Fun in Ireland

Can you guess what the holes in
the centre were for?

Blarney Castle--North Wall

See the bars at the top?
You lean over those to kiss the stone

Hello from the Emerald Isle!

I’m in Ireland right now and it is just as green as they say.  Ireland is full of really amazing castles.  I visited a famous one called “Blarney Castle.”  It is a tower type of castle, and it is famous because it has a stone built into the wall that is called the Blarney stone.  If you kiss the Blarney stone, it is supposed to give you the gift of eloquence.  That means being able to speak effectively.  You have to lay on your back and then lean way back to kiss the stone.  I didn’t bother kissing the stone because I think I’m eloquent already!  Are you still doing your unit on Castles?  I’ll put in some photos in case you are.  

A beach on the Ring of Kerry

Right now I’m on “The Ring of Kerry.”  Kerry is a county in Ireland and the Ring is just a road that goes around the county in a big circle.  The countryside is very beautiful on the Ring of Kerry with cliffs, rocky islands, sandy beaches and big hills.  

Dermot!  Still no woofs!

Guess what?  When we were touring around, we met the cutest little dog and so now we have a new pet.  His name is Dermot (which is an Irish name) and he is a Jack Russell Terrier, just like my dog Sula who you met already.  Dermot is not a puppy, he is 14 months old and he is so well-behaved.  Do you remember the story “Only One Woof?”  Well we’ve had Dermot for 3 days now and he has not barked at all.  Not even once!  I wonder if he ever will.  Maybe I can write my own James Herriot story!

I’m also putting in a picture of a loaf of bread.  I know that seems like an odd thing to include in a travel blog, but I thought you’d like it because of the name of the people who make the bread.  Can you see it on the package?  Of course it reminds me of a couple of grade 4 students I know!