To Dingle or Bust: Day 26

9 July

Mackenzie decided to color her hair another shade of red (which looks really nice) but she inadvertently dyed one of the smaller towels and one of the pillow cases, so she had to go and confess to our pleasant hosts. They were quite kind and said not to worry about it. A load off of my mind since that inexpensive stay could have added up quickly!

Coppoquin Bakery for our breakfast: bacon and tomato quiche and by bacon, I really mean ham because that is what Irish bacon looks and tastes like. We also had some fabulous Americana with milk. Our coffee habits have lessened here in Ireland and in Scotland since coffee just isn't the same (meaning not as good as) Italy.

#Rick Steeves 14 day through Ireland tour stay in the quaint seaport town of Kinsale, so Mackenzie and I decided ro explore the city. It was incredibly crowded, so instead we crossed the inlet to look at the Kinsale Fort. Of course there was a fee...8 euros...so we instead we walked the circumference of the fort which we thought was just as fun. Mackenzie climbed up into a crevice on the outside of the fort with the help of an older man who gave her a boost and another family saw her and immediately decided to do the same. They were from Ohio and we chatted a bit with them and watched their children outdo Mackenzie by climbing to a higer crevice without assistance.

Dingle was our next stop and Mackenzie had found an Air B&B that enticed her with their white lab and homemade bread and jam (and of course I will go anywhere for homemade jam and Irish butter). We wanted to stay for 2 nights, but their room was only available for one, but Murian emailed us and said that we could stay the second night in their daughter's room because she was at Irish camp. (some things are just meant to be). We took the long route through Kilarney and through a little of Kilarney National Park and we skipped the 'Ring of Kerry' becaue we were anxious to get to Dingle.

Our Air B&B was a perfect fit for us! Muireann and her husband Danny both majored in hotel management and Murian had retired from her hotel management job and opened the Kingle Cookery School (thus the homemade bread). Danny was the GM of a 5 star hotel in nearbye Kilarney. They have ttwo adorable sons...Tadgh and Ronan ages 6 an 8 (well almost 9 as we were reminded by Tadgh) and they made our stay so much fun! P.S. this entire family and entire region speak Irish, not gaelic, Irish, and it is beautiful!

The house was ony 1 mile outside of Dingle and very comfy and made us feel like being home. Danny offered us tea after we dumped our backpacks and then got out the maps and basically planned our night for us which was lovely since we had no clue about Dingle, we just came here because #RickSteeves does. We are on the "let's just ask the locals what to do tour." He picked up Muireann from work and then she checked over his suggestions and then, because it was raining, Danny took us to our first stop...the Dingle Distillery.

Here at the Dingle Distillery they make, gin, vodka, and whiskey although there is no Whiskey available until April 2016. #Dingledistillery You see, by Irish law, whiskey must be casked for a minimum of 3 years and their first casking was in December of 2012. They want to wait and release it in April 2016 because it is the 100th anniversary of something (sorry I can't remember but if anyone wants to find out for me...let me know!) Our guide, Joe, a retired police chief, and about the best tour guide we'd ever had. We got to taste the Dingle Gin and Dingle Vodka and went to pay for our 10 euro apiece fee and Joe gave it back as he had inadvertently heard our story. Very nice man.

We walked into town and ate at 'The Canteen" which is now one of our favorite meals. I had the local Hake fish on some kind of hard mashed potatoes with ham and leeks in it and Mackenzie had the local Salmon on the same type of potatoes with no ham...oh, I mean bacon. The waiter suggested Kerry's Brewery Stout and it was a great compliment to the meal.

We continued the Danny/Muireann tour and arrived at John Benny's Pub to listen to a quite famous Irish group, The Lumiere's, a group which features the lovely voices of Eilis Kennedy and local Dingle resident, Pauline Scanion. They were just lovely (this is a common Irish prase) and we purchased one of their albums on iTunes. We shared a pint of Guiness and stayed for about an hour and then hiked home in the dark...thank goodness the rain had ended! Danny and Muireann met us at the door excited to hear about our adventures and to ask what time for breakfast...how lovely!

So Peaceful in Dingle,

The Traveling Women

Tip of the day: Go ahead and pass a famous tourist stop because better local things wait around the corner.

 

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