Well we had a MAJOR heat wave today… high of 76! Yes, 76 degrees and they were all saying how hot it was. I didn’t even take off my jacket! I told them to come to Charlotte if they wanted to feel heat. Too funny!
I took this really cool all day tour today with only about 12 people. We took a large minivan along the coast to this port about 30 minutes from Galway. Then boarded a boat to go to the smallest of the Aran Islands called Inisheer. (There are 3 islands that make up the Aran Islands.) Then a different boat Took us on a cruise along the base of the Cliffs of Moher. Then a drive thru an area called the Burren with a few stops after that.
Pics 1-9 are Inisheer. Did a “jaunty car” (horse and carriage ride) across the island. Our horse Benji did great job but this island was not really hilly so it wasn’t bad on him. Pic 7 is the shipwreck of the An Plassy. This freighter was wrecked offshore on Finn’s Rock in 1960. The crew was rescued with no loss of life. A couple weeks later, the unmanned ship was washed high up on to the rocky shore, where it still sits today.
Pics 10-12 are along the Cliffs of Moher. The cave in Pic 11 was used to film part of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The Cliffs are over 700 feet high in some sections. The pictures really don’t do it justice. It was amazing to cruise along side them.
Pics 13-14 are in the Burren. The Burren rocks are a story of water, rock, geological force and time. Limestone, created from the layers of coral, seashells, and mud, is the bedrock of the Burren. Geological forces in the earth’s crust heaved up the land, and the glaciers swept it bare and shattered it like glass under their weight – dropping boulders as they receded. Rain, reacting naturally with the limestone to create a mild but determined acid, slowly drilled potholes into the surface. Rainwater cut through the limestone’s weak zones, leaving crevices on the surface and one of Europe’s most extensive systems of caves below. It was really fascinating to see.
Pic15 was this little “Fairy Castle” along the road where people would come get fresh and clear ice cold water from. We tried it and it was delicious. They also believe that the tree around it is good luck. We’ll see!
Lastly, Pic 16 is from the town of Ballyvaughan. Cute seaside town with a little pier. Strange looking seaweed stuff too!
That’s all for today. Happy Tuesday!
The Wandering Italian 