October 3-5

One of the main reasons we chose Ireland was to visit Jamie’s sister who lives there just outside of Waterford. Not that Ireland wasn’t on our list of places to see in our lifetime, I mean who doesn’t dream of Ireland green and Celtic accents? Seriously, and now that we’ve been we would recommend it to anyone. Ireland is one of those easy to get along with countries especially for Americans that haven’t traveled much or at all outside the US. The language is English, the people are laid back and friendly, and the culture isn’t so foreign that it’s puzzling. The only thing is… watch out for the roads! Left side people, look right, left, right before you cross the street! We ended up renting a car because we wanted to do some traveling around the southwest at our own pace, so in fact Jamie had the biggest adjustment as the only driver and he did it so smoothly you’d think he’d been driving on the left side of the road and shifting with his left his entire life.

The Cliffs of Kerry

After we picked up Sharon (Jamie’s sister) we were off to the Ring of Kerry. The Ring is in Kerry County, which is 2 counties to the west of Waterford, and is on the jagged shoreline of southern Ireland. The ring is a popular tourist destination because of the shore views and the dramatic cliffs along the way, unfortunately we had a hazy, cloudy morning the day we drove it but we were able to enjoy what we could see all the same. We stopped frequently along the way but one of the most memorable stops was at the Kerry cliffs, again it wasn’t the ideal conditions to see them but they were still dramatic just the same.

Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church

Just below the cliffs was a small town called Portmagee where we decided to have lunch in a local pub and we were treated to some traditional Irish music by what looked like a family of musicians. It was so sweet to see the little girls joining in with their instruments and the others ever so patient with the slip of a note here and there. I think in all there were 6 instruments in their ensemble and it was a feast for the ears as we filled up our bellies.

The town of DingleDingle Harbor

When we finally arrived at our destination, Dingle, we discovered they were having a food festival, or a Taste Trail as they would say. The small town was packed with people and food stands from all over and we couldn’t have been happier to join in on the delectable fun. Once we got settled into our room we went about the business of finding out what was available for our tasting. Because the festival was winding down for the day by the time we got there, we only did reconnaissance that afternoon for our Sunday bites. However, we did find a nice, cozy, traditional Pub for dinner called Murphy’s and left feeling full and satisfied.The Dingle Peninsula Loop

The next morning after breakfast we rented bikes and set out to explore the Dingle Peninsula. We had read before we left that the best way to experience this peninsula was on bike and YES we heartily agree. Please, please, please if you go to Dingle, rent a bike for the day and take your time winding along the shores of Dingle, you won’t regret it. The total loop is about 42 kilometers so it’s pretty substantial and will take you most of the day unless you are going for speed, don’t go for speed.

When we did make it back to Dingle we were ready to take part of the Taste Trail. The following is what we ate: Traditional Irish Stew, Sticky Toffee Desert, Monkfish and Crab tartlet, fish and chips, Strawberry and Nutella Crepe, Cajun Chicken Sandwich, and Twix Ice Cream Sunday. No need for dinner that night! Our bellies were full, and our bodies tired and not yet adjusted to the time change so we went to bed early that night.

Happy Trails,

The Smuckers

Jamie’s Travel Tips:

-We flew to Ireland on Lufthansa with United Airlines points. The tickets cost 30,000 points per person one way, which I accumulated through the Chase United Explorer credit card signup bonus.
-When flying to Ireland try to find a direct flight. I wanted to fly on the new 747-8 that lufthansa flies but the extra stop in Frankfurt, and needing to claim and recheck our bags didn’t make it worthwhile.
-If you are spending more than 2 days in Ireland and want to travel outside of Dublin, renting
a car is a relatively easy and hassle free experience.
– A great way to get primary insurance coverage on your rental car in Ireland is by using the Chase Sapphire credit card to pay for the entire booking.
-For cell phone service we got a SIM card at the airport and than used our phone for GPS. Just be sure your phone is unlocked!
-Be careful where you stay in the town of Dingle. Some accommodations on Airbnb are located above bars and nightclubs. Nothing wrong with the rooms themselves but it can be pretty noisy until about 2 a.m. in the morning.
-If you have the time, renting bikes is a must for taking in the Dingle peninsula. They cost about 15 euros per day.
-Murphy’s Pub in Dingle is a great place to eat enjoy dinner and the local pub atmosphere. Then again, there are many great pubs in Dingle!
-Try some traditional Irish Lamb stew in Ireland…it is delicious!