Tue, Aug 20-Day 8, travelled about 3.5 hours by train and bus to Kinsale via Cork. Nice green countryside. Surprised by seal at end of evening…
Wed, A 21-Day 9, Kinsale. Walked up and down fairly steep hills around Kinsale to and from Fort Charles. Saw the seal again….starting to think there’s just one, planted by the locals for the idiot tourists to have something to talk about. Irish people are talkers – wow – and probably like it when visitors are incessant in their chatter too.
Thu, A 22-Day 10, Kinsale. Long talk with BnB host who came from Australia – lots of local lore and idiosyncrasies….and rules and norms….and experiences. Then a Turkish haircut before a hike out to James Fort, mostly just great views….
Fri, A 23-Day 11, Kinsale area. Visited Old Head museum. There’s a golf course at the end of the peninsula which is private and probably the nicest part, but not available to us plebes. But the museum is about the Lusitania ship that sank nearby after being torpedoed by the Germans….it was heading to Liverpool, England, from New York. Apparently its loss was part of US stimulation to enter war. Nice walk, awesome coastal view, and some cows…. Then the local museum before “Oriental” takeaway for dinner…. A great day….
Sat, A 24-Day 12, Kinsale. A slow day, hiking some backroads, sitting on a bench overlooking the River Bandon, hanging out in a used bookstore, visiting a Lidl store, and an afternoon nap.
Sun, A 25-Day 13, Kinsale. Long hike, ( still not used to the super steep and long hills), almost out to the Head of Kinsale, but the weather was changing and we didn’t want to get caught out. Tried to order food in, for a cost of €30, until we realized we only had €25 in cash, so down the hill in the rain to pick up food, and back up the hill to eat it at the BnB..
Mon, A 26-Day 14, long hike up and down hills to the 9/11 Memorial garden – a tree for each fireman who died – a very peaceful place overlooking the river and harbour. Then more hills back into Kinsale. Probably the best dinner we’ve had, at Man Friday, but have to say that the vegetarian woman I’m travelling with and I have not been overly impressed with food here, especially after being told that Kinsale is the foodie capital of Ireland……off to Galway via about 4.5 hours of buses tomorrow for a week.
