mirrors or scrape the side of our tires on curbs at 60 mph. Hal has been patient with me.

I am more patient with him with our GPS. It has directed us onto many one lane roads cutting across back lands of this country. We have seen many homesteads that no tour bus could possibly get to.
Bought first diesel gas today.... Costs $70 for half a tank that took us 381 miles...that is about 5.5 miles on a dollar. Too bad we don't have another couple in the back seat.