Didn't we already go by that?

May 14, 2009

Kenmare, Ireland

On the spur of the moment we decided to take a cheap flight out of Helsinki to Dublin. Landed and got a car and headed out after a lecture on the huge number of accidents in Ireland.

Spent the first night just south of Dublin and enjoyed a country where the menus were all in English. First impressions is that Ireland is really green. The second one is that it is really expensive. The third is that the roads are way too narrow for cars. Maybe for motorbikes or bicycles but not cars.

Spent the second night night in Midelton in a hostel run by a very nice lady who taught Gaelic and had opinions on every thing else. By chance we stopped at the Jameson Irish Whiskey distillery as we drove by. (It was by chance - honest). I know have a certificate saying I am a qualified Irish whiskey taster.

Spent a lot of time racing by on small roads with no names looking for connections to other places that may or may not exist.

A friend told me that it takes a long time to get anywhere in Ireland and he was right. When it says that your objective is 150 km away you better plan on a three hour drive. Of course it might be better if we quit taking the scenic route all the time. Maybe if we found a road without a village every fifty feet or so.

Stopped at little Irish villages to have hot soups and cold beer. Spent a good 30 minutes in one just trying to get out of town and we kept ending up at the same place.

Anywhere else in the world the streets we were on would have been one way with no parking. In Ireland they have parking on one side and allow two way traffic. That means that you have to peer down the street and give way if anyone is coming your way. If you are already on it then you have to hope that they will be pulling over for you. Reminded me of driving narrow mountain paths where there is only room for one.

Tonight we had a drink at a pub with a little Celtic band in one corner. I even had a pint of Guinness. It is Ireland after all.