Lila's Day Three:
After check-out, we began our 110 mile motorcoach tour of The Ring of Kerry which starts in Killarney and ends in Killoglin . The Ring of Kerry is one of the most requested motorcoach or self-drive tours in all of Ireland. Travelers do this loop in one day via car or motorcoach but it is suggested to spend at least two days exploring this varied area of sandy beaches, castles, small villages , lakes, parks, and archaeological sites.
Our first stop was the Kerry Bog Village Museum, in Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry, the only exisiting bog thatched roof village in Europe. The village is set up to display how people lived and worked in Ireland in the 18th century. A bog is a wetland area where parts of the soil is in marshland. Soil was made into bricks to heat homes. We saw two Irish wolfhound dogs, which are one of the largest breeds in the world..standing about 7 foot tall on their hind legs. In contrast, we saw a little kerry bog pony in the village. After leaving the village, we headed next door to the famous Red Fox Inn and Pub to warm our bodies with delicious Irish Coffee with fresh cream and tea.
In Portmagee, 10 miles off of the loop of the Ring of Kerry, we stopped to view this quaint coastal fishing village and snap a picture in Waterville with Charlie Chaplins's statue, as he had frequented this area of Ireland.
We crossed the bridge to Valentia Island for a tour and lunch at the Skellig Experience Museum. Skellig Islands are two small steep rocky islands off the coast that are home to seabird colonies like puffins. In the 6th century, monks chose the larger of the two islands, Great Skellig, to build a Christian monastary and carved 600 steps to the top. Their buildings remain intact today . Great Skellig is reachable by boat tours when the ocean is calm. The Skellig Islands are a UNESCO'S World Heritage Site.
From Valentia Island, we headed past the cute village of Kenmare to The Park Hotel Kenmare, set back in private gardens and trees with Kenmare Bay views. This 5 star luxury property is a 19th century 46 room country inn. We weaved our way through various hallways to inspect rooms and suites full of antique furniture. We ended our tour visiting the breathtaking contemporary $6 million Samas Spa housing an open air infinity pool , grass roof, limestone walls and floor to ceiling glass walls. Samas Spa has won numerous worldwide awards. An excellent luxury property for it's close proximity to Kenmare, The Ring of Kerry and to enjoy a few nights of pampering.
We headed a short distance south to 4 star luxury Parknasilla Resort. The resort dates back to 1692 and has been visited by famous presidents, literaries and celebrities. Parknasilla Resort is a large old country estate set among willow trees and hiking trails that lead down to the river. The resort includes a nearby 12 hole golf course. My newly rennovated room had a large gray and white bathroom with separate deep tub and towel warmers (which most resorts in Ireland offer), a large antique bed, writing table, armoire and wingback chairs. Two of my windows had views of Kenmare Bay at the Atlantic Ocean. Our group enjoyed a hillarious evening of murder mystery dinner that started with introductions in a private antique filled room and moved to the Pygmalion Restaurant, known for victorian elegance and gourmet cuisine. So much for hotel guests desire for a quiet dinner as a few of us began to "drop dead". Bravo to our group for juggling eating a gourmet dinner and attempting to stay in character and keeping the noise down when our driver pranced in a pink tutu as part of his second character's role.