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On the road
again...the waterfall above Glendalough.
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Irish countryside.
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Many of the roads were narrow and unpaved.
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An odd color for a stream...perhaps it’s flowing with Guinness?
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Gabi, naturally, has to explore.
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Heading into higher country.
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County Wicklow.
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The green gave way quickly to a stark, but beautiful, landscape.
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Sheep in the highlands.
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On the road to Glencree and Powerscourt.
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Entrance to Powerscourt.
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Powerscourt is one of Ireland’s most famous House & Gardens.
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The lawn at Powerscourt.
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One of the many pieces of art.
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A view of the gardens.
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The Powerscourt House.
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Heading down to Triton Lake.
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A winged horse on the lake’s edge.
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Triton Lake at Powerscourt.
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The Japanese Garden.
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The Japanese Garden.
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A very green grotto!
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Triton Lake and the Powerscourt House.
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Leonardo DaVinci bust at the Powerscourt House.
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The Powerscourt House.
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The Powerscourt Waterfall is Ireland’s highest.
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The water cascades 398 ft. to the bottom.
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The water flows into the Dargle River.
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Gabi poses in front of the falls.
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Gabi poses in front of the falls.
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The Dargle River.
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The Dargle River.
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Stopping for gas on the way down to Cork.
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The shops (and pub) at Blarney Woolen Mills.
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An ivy-covered pub.
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Gabi having fun on the grounds of the castle.
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Our first glimpse of Blarney Castle.
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Blarney Castle was built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy.
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Blarney Castle, as viewed today, is the third to have been erected on this site.
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The castle moat.
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In 1446, the third castle was built by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster, of which the keep still remains standing.
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Gabi finds his way into the basement dungeons.
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The outdoor entrance to the dungeon area.
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Behind bars.
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Heading deeper in.
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The castle walls.
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On top of the castle wall.
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The castle entrance.
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We’re off to kiss the famous Blarney Stone.
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A peek out of one of the windows on our climb to the top.
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Bathroom break!
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The Family Room.
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Visitors climb to the top to reach the stone.
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One of the castle’s towers.
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A view out across the castle grounds.
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The castle
interior.
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It’s a long way down!
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The view from the top.
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The Blarney House in the distance.
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Kelly and Jim take a break.
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Gabi’s up first.
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For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants (that’s me!), and legends of the silver screen have climbed the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence.
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Basking in our new-found eloquence.
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A look down from the castle’s top.
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Descending to the bottom.
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The staircases were steep and narrow.
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Exploring the castle gardens.
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I found these giant cabbage-like plants fascinating.
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A last look at the castle.
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Another amazing Irish forest.
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Moss covered trees.
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Irish forest.
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