Road Trip with Jenn and Matt

Friends Jenn and Matt (they used to live above us in Nashville) visited from Brooklyn for 10 days.  We went on a mini road trip for four nights around the southern half of Ireland's coast making stops in Galway, Cliffs of Moher, crossed the River Shannon, Dingle, Inch, the lakes of Killarney, Kenmare, Bantry, the Glengarriff forest and Kinsale.  We stayed at B&Bs along the way and ate lots of good seafood, sometimes for every meal of the day.  We spent the night in Galway (Ardawn B&B), Dingle (Alpine House), Kenmare (Hawthorne House) and Kinsale (the Old Bakery B&B).

First night in Galway at a pub in town.

Cliffs of Moher

Hard to tell from the photo, but Matt was REALLY brave to stand here.

View of the north side of Dingle Peninsula

Dingle Harbor
(Mom and Dad- does this picture look just like the one I gave
you a long time ago?  I think the same boats are still there!)

Foxy John's Pub.  Half hardware store, half pub.

Irish music in Flaherty's

Bee-hive huts from 2000 BC.  Stone structures made without mortar,
called bee-hive huts because of their shape.

Slea Head

Slea Head and view of the Blasket Islands 

Walking the beach on Inch Peninsula in Dingle Bay

It was so warm we ate outside. We actually used the word "hot" while
sitting there.  I think it was probably the warmest day ever recorded in Ireland.

Lakes of Killarney

Kenmare

Glengarriff forest

Bulman pub in Kinsale

During the last night in Kinsale we did a stout tasting of Guinness, Murphy's and Beamish.
They all look identical, right?  But they taste very different!

The Irish Times Considers Richard a "Beer Goggle Effect" Expert!!

Richard was interviewed by the Irish Times about the psychology of drinking and attractiveness.  Click here for the article or scroll down.  He's quoted in the "Meeting Your Match" section.

Camping in Connemara

Over the 4th of July weekend we went camping in Connemara.  The first night we stayed in a B&B in Oughterard, then camped for two nights at Acton's campground on the coast in Connemara just outside of Clifden town.  We found the campground by googling "campgrounds in Ireland that allow campfires".  Apparently campfires aren't that popular in Ireland, but for us it's a must for proper camping enjoyment.  This place is right on the water and we'll definitely be going back.

Friends Britta, Weston and their dog Bailey joined us for one night camping.  One day we went to Kylemore Abbey in the Connemara National Forest.  Another day we hiked up Croagh Patrick, where St. Patrick is said to have banished all snakes from Ireland.  Hiking up to the summit of Croagh Patrick can be a pilgrimage for Catholics, or for people like us, a good hike with with nice views.

Our prime campsite

Lounging in the flowers

Acton's campground beach.  The water is surprisingly warmer here than on the east coast of Ireland.

Beach time

Cows on the beach

Kabobs

Kylemore Abbey

Presiding over the fire

A grilling trick taught to us by Martijn and Jorien-- melty grilled camembert on bread is so good!

Near the top of Croagh Patrick

At the summit

View of Clew Bay from Croagh Patrick

Prague

After my parent's visit to Dublin we went to Prague for a long weekend.

Prague at night

Kampa Park canal

Fried cheese, potato dumplings and cucumber salad 

Art nouveau stained glass inside the St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle

Mom and Dad at St. Vitus Cathedral

Pilsner Urquell in the home country

We listened to a concert in St Nicholas Cathedral 

Inside St Nicholas Cathedral

Czech food

more Czech food

View of Prague from Strahov Monastery on Petrin Hill

John Lennon Wall