Dingle Peninsula, Ireland

We thought that we were in for foul weather as the windshield wipers were on high during our drive from Kenmare to Dingle. However, just as we rounded the bend into town the sun came out and we have had glorious weather for our few days here on the Dingle Peninsula. When asked about the good weather, people here respond like we do in Seattle. "Is it always like this here?". "Oh yes, absolutely!" This part of Ireland receives subsidies to promote the use of The Irish language and culture, and as a result all of the signs are in Irish (usually only Irish).

To give the guys a break from driving we took a guided tour of the Dingle Peninsula. Our guide, Tim Collins, picked us up at our B & B and we set off in his van with about 8 others. First stop was to see the sandstone slabs with the pre-Roman Ogham writing on them. They have only been deciphered for the past 30 or so years and the local collection was gathered from fields in about the 1850's and put in the entrance of Lord Ventry's manor house. He owned the entire peninsula.

Traveling around Slea Head traffic typically goes clockwise, but the road is technically two-way and you can see what happens, and why we were glad we were being driven. 

The scenery is all that you expect of Ireland: fields in 20 shades of green, stone walls, crystal clear turquoise and green water, fluffy and shorn sheep, plump black and white cows, crumbling old stone barns and, smartly painted pubs with overflowing flower baskets and churches--simple and grand. On the day we did our tour add to that list: blue skies with puffy white clouds, slivers of sandy beaches, fishing boats bobbing gently, tall hedges of wild fuchsia and fields of heather, and us with our mouths open taking it all in.

On Interstate One!

We saw late stone age ring forts, circa 500 bc, and beehive huts, and we went to the Gallarus Oratory. It was built about 1300 years ago and is the oldest remaining early Christian church.

Back in Dingle we went shopping in the quaint town and these derelicts drank beer as we picnicked on the stone wall surrounding the marina.

I had my black currant juice box so that my halo wouldn't slip. We have had some delicious pub food including: fish and chips, Shepard's pie, more types of fresh fish than we can remember and we are getting used to the Irish practice of potatoes with everything--and we mean everything! We have had fries with lasagne, boiled potatoes with beef over mashed potatoes, and potatoes as a side to chicken with stuffing and rice. Just tonight I had fish pie with a whipped potato topping---and fries! 

Here's Dingle town!

Here's the countryside as seen from our harbor tour:

This is Fungie, the resident dolphin who arrived 30 years ago.

Oh, and just in case you think it's all fun and games, here's Francie and me doing laundry. Nice to know we have college degrees and illustrious careers so that we can end up scrubbing in a tub!