DAY-34: Galway & Ashford Castle
Day – 34: Monday, September 25, 2017
Starting Location: Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland
Ending Location: Cong, County Mayo, Ireland
This would be a relatively simple day with limited stops en-route to the Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo.
At breakfast we all learned that the Maxwells had drawn the lucky straw and been fortunate to have company in their room, well in their bed over night. Seems that one of the house cats found their open window and like cats do, found a warm place to curl up, this time under the comforter on the bed. Surprise, surprise, surprise!
Oh to have been a fly on the wall ...
Our drive today was toward Connemara National Park. Our first stop was in Galway where we walked through the tourist district.
We stopped for coffee at Maxwells, looks like everyone has some kind of relation over here. Not sure we received the family discount.
Unfortunately our itinerary didn't have time for any nights in Galway where the entertainment is a noted attraction for visitors like us. We departed Galway and spent most of the morning driving and seeing the sights of the coastal region.
We made one stop at Kylemore Abbey for a quick look and a rest stop in the visitor's center.
Our real interest today was to move on to our hotel, Ashford Castle and maximize our time for what would likely be our most expensive lodging of the trip.
I've borrowed some Internet images to depict what we were treated to upon arrival at Ashford Castle.
We were met by stereotypical uniformed bellmen ...
and then escorted into an overly friendly, almost smaltzy reception room where the staff welcomed us to the castle.
We had arrived around three but the rooms were not ready; no worries, the staff escorted us into a bar for drinks on the house.
After G&Ts and Jamesons & Gingers we received our room keys and were escorted to our rooms. The castle rooms were clearly over the top in decor and features, three TVs, remotely operated shades, fireplace, a bottle of sherry, chocolates, etc.
Our plans for the night included dinner in the hotel so it was finally time for the men to use those sports jackets it was dress-up night!
Dinner was good but wouldn't get a great rating. Most of the meals were good but for those who had ordered the beef, well let's say it just wasn't like American beef. The setting was fancy and service excellent but the meal not a winner.
Nevertheless we remembered where the bar was and following dinner some of us stayed for drinks. Sheila and I actually stayed the longest moving on to a room where entertainment was available. Actually we both agreed that the entertainment and the setting was too old for us, now that gives you some indication of what was happening.
The night was soon over.
This would be a relatively simple day with limited stops en-route to the Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo.
At breakfast we all learned that the Maxwells had drawn the lucky straw and been fortunate to have company in their room, well in their bed over night. Seems that one of the house cats found their open window and like cats do, found a warm place to curl up, this time under the comforter on the bed. Surprise, surprise, surprise!
Oh to have been a fly on the wall ...
Our drive today was toward Connemara National Park. Our first stop was in Galway where we walked through the tourist district.
Any resemblance is purely coincidental.
We stopped for coffee at Maxwells, looks like everyone has some kind of relation over here. Not sure we received the family discount.
Unfortunately our itinerary didn't have time for any nights in Galway where the entertainment is a noted attraction for visitors like us. We departed Galway and spent most of the morning driving and seeing the sights of the coastal region.
We made one stop at Kylemore Abbey for a quick look and a rest stop in the visitor's center.
Our real interest today was to move on to our hotel, Ashford Castle and maximize our time for what would likely be our most expensive lodging of the trip.
I've borrowed some Internet images to depict what we were treated to upon arrival at Ashford Castle.
We were met by stereotypical uniformed bellmen ...
and then escorted into an overly friendly, almost smaltzy reception room where the staff welcomed us to the castle.
We had arrived around three but the rooms were not ready; no worries, the staff escorted us into a bar for drinks on the house.
Nevertheless we remembered where the bar was and following dinner some of us stayed for drinks. Sheila and I actually stayed the longest moving on to a room where entertainment was available. Actually we both agreed that the entertainment and the setting was too old for us, now that gives you some indication of what was happening.
The night was soon over.
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