Today we didn't have to put our luggage out as we are staying the same hotel again tonight. Breakfast was from 7:15 and we had a good buffet style meal. We boarded the bus at 8:15 and drove a short way into town where we got into horse drawn vehicles for a "Jaunting Car" ride through Killarney National Park. Our driver John and his horse Sally provided us with an entertaining hour of history and legend intermixed with a great deal of humor.
The park borders the town and so we started out on the city streets but quickly moved into the rural setting. We were blessed with a brief shower as we started but that did not deter us.
We followed paths that led by the lake and provided a good view of Ross Castle which we had seen the night before.
We even got to see some deer browsing by some ruins.
Once again we boarded the bus and headed out for a drive around the Ring of Kerry.
We followed the blue road on the map above in a counterclockwise direction. We made multiple stops for photos and just to enjoy the scenery. It was spectacular.
This is near where Charlie Chaplin lived and they had a statue of him which I failed to get. Oh well a good reason to return some day.
We had lunch at this place called Scarriff Inn. It overlooks a bay and the islands in the distance, Skellig Michael, were used in filming of Star Wars. We had a rich fish stew that was very good and warmed us as the winds were pretty chilly.
Norman our tour director was overjoyed because we had such a clear day. He said that sometimes the clouds are so low people can see nothing at all. We were thankful for good weather.
After our lunch stop we continued and stopped at Kissane Sheep Farm. We got to see a shepherd and his border collie working the sheep. It was fascinating and we could have watched for an hour. The way the dog, Gwena, concentrated on the sheep and obeyed the voice and whistle commands was astounding. The sheep were out in the open and the dog rounded them up and brought them into a pen area.
Coleen even got to hold a 3 day old baby lamb.
When we got back to the hotel we had about an hour and a half and then were driven into town for dinner on our own. We ate at Quinlan's Seafood. We both had fish and chips. It was good.
We ended the night at a show called Celtic Steps. This was not in the itinerary but Norman recommended it and so most of us went. It was a combination of Irish music and dance. It reminded me some of River Dance but with a more local flair.
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