Killkenny to Dublin

The day we arrived in Killkenny they introduced a new one way system. The locals hate it, it caused untold traffic jams and caused the normal affable & patient Irish to lose their cool. With this change as a backdrop our leaving of Killkenny was fraught with confusion and a little tension as both Jeeves and Deidre tried to find a way out, once we were out we were quickly on our way. The motorway was a pleasure to drive on and with a speed limit of 120kph Dublin was only a short drive away.

I am absolutely sure that our holiday would not have been as enjoyable as it has without Jeeves, he has taken a huge amount of stress and uncertainty out of the driving.

Dublin is a bustling, vibrant city full of history, colour, wonderful buildings, music and food (have I mentioned the Guinness?) We spent a fair bit of time walking around the city after we dropped our rental car off. We visited Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells exhibition and the Long Room, then explored the centre of the city. Later in evening and after dinner we went O’Donahue’s to listen to the music and what music (have I mentioned the Guinness?).

Our last day in Ireland is really a bit sad, the economy is a bit of a basket case but the people are friendly, optimistic and cheerful , their driving may be some what erratic but………….
Kinsale would be have been our favourite place followed by Killkenny and we both felt remarkably comfortable in Dublin. Anyway it is off to Scotland just as the weather is improving!
By the way did I mention the Guinness?

Dublin to Glasgow and to the Highlands.

The 55 minute flight from Dublin to Glasgow was uneventful and it was followed by a 20 taxi minute ride to our hotel. The Hotel on the outskirts of Glasgow but on the opposite side of the city from the airport was clean and comfortable with a good restaurant attached.

After a goodnights sleep (apart from a text message at 4:00am to say the Highlanders had lost to the Western Force) and another sumptuous breakfast we got a taxi back into the centre of Glasgow to pick up our rental car and to have a wander around the city.

Glasgow felt like any big city does early on a Saturday morning but the sun was shining and we spent a pleasant couple of hours wandering around. The drive to Fort William was amazing, almost magical it just made us smile all the way! We drove from Loch Lomond to Loch Long, on to Inverary Castle and a stop for a walk in the gardens and a snack, then through the Ben Nevis and Glencoe National Park stopping at the Glencoe Centre (Jenna the rock and snow climbing here is amazing and world renowned) then into Fort William. The drive today was so reminiscent of the central South Island but with lots of history.

In Ireland we felt some connection and felt comfortable in Scotland we feel at home.