Big Mac Index

I neglected to include this note so I must apologize. I did find the price of a Big Mac in Ennis, Ireland. I forgot to check in Derry. In Ennis it was 3.70 Euros. In Grove City it is $2.95. This places the Purchasing Power Parity at .8 (2.95/3.70=.8). Since the exchange rate is about 1.40, the dollar is selling at a huge discount. It is very expensive to travel in Ireland.

No value meals were eaten to make this report.

Ready or not, here I come

I'll be in Klumbus this evening. I really enjoyed this trip. Most of the requisite sights and experiences remain unseen and unexperienced. I must return soon.

Last day in Dunquin

There are quite a few tropical plants here as it seldom freezes or snows. Ireland is across from Newfoundland!


This is the tail end of the riders in a Triathelon. Note how narrow the road is. It is much narrower elsewhere on their ride! The water is too cold for most of the rest of us but they have already finished a swim!

Today is the last day to spend in Dunquin. Yesterday I walked to the Blasket Iseland ferry dock. The weather has been bad enough that the natives are complaining about it so it is no wonder the ferry is not operating. I got some pictures but, like most of them I will probably have to lighten them up as the camera isn't as forgiving as it needs to be.

There is only one sight I know of left to see and one day left to see it. The Kilmalkedar church was built in the 12th century and a surprising amout of it still survives, according to theguide books.

I'm typing this as Judy and Dan go to the Dunquin church.

Tomorrow I will scoot across to Dublin and spend the night near the airport. Dublin will have to wait untill my next trip. I was intending to spend the last two days there but discovered this little event called the All Ireland. There are sure to be no hotel rooms to be had there. Kerry and Dublin are facing off for the 32d time for the national Irish Football championship. A very big thing.

This is some kind of wildflower on the road to the Blasket Center. That is in Dunquin also. There are a few places to walk to from here but none very far or difficult. I will come to Ireland next time with proper hiking togs. Mount Brandon and even lesser hikes need good hiking shoes.

Tonight we will go to Dingle to eat at Out of the Blue. Reputedly the best fish in Kerry.

Kerry plays Dublin in the All Ireland on Sunday. Kerry usually wins. There is talk of little else.

Dingle has at least fourteen music pubs. I've not been to one of them. I'm concerned about the drive back to Dunquin well after dark. There is only one pub in Dunquin (Kruger's) and it doesn't do music.

I should add, because of the All Ireland I decided not to take a chance on lodging in Dublin this weekend. I'm staying in Dunquin until Monday. I was able to get a room in Dublin for monday night.

Mountain climbing

This is the only shot that came out today of the mountain climb. It is a hut or ruined house across a saddle of the peak that I clambered up. I walked from the house we are renting for about 3 miles. Some of it was vertical. I passed a remnant of the filming of Ryan's Daughter from 1953 or thereabout. I have pictures of a schoolhouse. That is all that appears to remain. Kruger's Pub has contemporary photos.

I am bootlegging service from a B&B that is closed but has failed to disconnect the WIFI. There is no ther service available in Dunquin. Guilt prevents me from sending more.

The Dingle Loop

This is the Galarus Oratory, a mandatory stop on the peninsula. The claim that it has never leaked is a lie. There are calcite stains on the ceiling. It looks like the walls are shifting a teeny bit.

Yesterday we went to Dingle to look about. It is a small town with a church, a whole bundh of pubs, restaurants, gift shops and hotels. Dan got a SIMM for charlie's phone. Nothing else insisted on going home with me. There are a number of nice restaurants. Dingle is known for seafood.

Today Dan and I drove around the west end of the peninsula. We stopped at the Oratory and a bunch of great vantage points. The sun cooperated! When we got to Dingle we found the the best seafood place (Out of the Blue) doesn't serve lunch. We had to take the place next door. Not too bad.

On the way back to Dunquin we stopped at a promotory fort and a ring fort/beehive huts. The ring fort has defensive possibilities. The promotory fort has no military potential whatsoever.
It may have been a monastery or something.

Dan's place has no internet so I'm imposing on the proprietor of the B&B I stayed at before I found Dan. I'm going to leave soon so I've got other things to take care of. More later.

I found the Snyders!

It looks like I will stay in Dunquin.