Ireland: Day 9, Ulster Folk Museum & Family

A trip to the Ulster Folk & Transportation Museum is a must in Northern Ireland.  The Grandparents like to show how thiings were in days past. 

This was also a very special day for the family because we met up with cousins!  Although our family is separated my miles we have made efforts to keep involved in each others lives, so to see one another in person was a special treat.  The younger generation had so much fun playing along they didn't need the museum to distract them.

They grow them big in Ireland!

Steph and I took a wee trip around the park with the chillins.

The Transportation Museum has real trains, planes, and automobiles of various eras to explore.

These two crazy girls found other uses for the pamphlet stickers.

After the museum and dinner we took a trip to visit cousins from the other side of the family.  Aunt Dawn told stories from the present and the past as we looked through photo albums. 

The next generation made friends instantly and played there own games until we headed home for bed with a giant bag of sweeties.

Ireland: Day 8, Donegal Castle, Glenveagh National Park & Castle

This wonderful B&B provided the best nights sleep of the trip!  So cozy, yet bright, and full of fun objects for the kids to occupy themselves with.  But alas, we did have to leave, after a wonderful Irish breakfast.

Our first stop on this rainy morning was Donegal Castle.  We took a short drive back into town and parked on a narrow side street.  The umbrellas were in full use and became the accessory of the day as the wet continued to fall.

Once inside we were given the most realistic view of what castles would have been like for those that lived in them.  The walls had been restore with the finished white plaster, bring a better understanding to how these "cold" walls could have felt warm and inviting.  The cool stone walls of so many ruins create images of dark, dank ,residences, this restoration was beautiful.

Of course it has its areas for the riff-raff as well!

The girls take a break on a bench out of the rain.

Driving from Dongel to Glenveah National Park we saw lots of wet countryside.  We puled over at a lookout point that on a clear day would provide endless panoramic views of beauty, but shared only a glimpse with us.

Glenveah National Park is over 40,000 acres of mountains, lakes and forests, but we took a short ride to the "castle" and called that good (as it was still raining, and not lightly).

The Irish are accustomed to the rain and have these garden window rooms everywhere, from the smallest homes to these "castles".  While we waited for our tour we listened to the music and appreciated the dance.

With a small break in the rain I went to view the lovely gardens in back. I spied this beautiful cottage and snapped my shot. I spent what few dry minutes I could capturing flowers and fruits on "film".

This "castle" as they call it is very different than many others we visited, having a much newer construction date (1873) and being owned last by an American, but was good entertainment none the less.

This is a pool, turned lily pond, I can never imagine it being warm enough to swim in, but it was beautiful.

On our return trip to Belfast we stopped to take pictures of a cottage, but this tractor was my prize find.  All over Ireland people drive tractors as cars.  On every kind of street (even the large motorways!) these vehicles of every make, model, and year, can be seen driving alongside the more conventional car.

Belfast again, and yummy Chinese takeout for dinner.

Ireland: Day 7, Donegal, Sleive League

Right back on the road again!  We drove across the island to Donegal Town for a night of Irish music and more sight seeing.  Here the family takes a breather by the River Eske before driving on. 

At the bottom of Sleive League we take a picture to record all of us before parting ways for a bit.  Granny and the youngest stay behind and share an ice cream treat, while the rest of us hike up for better views mindful of the lack of hand rails and deathly drops. 

Below, in the bay waters is "the Giant's desk and chair". 

These are the tallest cliffs in Ireland at 1,972 ft, three times taller than the famous Cliffs of Moher. 

That night we returned to Donegal Town (all of us made in off the cliffs!) to see the show "Slice of Ireland" at the Central Hotel.  It was a fun combination of live music and dance. 

After our night on the town we tucked ourselves into bed at another wonderful place, the Ardlenagh View B&B.  We had the whole upstairs of the main house to ourselves.

Ireland: Day 6, Blarney Castle, Cahir Castle, Rock of Cashel, Grandparents in Belfast

This is one of the busiest and most touristy days we had!  When we told our hostess at the Pine Forest Bed & Breakfast our plans for the day and the miles we intended to travel she thought we were mad.  It was a long day, but very fun, beginning at the Blarney Castle in Cork. 

We were second in line that morning, as we had been warned it gets busy.  This adventure of kissing the Blarney stone is a bit more harrowing than I first imagined! Everyone in the family performed admirably. 

This guy was first and I wasn't quick enough with the camera, so he got a picture on the lovely Blarney bench. 

The modern use for this ancient storage cubby. 

The castle is famous for the stone, but the true wonder at Blarney Castle are the gardens.  Acres of gorgeous grounds with meandering trails. 

We also took a tour of Blarney House, a part time residence for the private citizens that own Blarney Castle estates.  They share their home for a couple hours each day, several months out of the year, and get the rest to enjoy privately, while we pay to maintain it.  Not a bad gig! 

Next stop of the day: Cahir Castle. 

View from the Castle of the surrounding village. 

Before entering the kids amused themselves with the local ducks and then I captured a moment of pure family bliss. (Not too bad for six days in each others constant presence.) 

After locating the entrance we wondered around the castle grounds before the tour.  Castle are full of fun things to play on and around! 

The wonder of Ireland is the history all around you.  At any moment while driving along you can spot buildings in various states of ruin.  To see cows grazing amid Irish towers and ancient rock settlements is an everyday occurrence. 

Our final castle of the day (not the trip) was the Rock of Cashel.  This collection of buildings includes and Irish tower, the remains of a very large cathedral, and several other well preserved structures. 

Throughout most of our trip to this point the weather was great.  A light "Irish mist" here and there, but mainly sunshine.  Our timing was spot on time after time taking a tour during clear sky's and raining during our drives, until here...The sky let loose with drops the size of quarters as we ran down the hill to the car park. By the time we got inside we were all soaked through. 

After five days touring the south on our own we headed north to Belfast. 

Now to the reason behind this trip, a visit to the missionary grandparents!  We found them safe and sound in a nice little apartment in Belfast. One of our children communicates quite frequently by email and had indicated she dyed her hair blue, hence the last picture of the day!