Tuesday
We slept in on Tuesday morning. The sleep of the dead. That travel day did us in. We recovered in time to go out for lunch at the Fish Box, one of our favorite places. Mr. Flannery, the owner, is a fisherman, and he supplies the fish, so you pretty well know it’s fresh. (I have chatted with him several times over the years in Curran’s Pub.) The old place had just six tables, and it was tough to get in. They expanded into the nearby house, and now it’s spacious. The food is delicious. It is open for dinner as well, but we have only eaten lunches here. It’s really a family-run place. The Flannery children run the front of the house. Mrs. Flannery runs the kitchen. We were well remembered and had nice chats with two of the Flannery kids running the place. (They live in a house just two houses away from our old digs on Ard Na Mara.) I neglected to take pictures of the food and of the new interior. Next time for sure as we’ll be back there again on this trip. I had seafood chowder followed by fish and chips. The fish was hake. (Did you know hake is the common name for fish in the Merlucciidae family of the northern and southern oceans and the Phycidae family of the northern oceans. You’re lying if you say you knew.) Elaine had the spicey fried calamari with delicious garlic aioli. We both had Harp beer.
After lunch we had a short walkabout and a return visit to Supervalu for things we forgot yesterday (mayonnaise, sandwich bread, cold cuts, lettuce, and crackers for the cheese. (Cheese and potato chips don’t make a great cocktail hour combination.) I took a few snapshots all within a few steps of the Fish Box. All the pictures so far have been with my phone (Google Pixel 7). Tonight I’ll get the camera (Sony RX100 VII) out and operational. Dick Mack’s is directly across the street from St. Mary’s Church. The Fish Box is just steps away. See the banner for Féile Na Bealtaine? That’s an annual weekend festival with lots of entertainment of all kinds. When I booked this trip, it hadn’t been scheduled yet, but I expected we would be in Dingle for it. Alas, the last day of the festival was yesterday’s bank holiday Monday. The other church like building (located right next and slightly behind the church is the Díseart Institute of Irish Spirituality and Culture. There is a nice garden and some great stained glass windows by Harry Clarke here. Maybe more about them later if we visit the center. Don’t I look tired in that picture? I was. See Elaine in one picture?
For those who ask and for those who have been here, here’s the town layout. X marks Water’s Edge House where we stayed several times. Y marks where 18 and 23 Ard Na Mara are located. We stayed in both a few times. Z marks our current house location.
After lunch I slept some more. Tough getting over these travel connection days. I had planned to go to Curran’s for a beer, but decided to put it off for another day. Rose Byrne, our house manager, came over at 5:30 to see if we needed anything. (We don’t.) We arranged with Rose to have the house cleaned and the sheets and towels changed every Tuesday.
Cocktails were at the usual time and dinner once again was cheese, this time with proper crackers. We watched some tv (mostly The Chase – one of the most successful and longest running game shows on UK television. It’s been on over here since 2009 and has an American version that we have very rarely watched.). The chasers are like old friends as we watch this show every time we come to the UK or Ireland.
I should probably wait and post tomorrow (Wednesday), but I’ll just do it now. The weather, by the way, has been fantastic – cloudless skies and nice warm sun. Temps in the 60’s. Perfect.
Would that we could be your next door neighbors! Sounds positively delightful!
So glad for the map, Joe. I did recognize the area immediately as we walked back from Doyle’s and it was so windy and cold, we came across John Street to that Bothar Na Bpisrach(sp?) to the traffic circle and onto Skelling. It was very dark but so cold that Sept/Oct.
Enjoying your pictures. Weather looks marvelous.
Yes, you look tired — rightfully so. And, yes I saw Elaine at the church (which is across from Dick Mack’s which is across from the church)!! Of course I knew all about the origin of the hake, doesn’t everybody. Yeah, right.
Sorry you missed the festival. Happy that the weather is so good. What’s with Harp instead of Guinness?
Thank you for the map. It puts everything in perspective.
I agree with Sue, Elaine is leaning against the short wall at the church, holding her jacket. Thanks for the map, now we know where you are staying in the new place. You may be tired Joe, but enough strength by golly to lift that beer!
Good one, Cindy!
So jealous love Dingle!!
Sweet!