County Galway

Good morning to you from County Galway. This country just keeps getting more beautiful! We are currently in Spiddal on the Galway Coast in a lovely pub where we stayed the night. Yesterday was rainy and windy as we drove down here but it didn't take away from the beauty of the coast - in fact I think it makes for great photos! 

After we booked in to An Cruiscin Lan pub I went for a wee walk down to the harbour. Windy and choppy but gorgeous. Little boats bobbing about in the water.

 Looking out to the Aran Islands. A bit misty to see them clearly today.

 The black boat at the back on the right was being lifted out of the water and there were a lot of locals down at the harbour watching. 

 Right next to the harbour - which is just a block back from the main street - there is an old graveyard with this building which I guess is an old church. There were a few celtic crosses still standing.

 Gorgeous old trees covered in moss in the graveyard.

 And here's the pub we're staying in - cute?!

 Oh, and that boat they were lifting out of the water - there it is going down the main street!

So today we head to Roundstone - another coastal village not far from here - where we have a cottage booked for a week. Not sure how we'll go for internet access there as there isn't any in the cottage. 

Hope everyone is well at home and not suffering too much in the heat. We've heard and seen the terrible news about the bushfires in NSW. I hope that any family you have in those areas are safe and well. 

Take care - til next time. Love to all xx

PS Lorri - check the comments box on the last post xx 

Thanks everyone for staying in touch on here and Facebook - technology makes the world a small place and it's lovely to hear from you as we travel. We appreciate the time you take to contact us xx

Dunluce Castle

Before we left the Causeway Coast yesterday we visited Dunluce Castle which sits precariously on the edge of a cliff that plunges straight down to the sea below. There are stories that one night part of the kitchen fell into the sea taking several servants and that night's dinner - but as we discovered yesterday that's just a story, but a good one! A different part did fall into the sea though and the castle was abandoned not long after - I would have been gone straight away!

The castle dates back to Medieval times and was once the headquarters of the MacDonnell clan. It was originally owned by the MacQuillans and was fought over several times. There have been archaeological digs that date the castle and surrounds back to the 14th century.

 The inner castle is accessed by a narrow bridge which would have originally been a drawbridge with guards protecting it and firing on any invaders. There are sheer drops all around this inner part of the castle.

 Little windows provide snippets of views to the surrounding coastline.

 Looking west - spectacular!

 My Lord?! Nah - just James again!

 Outside at the top of the hill, we found a friendly cat....

 who lived in this wee cottage!

Now where's the bloody leprechaun?!

Hello from Ireland

Well, Hello from Ireland. It's taken a few days to get on to some reliable internet service but tonight we are living it up in Sligo at the Clarion Hotel - and yes there's free wi-fi that actually works! 

So we arrived a few days ago and began our drive north to County Antrim - where my ancestors lived many years ago. But that's a story for another day.

After a night in Newry at a lovely pub - with our first taste of Guinness in the old man's bar - Yum! - we headed to the very north to our accommodation for the next three nights. And there it is below - oh and that white car? that's our Renault...!

 The views were nothing short of spectacular from every way you looked. We were out in the quiet countryside near the small town of Bushmills - which was a lovely change after the busyness of Paris.

 Sheep and cows in the fields were our neighbours and birds swirled around in flocks each morning over the cottage and farms.

 On our first afternoon the light was gorgeous.

 And there was a gorgeous sunset.

On our second day we went to The Giant's Causeway and were lucky to have clear skies and great weather. The day after was miserable and raining.

 This is such an amazing sight and although we were there with a bus load of school kids and other visitors, it wasn't too crowded and I managed to get some good shots.

 There are wonderful myths and legends about how this coastline was formed - much better than the cut and dry geological stuff!

After our big walk along the coast we needed a little sustenance so headed into Bushmills to the famous whiskey distillery. Such an interesting process to make whiskey - who would have thought? and it tastes pretty good too. Good enough that we had to buy a bottle to bring with us and have a little nip now and then!

The Irish people are very welcoming and friendly, and we are really enjoying this part of the world. Tomorrow we head further south into Galway.

Until our next posting, love to all. xx

Au Revior Paris

Today was our last day in Paris. We took the Metro into the centre of Paris - working out how to buy the tickets was interesting but we were saved by an English man who obviously lives here and knew his way around a Metro station or two - Phew!

 First stop was back to the Musee D'Orsay to see the rest of the collection. Some great views from the top of the building.

 Including this gorgeous one looking back to Montmatre butte (hill) and Sacre Couer.

