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2011 Australia's Got Talent Show

A talent show organized by Tilly and her cousin Angus for the annual Australian family Christmas dinner held this year at Lisa and Jacob's house. The talent nearly brought the house down, as did a fierce hail storm in the middle of it. But remember, this is Australia, where it's summer, and the temperature stayed right up there at 30 degrees (86 F).

Dec 25, 2011

Photos: 10

Guinness brewery in Dublin

While Alma spent the afternoon in Dublin's National Gallery of Art (the kind of place where I tend to get the picture quickly) I went to the famous Guinness Brewery and subjected myself to an hour or so of relentless, mind-numbing, eye-glazing marketing in a huge 7-story "museum" building designed in the shape of a giant pint of Guinness beer.I'm not exaggerating when I saw this was marketing on steroids. Wherever one turned there was a screaming, blinding audio-visual display that hammered into your brain a reminder that Guinness is the world's largest selling beer and you should drink MORE of it every day. Yes, people actually pay 15 Euros (10 Euros for seniors) to be bombarded with advertising and public relations salvos from the minute they walk in until they stagger out in a daze.I'm not a beer drinker (wine or a perfect Martini is my preference) but I drank my "free" glass of Guinness and then went back to the Gresham Hotel to deprogram myself.

Nov 6, 2011

Photos: 20

To Kilkenny

Our journey nears an end. Today we drove from Cork on our way to Dublin and back to London and home. We stopped at two of Ireland's top three medeviel castle--Cahir Castle and Kilkenny Castle, both originally built in the 1100s. Like most castles, they underwent changes ovber the cenuries as their rich ownmers added to and modified them, chnging their main function from defense to living comfort. Theey are amazing.

Nov 5, 2011

Photos: 42

To Cork city

After a day and a night in beautiful Kinsale, in County Cork, we drove to Cork City for another overnight and a day of looking around. It's a wonderful old city with lots to see and do.

Nov 4, 2011

Photos: 43

To Kinsale

Leaving Killarney, we drove to Cork County and to Kinsale, a lovely little town on the south east coast of Ireland. Narrow streets, interesting shops, fantastic seafood, and a couple of castles and forts dating back to 1500.

Nov 3, 2011

Photos: 35

Ring of Kerry

About 35 km outside of Killarney, where we stayed two nights during our circumnavigation of the Irish coastline, the Kerry Peninsula juts into the Atlantic Ocean at the island'ss southen end. In our hire car we drive the 176 kilometers of the "Ring of Kerry" which covers all of the peninsula's coastline and some of its mountains.The narrow, winding roads made for white knuckle driving, but the scenery is fantastic. It's a pity it was bucketing rain most of the day, but it didn't spoil our day.

Nov 2, 2011

Photos: 23

To Killarney

We visit the funky, very traditional Irish town of Dingle on southwest coast, and the Dingle peninsula, which is spectacularly beautiful. More photo coming of Killarney, where we are spending two nights.

Nov 1, 2011

Photos: 9

To Listowel

On our way to Killarney

Oct 31, 2011

Photos: 19

To Galway

Driving from Bundaran to Galway, said to be the most Irish city in Ireland. SWhat a great gtown! Lots of great pubs.

Oct 30, 2011

Photos: 32

To Bundoran

The Giant Causeway in Northern Ireland and on to Bundaran on the West Coast of the Irish Republic.

Oct 29, 2011

Photos: 17

BELFAST

A tour of the troubles with Jim McVeigh, a Taxi driver with a storehouse of informatioin about "The Troubles." Visited the graves of famous Irish Catholic nationalists, including Bobby Sands; the famous Belfasat wall separating Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods, and the well-known murals on both sides. All very heavy stuff.