Randy Limericks

Day 23
I was up unbelievably early so that I could head to the city center and a 3 day Ring of Kerry tour. It turned out that Paddywagon tours was a guide short. Our group was combined with a day tour to the Cliffs of Moher and would then pick up the tail end of a 6 day all Ireland tour. The Cliffs were not on the original itinerary, but still something that I wanted to see.

On the bus there was a Canadian with purple hair. She was beyond loud and trying to talk to everyone. I could hear her loud and clear even with my ipod on high. I took her for Canadian. I was right, she would tell anyone who would listen. I was keeping my fingers crossed that she would not be on my tour and was just a day tripper. It's not just the tour company that makes the tour, but also the people on it.

Our first stop was Limerick. This is apparently a pretty rough town on the Shannon River. The area has been a gypsy base for a long time. Ireland has considered bringing in the National Guard to help and keep the violence under control. Homes, or base places have been built for the gypsies. They have a bathroom and a kitchen and electricity. These tend to get robbed and are not very safe. Therefore, most people will set up shanty towns at the city limit.

Limerick is also known for King John's Castle, built in the 13^th century. We didn't have time to go inside. The other major site is the Treaty Stone. In 1691 a treaty was signed here . The Brits reneged on the treaty not much later.

The whole thing was really just a bathroom stop. It would have been nice to explore a bit more, in the daylight of course. This is really the problem with group trips, people tell you where to go and when to go there.

Soon we were at the Cliffs of Moher. You used to be able to walk right up next to the cliffs. The area became a popular place for suicides. The odd tourist would also get blown off on occasion, or just lean over a bit too much for that perfect picture. About two years ago a mother and her 7 year old daughter went over the cliff. That was when a barrier was built. Most of the time it was chest high, but it was over my head at some points. There was one point where people were jumping over the barrier to get a better view. I declined to do so. What I did see of the cliffs was stunning.

At the cliffs I met Deborah, a student from Wyoming doing a semester abroad in Rotterdam and Catherine a doctor from South Africa doing an exchange year in Ireland. They were both really nice, and luckily on the same three day tour I was on. It turns out that purple Canada was not on the 3 day tour. When we joined the new bus we waited until everyone else was on so that we wouldn't steal anyone's seats. There were 50 people on the tour, most of them were Kiwi's and Aussies on a gap year and only about 18 years old. Damn gappies.

We were running a bit late and our guide, Connor, drove like mad through winding country roads in order to make it to the ferry across the Shannon. We made it and I bought some pringles to calm down my upset stomach at the on board store. The ferry ride lasted only about 20 minutes and soon we were driving through the Kingdom of Kerry.

I passed the next hour or so taking pictures of the stunning countryside. I've never seen anything like it. I was happy to finally get to Annascaul, the 600 person town that our hostel, the Randy Leprechaun was in.

Deborah, Catherine and I wandered down the main street. Eventually a local dog joined us. He seemed to want us to follow him. We did for a while, but seemed to be getting no where. I guess that is what you get when you follow random dogs around.

We made it back to the pub in time for dinner and karaoke. Just what a group of backpackers wants. I did sing a few songs, but none by myself. Deborah and I did Lady Marmalade, it was bad, the 5 Americans did Friends in Low places, and then another group of us did I want to Dance with Somebody. The Kiwi's did Land Down Under and Barbie Girl. I really don't know why they did the later.

I was exhausted and very happy that the pub closed at midnight, I had been up way too late at this point. Some people moved the party to the common room but I just went to sleep. It was my first day on a group tour in a long time. It wasn't that bad, maybe I need to give these things a second chance.