IRISH ODYSSEY - DAY 6

IRISH ODYSSEY ... DAY 6 ... JULY 02 2012....

Had more wind last night, but power still on.  Mike and Tammie had to move in with us last night, as they still don't have power, and they are just across the hill from me.  They needed showers, and someplace cool to sleep.  Thank
goodness for the family room and the futon.

Our 'hotel' is filling up fast.  Dogs don't know what to think, so they are staying glued to me.  Can't move without two dogs.  Sitting at the computer, 2 dogs.

Mike and Tammie had gone on our church's mission trip to Joplin MO a few weeks ago and they brought with them last night the book they had purchased about the tornado, pictures they had taken and a DVD made during the  storm.  Even seeing the storm and the damage, you still cannot imagine what those poor folks went through.  And we complained because we were without electric for 24 hours.  Doesn't say much for us, does it.

Now, on another happier note, will share Day 6 with you.  Vacation fast winding down.

Day 6 was our only really bad day.  It poured and poured until late afternoon.  We visited the Flying Boat Museum in the morning, which was inside.  We were in the town of Foynes.

The Boeing 314 was a long range flying boat.  It
was one of the largest aircraft of the time.  12 were built for Pan Aerican World airways.  Mrs Franklin D Roosevelt christened the Yankee Clipper on March 3 1939.  For you who don't know your history, Eleanor Roosevelt was President Franklin D Roosevelt's wife.

There was a 14 seater dining room, with linen tablecloths, crystal glass and a full waiter service.  About 300 pounds of food would be loaded for transatlantic flights, with all the food prepared by two stewards.  Passengers would find their shoes cleaned and polished over night, and each passenger had a bed to sleep in during the flight.  There were also private restrooms.

The Foynes Flying Boats were in service unti 1946.

The next stop was Bunratty Castle.  It was still pouring so except for a couple of quick pics of the outside, we were not able to tour the castle grounds and castle.  This was the only thing on our agenda that got rained out.  There was a really neat restaurant next to the castle called Durty Nelly's.

The Bunratty Castle site was originally a Viking Trading Camp in 970.  That is correct - 970.  The first castle was built in 1250. It was rebuilt in 1425.  In 1954 the castle was restored and is now a national monument, and in 1960 opened as a visitor center and hotel.

Finally we visited the Cliffs of Mohr.  The rain had finally stopped.  the cliffs are one of Ireland's top visitor attractions.  They are 214 meters high (however high that is) and range 8 kilometers over the Atlantic Ocean.  From the cliffs the Aran Islands and Galway Bay can be seen.

From there we continued our trip to Galway and checked into the Salthill Hotel in Galway, our home for the next two nights.

And so, another day, has passed, time is  flying by, all too fast.

Hopefully more electric will be restored for you folks that are still in the dark.  In the meantime, try to stay cool, and God Bless.