I'm entranced by Irish voices - the lilt and lightness, they so nearly sing that I smile all the time. I find myself echoing it a little, and wonder how long it would take before I started sounding like them! Lovely tenor voices and sopranos - fewer low voices, but many with great warmth and humor - and they love to talk. No one walks past you without speaking, and we do the same. The photo above is Ann, who runs a wonderful B&B. I loved her speaking voi...

Just a word about Eileen's driving skills. She's very brave and confident, and has mastered the left side driving, AND the peculiarly Irish skill of pulling off to accomodate vehicles approaching on a road that isn't wide enough for two. Very smooth! And all the while, she's managing a stick shift with her left hand and keeping up a flow of lively conversation, or"craic"! Please don't think I'm just along for the ride...I'm the navigator, and members of our fa...

/the photo doesn't do the view justice - there are cliffs to either side, and a slope to the left and behind, with lovely cottages, stone walls and sheep, sheep everywhere. But it's right outside our B&B window, and I wanted you to see the cows. Such a friendly sight in the morning! The weather here continues to be a marvel - it's a big topic of conversation. I'm waiting for a nice misty, Irish day though, just because it's what I thought Ireland would be...

Eileen, under a 600 year old Yew tree in the courtyard of Castle Adare. Yew trees made strong and flexible bows, and Irish clansmen were encouraged to plant them. Just a little trivia for your day:) We're off now, to Killarney and Kenmare, on a beautiful misty Irish morning, braving the traffic in pursuit of adventure.

We arrived safely, after a very easy flight. Shannon Airport was a pleasure, and everyone is friendly in a way that feels comfortable and real. We picked up our rental car, which is a standard, rather than the automatic Eileen arranged for. We blithely took it any way, but quickly realized that shifting with the left hand is a whole new skill to learn. Add that to driving on the left, and the distractions of a beautiful dawn driving through Ireland, and It's...