A Week in the West - Wild Atlantic Way and Connemara

Jim and I combined a non-simultaneous exchange in Moycullen at the end of April 2017 with a visit to the Ceide Fields and a night in Westport. This brought us along the Wild Atlantic Way from Raphoe to Galway. The weather was cold and showery but bright and the scenery was spectacular - except around Benbulben which was clothed in mist.

On our last trip from Clare to home along the Atlantic Way we had planned a visit to the Ceide Fields but it was so foggy that there was no point. This time it was beautiful.

For some reason Jim took only 2 photos and both of the view out to the coast. Below is the sea stack at Downpatrick Head. I have only discovered that there is a path from which you get a better view so next time...

From the Ceide Fields we made out way to Westport, along the north of Clew Bay, where we had booked a night in The Wyatt Hotel right in the centre. I was very impressed with our well decorated, well equipped and comfy room. We chose Cian's of Bridge Street for our evening meal - absolutely fantastic! The following day we made our way past Croagh Patrick and along the coast continuing round Clew Bay - really lovely!

From here we were able to see Clare Island. The ferry was coming in.

The area around Delphi was spectacularly scenic.

We stopped at the Connemara National Park near Letterfrack for a lovely walk.

Views as we walked.

After an evening and overnight in Galway we made our way to our home exchange in Moycullen where we were warmly welcomed by Mary with coffee and home-baked scones.

We spent the afternoon in Brigit's Celtic Garden and took advantage of a shower of torrential rain to check out the cafe which is really good. The beetroot and goat's cheese terrine with candied walnuts is on my list to recreate!

The Samhain or Winter Garden with its sculpture of a sleeping woman reminding us that there is a time of rest in nature and in life.

Brigit's Garden is divided into 4 gardens which take you on a journey through the cycle of the year. Each garden represents one of the Celtic festivals of Imbolc, Bealtaine, Lughnasa, and Samhain.This seasonal cycle mirrors the cycle of life from conception to old age and death.

To the right is the Lughnasa or Autumn Garden

The Bealtaine or Summer Garden leading to the ceremonial fireplace in front of the bogwood throne.

There was an explanation of this sculpture in the crannog but I can't remember exactly what it represents.

The Fairy Fort - really cute.

There was a fantastic sundial - the largest in Ireland - which was accurate.

We wandered through the woodlands and I think Jim was enjoying it so much he forgot to take any more photos. If I was back in the area I would definitely visit again.

The following day we took a trip to Cong, the home of "The Quiet Man" and the location of Ashford Castle.

Daniel O'Donnell has left his mark in Cong. As has Ryan Tubridy among others.

A sculoture of a very young John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in their roles in "The Quiet Man".

We then did the scenic loop of Lough Mask which is lovely and made our way back to Connemara and on to Kylemore Abbey set in spectacular surroundings.

We took the shuttle bus to the walled garden and when we dismounted the heavens opened. Fortunately there was a teahouse just there so we took shelter and coffee and waited for the rain to pass.

The Gothic Church

This Neo-Gothic Church was built in the style of the fourteenth century. It is described as a "Cathedral in miniature" and was built by Mitchell Henry in memory of his wife Margaret. The happy days that Mitchell Henry spent at Kylemore Abbey wiuth his wife and children was brought to an abrupt end. Just a few years after the Castle was completed the Henry family went on a luxurious holiday to Egypt. Margaret was struck ill while traveling and died after two weeks of suffering.

This is called the Ironing Stone. Legend had it that this iron-shaped stone was thrown between Cu Chulainn and Fionn Machuail one standing on Duchruach mountain and the other on Mweelin mountain. I'm not sure about the stone fingers - the representations of the giants' fingers maybe. local children use the Ironing Stone as a wishing stone. If you stand with your back against the stone, make a wish and throw a pebble back over the stone three time the wish will be granted.

The Mausoleum where Margaret Mitchell is buried. In 1910 following his death in London Henry Mitchell was also laid to rest here.

The view across from the ramparts around the Abbey.














The next day we did the coastline of Connemara - Barna, Spiddal, Inveran,, Rossaveal, Carraroe, Lettermore, Lettermullan, Rosmuc, Kilkieran, Carna, Cashel, Roundstone, Ballyconneely etc. The scenery and wildness were great with some lovely white sandy beaches.

This is the award-winning house we were staying in just outside Moycullen.

We spent our final day in Galway City where I got a few good bargains in Paco.

A week in the West is to be recommended for the most wonderful scenery and for good food.

Day 9 March 4th 2017 - Havana

As our flight wasn't until the evening we were going to spend our last few hours wandering about Havana. We booked a taxi through the housekeeper so as to be sure to be at the airport on time. All Jim and I had to do was step out our bedroom window to get to the breakfast area. The others in the group were earlier than us and, as we waited for breakfast, we began to think that we had been forgotten about and, indeed, when I went to check if the housekeeper was about, there was nobody there. However, she finally arrived. After breakfast I went to wash my teeth in the bathroom . I didn't lock the door but when I went to come out I couldn't get the door opened - getting locked in or locked out seems to have been a feature of this trip! And I did not even have my book or candy crush to pass time with! Jim went in search of the housekeeper to help and I was entertained to peals of laughter from them both. So much for sympathy for my predicament! Anyway she couldn't get the door open so went in search of someone of greater importance in the establishment. This lady was much more considerate of my feelings and tried thousands of keys in her efforts until finally I was released. The problem was that the door knob on my side was not connecting to the door knob on the outside. And I am sure I won't have been the last person to get locked in because when things are broken in Cuba they stay broken for a long time!

Out on Obispo they were still selling pups out of cages. Cubans seem to be besotted with dogs! There are thousands of stray dogs in Havana. We noticed that some of them have identification tags around their necks. These dogs are immune from the dog catcher and have been "adopted" by various institutions and businesses. The dogs with identification tags have state sponsored accommodation and health care. During our wanderings we saw 2 young women giving some of the dogs drops or medication.

Interesting English on this menu!

While we were eating (or not eating!) our rather vile lunch we were entertained by street performers on stilts.

And so it was time to make our way back to the hostel to collect our luggage and await our taxi. The lady in the hostel told us that she could not get a large taxi but - Relax, no problem! she kept saying - but there was a taxi there that would take 2 of us. So off Sarah and Charlotte went. Then I understood her to say that the taxi would come back for Jim and me after leaving Charlotte and Sarah at the airport - that would be in an hour's time as it is half an hour there and half an hour back. I explained that that would be too late - Relax, no problem! To me it was a problem! Then she and another woman gathered up our luggage and ushered us downstairs to wait, as I thought, for a taxi. Then she beckoned us up the street and into a car and there were Charlotte and Sarah in the car! It was the same taxi that had driven round the block and then come back for us. We have no idea what was going on but we got to the airport in good time. There, being sensible and conscious of the long flight we took a trip to the loos to discover there was no water and it was yuk, yuk, yuk!!

Cuba was very interesting and we had great fun but it is not number1 or even near it in the travels that we have made since we retired!