Woke up this morning to a cloudy sunrise.

as always, click to enlarge

Had an amazing breakfast and loved this.

First order of business today was the drive to Sneem, County Killarney with the purpose of visiting Killarney National Park tomorrow.  This area is also known for the  Ring of Kerry, a 111 mile circular route that weaves in and out of inlets and beaches and home to a number of castles and historic homes.    The drive was an event unto itself.    There is literally a wall of hedge along the rode that would extend over the shoulder; if there was a shoulder.  Beautiful but a little scary.  It’s as if you are driving  through the color green.  Here’s a taste, don’t get car sick (if you listen real close you can hear the Micra purr).

We crossed a few rivers and the landscape opened up to, pardon me here, verdant green hills.  Okay, I had to use that adjective because . .   it . . .  is . . .  true.

We checked into our accommodations at Parknasilla Resort, instead of the usual hotel room we are in a two bedroom lodge that is nicely designed and has a full kitchen and laundry.  Once loaded in, I headed to Sneem for a little grocery exploration.  What a village.  Complete with town square, shops all around, friendly faces and a good sense of itself.

There is a nice footbridge across the river.

The highlight for me was the town butcher, Peter O’Sullivan.   I picked up two hand sliced sirloins (currently marinating for tomorrow night) and two rashers of bacon.

Meanwhile after an afternoon settling in and trying to understand what the heck is going on back home, we took a walk around the property.  Aren’t these the largest hydrangea ever?

After my daily bowl of fish chowder (Wayne had a shrimp salad), we headed home to bed.  To say the setting is “melancholy” is an understatement, good place to write that Gothic novel.