 Then we walked a few blocks around to Musee Rodin - the home of French sculptor Auguste Rodin. I visited here many years ago and it hasn't changed much. They are currently doing major renovations. Although The Thinker, Burghers of Calais, Gates of Hell and many other important Rodin works were there The Kiss wasn't. It's my favourite Rodin sculpture so I was a bit disappointed. What I thought was a reproduction of it in Le Louvre must have been the original, but it was much better seeing it in Rodin's house.

 In the gardens listening to music coming out of the trees - really truly!

 Burghers of Calais.

 Then this afternoon was the grand parade of the Montmatre Festival. Don't these kids look cute?!

 Oh and look at that cute kid taking photos from the safety of the apartment whilst his mother sweats it out with the crowds in the street.......

 Other groups in the parade represented the different harvests and foods - cheese makers, wine makers, etc. I'm not sure why Wild Bill Hicock made an appearance though?!!! He was certainly enjoying the limelight!

 And our last meal out in Paris and we ate.......snails! Yes we did - and they don't taste like chicken at all. But they do taste yummy!

 Did I actually just eat six snails? Yes James, you did!

So tomorrow we are off to Ireland. I guess tomorrow night we'll be having a Guinness or two!

Au Revior Paris. We've loved living in this beautiful city for a week and especially in Montmatre village. It's been fun!

Til next time - from The Emerald Isle. xx

Montmatre

We had a change of plan yesterday morning over breakfast and decided to stay in Montmatre for the day - getting a little overloaded with galleries and museums!

So we took a leisurely walk around parts of the streets nearby that we hadn't yet seen. There is a photo opportunity around almost every corner. We walked a different way up to Scare Coeur hoping it wouldn't be so busy today - these parklands around the base of the hill and leading up to the basilica are so pretty.  

 A restaurant on the way up the hill.

 The view from the base of Sacre Coeur is one of the best views in Paris. You can see for miles across the rooftops of Paris.

 The crowd was much smaller today so we went inside for a look. Gorgeous architecture which was built to raise the spirits of the French people after they lost the Franco Prussian war and is dedicated to the 58,000 people who lost their lives in this war. The basilica was completed in 1914 but wasn't opened and consecrated until 1919 after the end of World War 1.

This week is the annual festival of  Montmatre and there is lots happening around the area. These men and women were dressed to impress! All around the base of Sacre Coeur there were food and wine stalls - the grilled duck and foie gras baguettes were very yummy!! 

 We did manage to fit in one gallery and it was this one which had an amazing collection of work by Salvadore Dali - mainly sculptures and prints. You could even buy some original Dali prints which at around $6000 each I thought was pretty good value. But there's not one coming home in my luggage unfortunately! There are, however, three lovely small original artworks coming home with us which we bought from a lovely gallery just a few doors from our apartment. Not the usual tourist artworks but lovely contemporary pieces from French artists.

 Heading back down the hill.

So today is our last day in Paris. We are going back into the city for another look at Musee D'Orsay and hopefully the Rodin museum as well.

Hope everyone is well at home and the heat isn't getting too bad yet. The weather here has cooled down quite a bit since we first arrived - it was quite chilly out and about yesterday and had James looking for every excuse to go indoors!

Until next time xx

Ooh La La!

Another day in the heart of Paris yesterday. Walking through the streets of Montmatre to go to the bus stop we noticed that this is how you fix your car in France - my Mum - otherwise known as "Mona duct tape fixes everything Bowles" - would be proud of this car owner!!

 We visited Musee De L'Orangerie which had a great Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera temporary exhibition (I love Rivera's work and the story of Frida and Diego's life), and several of Monet's LARGE waterlily paintings - just beautiful.

And then after a snack of crepes and a caffe latte we headed to the Musee D'Orsay. Wow, Wow, Wow! More famous artists than you can poke a stick at - and we didn't see it all so are heading back there today. Picasso, Van Gogh, Manet, Monet, Pissaro, Seurat, Gauguin.......Wow! James was a little awestruck!

There was also a great temporary exhibition called 'Masculine' which focussed on the male nude from historical to contemporary times - fantastic show. Imagine being an art student and living in Paris!

 And to end the day we went to a see La Nouvelle Eve - a fantastic cabaret show. Lynda if you're reading this, thanks for the great tip - we loved it!

 No photos were allowed of the show so here's a couple of Australians trying to pretend they're cultured!!

 Great food and wine with lovely table service.

 And on the way home another little night shot - this is where we live!! the building in the middle is our apartment building - we are up three flights of stairs. I'm getting fit!!! 

Love to all til next time xx