Thursday
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More sun? Where are we? Bright sunshine all day. We drove today to Annascaul, the home of Antarctic explorer Tom Crean and his South Pole Inn. We skipped the Inn today (we’ve been many times) and concentrated on a familiar hike near Annascaul Lake. We walked about 1.25 miles out and then back. There were a few other hikers out and about, but we were pretty much alone save for the sheep.
After the hike we drove back to Annascaul town and took a few pictures in the Tom Crean Garden and had a long chat with an Irishman from Cork who as been to 44 US states. He’s missing ND, SD, Montana, and a few others.
Then it was home for lunch. After lunch I drove into town for a few errands. I returned the library books that I had finished and got some new ones about the local area. I bought some cocktail hour cheeses from the Little Cheese Shop (a wonderful place!) in town. I stopped into Out of the Blue and made another reservation for next Tuesday night. I stopped by the Coach House to visit Gráinne but she had left for the day. I had a beer at Paddy Bawn Brosnan’s pub. And I popped into Supervalu to get some lime cordial for my gimlets and some ginger chunk cookies. Meanwhile, Elaine sat outside and read.
Dinner was at the Chart House at 8:00 PM, a little late for use. I remembered to get food pictures. Yay! (I forgot to snap the dessert – Boo!) For dinner Elaine had seafood chowder followed by monkfish while I had mussels followed by grilled John Dory. We shared an orange zest créme brûlé with white chocolate ice cream for dessert. Then we stopped into O’Flaherty’s, just a hop, skip, and a jump away, for a quiet after dinner drink. It was quiet because no music was scheduled for the night. I had a Guinness while Elaine sipped on a Jameson’s and Ginger.
Another spectacular hike on another blue sky day. Love the pic of you and Tom — two ordinary men doing extraordinary things!! Sounds like you had a nice afternoon in town.
The food at the Chart House looks so good. Glad you forgot to take photos of dessert; I was plenty full after apps and the mains.
Thanks, Cindy, for the pep talk. Better weather today — upper 30’s, no wind, bright blue skies.
It drives me crazy when I hear people knock the food in Ireland. Obviously they have never been or have not been in many decades! Great pics. Keep on snappin’
Jane
In the 1970’s the food in Ireland was horrible. How things change. Dingle (population 2,500) has 5 or 6 world class restaurants. It has surpassed Kinsale as Ireland’s food capital.
The Chart House is our favorite among many.
It’s a good thing you all continue to get your exercise in as the food just gets better and better! Joe, glad to see you enjoying the local library. You are finding some good reads. Elaine I made the WW casserole and it was really good. Bill even had seconds! So different than food you are enjoying in Ireland.
Sue, glad to see you are warming up. We are praying for rain. No moisture in over a month.
Eat, eat eat, for when we retune home I shall not eat for a month.
Joe, I’m loving your pictures of whatever sunny country you are in! Ireland, you say?
Glad that you and Elaine have enjoyed so many sunny days and beautiful hikes. I love the west of Ireland. My mother’s parents were from Bantry and Skibbereen and I have been lucky enough to visit and get to know my cousins.
Your pictures are terrific and bring me right back to Ireland.
I’m also glad to hear that Ireland is open for tourist business again. As you know, tourists supply a major source of income in the west of Ireland.
Best to you and Elaine,
Maureen Egan
Wow, long time no see, Maureen. Thanks for the comment. We love it here!