Apple Pie and a Magnificent View for Lunch

Once again we enjoyed a lovely Irish breakfast - this time at Balleyseede Castle. This gave us a good start as we set off driving the Dingle Peninsula, like the Ring of Kerry, but more magnificant. Not far into our drive along the beautiful and very green countryside, Bill decides to turn and follow another narrow road to a beach.

Believe or not, this is a two-way road - and some are narrower with block walls along the side of the road!

After squeezing by a few cars going the opposite direction, we arrived at Inch Beach.  It was a very large beach that is popular amoung the Irish.  We took a quick walk out on the beach as it was very windy and then continued on our way.

Although it was 73, with the Atlantic and wind chill, it was 60 degrees.

We continued traveling and soon came to the quaint seaside town of Dingle.  We were lured in by the shops and made some purchases, including some Irish linen and some chocolate made with Guinness stout! And oh yea, it was yummy.

Further along the penninsula we stopped to check out medieval beehive huts.  They were small huts made of stone - since stone seems to be in abundant supply on this island.  They were also excellent protection from the strong winds along the coast. 

We were also able to witness a sheep shearing happening nearby. The sheep acted like they really enjoyed it. Maybe because it was unusually hot - 72 degrees.

A local at the huts pointed us towards some cafes up the road that would be good for lunch.  When we came to a home with a 'cafe' sign outside, we stopped and went in.  The cafe was in the small living room of the house and we were given a menu.  There were three items on the menu - apple pie, rubarb pie, and scones - all home made. Bill talked with the owner and her daughter in the kitchen who were the pastry cooks.  

Apple pie and tea for lunch.  

As a bonus, the view out the window was magnificent - the sea, the cliffs, and the green hillsides.  What a great hommy place with a wonderful desert for 'lunch'.

All along the way, the roads were a little less zig-zag than yesterday with a few spots being very narrow, but oh so beautiful. In fact, we had to backup once until we found a small turnout so 2-cars could squeeze by. 

We stopped to check out a pottery shop and had to buy something of course (no pictures). We followed the loop road around the penninsula back to Dingle and then took the road up through Connor pass, which was a little scarier in some spots, but very worth it as the views below were fantastic.  

One last side road took us to Brandon point with beautiful views and nice conversations with some very friendly Irish people.

Back in Tralee, a few miles from Balleyseede, we enjoyed a great dinner at a local pub and then we came back to the hotel.

Bill then spent a lot of time tangeling with Cox about our email problems to no avail. Good news, Karen's seem to work. This has stumped Cox although they think it might have something to do with Ireland. To be resolved when we return home.