Off the grid: Europe 2012

Not much to report from Day 6. Alan & I were whooped. Seriously, we have been nonstop moving since the hour we landed in Dublin! This morning we had an early flight from Copenhagen back to Dublin. We were those people who fell asleep on the bus ride to the airport, at the gate, and before the plane got off the ground. When we landed in Dublin, we picked up our car rental for the next 6 days, and headed to our first stop Co. Meath, about 30 miles outside of Dublin. We grabbed lunch in the small town of Dunboyne, then went back the hotel and didn’t leave for the rest of the night! We needed some complete downtime. We hit the spa & jacuzzi, then went to dinner at the hotel.

Day 7 we woke up bright and early to head out to our long trek to Northwestern Ireland, Co Donegal. We left the hotel at 1130a and didn’t arrive until 6p. I was a stressball the entire trip. In Ireland, you drive on the left side of the road and on the opposite side of the car. It was like driving upnorth in one of Michigan’s worst snow storms. The roads are barely made for 2 lanes, and it is turn after town after roundabout. The speed limit is 100 kilometers per hour. I have no idea how fast it is in mph, but it was way to damn fast for these roads! Street signs are non-existent. There was no way in hell I was going to drive, so Alan just listened to me gasp every 20 minutes as he tried to keep the wheel steady and I looked at the 3 different maps that I had open at once (all calling roads by different names).

Luckily we didn’t spend the entire 6+ hours driving. First we stopped in the city of Kells. As in, the Book of Kells. We did a walking tour of the city, stopping at various historic sites. From there we went to Grove Gardens, and wandered around there. The best part of vacation is when you don’t have to keep track of time, and just come and go as you wish.

[The Columban Monastery]

[A total of 4 high crosses survive at Kells. The one above is complete]

[Another high cross, however the top is cut off. Legends say, many were damaged by Cromwell's army in the 1600s]

[Its a little hard to tell in this picture, but the petals on these flowers were uniquely shaped]

We kept heading north, stopped in a town along the way for sandwiches. We passed by this beautiful lake, so parked along the side of the road for a few good pictures. Ireland is filled with little town after town. And yes, it is a million shades of green everywhere. Our car (which is the size of a tin can) ONLY went completely off the road once. In the height of my stress, and mumbled through my teeth, ‘this Donegal castle we are staying in better be freaking worth it.’

[I have yet to name her, but this is our ride for the week]

[Lower Lough Erne, just outside of Enniskillen]

We pulled up to a castle hotel that looks like it is out of a fairytale. It is unbelievable. I seriously don’t even want to leave…actually we haven’t yet, ha! We spent a good 2 hours roaming the grounds when we arrived this evening. The interior is amazing too. Every hallway leads to another sitting room or library, and they all look like they are from another time. Two nights here is not enough!