The bests...of Ireland.

Hugo and I have done so much in the last few weeks, I'm struggling to remember what we've done. I really should have a pocket book, because every day there's been things we've done, witnessed, stumbled upon or driven by that have made us laugh, people we've met that have made us feel like family after just a brief conversation, and music that has brought me to tears.  We decided to do a Best List, to help anyone reading this compose their journey to this fabulous place.

Best accommodation by far was The Merchant House in Temple Bar. Stunning, roomy, great shower, right in the middle of the action but quiet and safe. We stayed in pubs, and Castles and BnB's and 4 star hotels, but the last three nights were like heaven. On the dearer side, but worth every cent to be in the middle of the city, able to walk everywhere, and have such luxury. 

Best band... Kilkenny in Lanagans pub the night if the Hurling Replay GF. Cannot remember their name but good fun, great music, beautiful Irish voices, banjos, tin whistles, flutes, guitars, piano accordions, the lot.

Best Street Performer: Scotty in Killarney. Outside a grey coloured bank in the Main St, near to Murphys Ice cream store. 

Best hosts: Sean and Bridie Collins at Adare Village Inn. Not often you stay for just one night in a hotel and leave next morning hugging the hosts, 

Best fish; Cafe along the dock road in Valentia island. The best fish n chips I had ever eaten. Without a doubt.

Best food: some random pub in Belfast. Sorry I don't remember the name. 

Best Scones: the ones at the cafe at Carrick a Rede bridge were fabulous and take an awful lot of beating.

Best value for Money; The bike tour through the streets of Dublin. Wobbling around tourists, businessmen, taxis in a hurry, and double decker tour buses. Being in between a bus and a lorry, and trying so hard to ride in a straight line. Lol. Although conquering my fears by walking the Carrick a rede rope bridge was pretty good fun as well! I was stoked.

Best coast line. Slea head in Dingle peninsula, the drives off the beTen track around this peninsular were amazing. Bluest sky, greenest grass, and beautiful clear water. Could see for miles.

Best walk. It's a tie for this one. Cliffs of Moher and the walks surrounding the Giants Causeway.. Breathtaking. Hugo preferred the Cliffs, my preference for the Giants Cuaseway was probably because I could we  see Scotland and the home of my clan McDonald.

Best coffee: a small ice cream shop overlooking the marina and bay in Northern Ireland. Creamiest froth, apparently from very happy local Irish Cows, happy staff, beautiful view on a warm sunny day,  and a lovely long chat with a local millionaire about his brother in Victoria. 

Best Passage Grave: Knowth.. We did Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Knock narea, Carrowmore, and whether it was the site's energy or the twinkle in Mary the tour guides eye that warmed my heart, but I felt more connected to Knowth than any if the more commercialised ones. 

Highlight of Dublin: Google tour.. Fabulous but not available to the public. 

What I'm glad we did: Northern Ireland. Political Tour of the Murals. Coast drive between Bushmills and Belfast, White Park Bay and Harbours along the northern coast. Knowth and the passage graves. Hired a car and drove the country, I loved being able to stop and take our time where it suited us, instead of being dictated by a bus tour timetable. Cliffs of Moher walks as far as we could go either direction, ditto for Giants Causeway, I had my first Guiness, Trim Castle, carrick a rede bridge, slea head coastal drive, stopped to join in a Cancer Fundraising morning tea at Caherdaniel, visited the castle ruins there also. Valentia Island ring in the Skelligs, Dublin bike tour, celebrating the Kilkenny Cats  Hurling Win, watching the Gaelic footy grand final in a Castle on the west coast,  drove down to seaside for tea n scones at Strandhill west of Sligo. Ate in the Italian Quarter of Galway, drank local beers everywhere we went, Belfast Craft Market, talked to the butchers, the bakers, the scented candle makers, ate local food and stayed out of chain stores. 

What I wished we did: stayed for one more week. 2.5 weeks just wasn't quite enough. 

What I wouldn't do again: Book of Kells, Dublinia, Paid to ride a jinky through the Gap of Dunloe, it's breathtaking but 50 Euro was ridiculous, walking would be a better option although it's 8 kilometres, time is money I guess.. Titanic experience, although once we arrived there we didn't enter but the walk around the docks was okay.  Wicklow, went on a Sunday admittedly, but it was a disappointment after such a beautiful coastline on the West and also Dingle Peninsula.

I'll add to this as we go along and more memories pop in me head..