Just A Few More Pictures Before We Leave Dromoland...

Upon having breakfast the 22nd of June, we had to leave this beautiful place. I walked around the grounds and took a few more photos while Gregg took care of the bill.

Since having breakfast there in Ireland each morning, I have changed my mind about what I like for this meal. I loved their Greek yogurt with granola. Also they had a different idea of meats and cheeses for breakfast. It was so nice to have something out of the ordinary.

I had french toast also. Who doesn't love french toast?

Gregg had some breakfast too. I'm sure it was good, I don't believe there was anything left when he was done.

This man with the grey hair in the corner was so annoying. He and his wife apparently frequented this hotel often and knew the staff. They would never just order from the menu and just couldn't share a newspaper, they had special requests (like avocado for their cat?) for every meal, ones that were just so stupid. Asking for items that the chef hadn't even heard of and they had to each have a newspaper. I wish I could have gotten a picture of the woman. I don't think she had ever brushed her hair. These two deserved each other.

I went across the hall from our room to take this picture. This nice little area had a hot tub and some chairs. I also went up on the roof of the castle while out there. I had no idea that the door would lock once I stepped out. So there I was, completely surrounded by castle walls. I did eventually find a way out through a crack where two walls didn't meet.

These next few pictures are just from walking around the halls inside the castle. Random sitting areas and drawing rooms.

All of the rooms in Dromoland Castle were just beautiful.

Why didn't they serve breakfast in this lovely area? What a waste!

Every picture of Dromoland is different, I think this is one of my favorites.

Thought I'd share the story behind Dromoland Castle Hotel.

See the window open by the tree to the right? That was our room.

We loved the fact that they had to mention no tracksuits. Those things were everywhere in Ireland. And who folds their "trousers" inside their socks?

We had a delightful time at Dromoland. Next post is from back in Dublin for the evening before our hellish flight back to the US. Flying internationally is the only downside to vacationing. It is the pits.

The Bet And The Run

This evening, after dinner, Payton and Gregg made a bet. Payton said she could run a mile in 9 minutes or less. Gregg said no way, no how. If she made it, she'd be the owner of one cold, crisp, new fifty dollar bill.

It wasn't more than 2 minutes and Payton was downstairs in running attire.

She was absolutely positive that this was going to be a slam dunk. Gregg thought it'd be eleven minutes, I was betting on twelve. This is from before she started running.

I took a couple videos and now looking back, I wish I would have gotten the "ready, set, go" because it was priceless. She had to run down to the school and back to our street sign twice.

She did run faster than we had anticipated, I think her final time was 9 minutes, 51 seconds. The street to the school is uphill and man, it was hot and humid, so I think she did pretty good.

She was not happy about the time. But she was back in good spirits a few minutes later. She told Gregg that by morning she'll be the "most athletic person" he knows of, "besides Michael Phelps." When Gregg asked how that was going to happen, she said, "A few of the people will have to be killed."

What a funny girl. I proud of her for trying. I wonder if she'll make this bet again at a later date?

Anniversary Dinner at Dromoland

After a long, relaxing day on the grounds at Dromoland, we had to prepare for our Anniversary Dinner. The Irish climate was really messing with my hair so that didn't work out as planned, but I loved my dress.

Gregg snapped this photo of me while I was getting ready.

Then we set up the camera trying to get a photo of us together before we left.

The menu changes each day there at Dromoland. I was rather happy with the choices for our Anniversary dinner.

We tried to be sneaky about taking photos in the dining room, my cell phone didn't do a great job, but you get the idea.

This was a delicious little bite of duck confit terrine.

Looks like Gregg liked his.

My appetizer: Warm lobster and potato salad with garlic and shallot puree and tarragon pesto.

Here's Gregg's appetizer: Warm salad of roast quail, mango and mint.

Soup course: My mushroom and herb soup.

Gregg had the apricot and peach schnapps sorbet since he hates mushrooms.

My entree: The pan-fried fillet of cod, roast & pureed cauliflower, french beans, with toasted almond and bacon vinaigrette.

Gregg had the Duo of roast burren lamb, cutlet and loin, gratin potatoes, aubergine caviar, ragout of peppers and capers, with jus court.

This was my dessert, creme brulee with a raspberry coulis and basil ice cream.

Gregg had the taster dessert. Left to right: ice cream over fresh berries I think, raspberries with cream and chocolate bars, and molten chocolate lava cake.

After dessert we had coffee and tea with a nice selection of petits fours.

We were so stuffed, that was a huge meal!

We had drinks after dinner because they had some traditional Irish music being played in the bar at the hotel. Guinness really fills me up, it's like a meal to me, so I had a dirty martini - my favorite. Gregg had a Guinness of course, because liquids do not fill him up somehow.

The waiter took a nice photo of us while we waited for a table to free up in the bar.

The things on the wall on pedestals are porcelain dogs. I thought that was strange.

They were everywhere, on all of the walls. In the center of the photo, the man in the blue shirt, he was playing and singing. Not as good as our evening in Cork, but still pretty neat.

No idea what I was looking at. I do remember that I thought I was going to die I had eaten so much earlier.

And here's my handsome husband, what a wonderful meal. 3 hours, 6 courses and drinks afterward with Irish music. Absolutely an awesome anniversary.

We're On A Boat!

Gregg and I took out one of the rowboats they had at Dromoland Castle Hotel the afternoon of our anniversary. Here are a few pictures and videos.

I didn't dare take my good camera out on the boat with me, it would be my luck I'd end up swimming with it if I had. So the rest of these photos and videos were taken with my cell phone. Quality isn't so good, but better than risking it I guess.

Gregg rowed for a while.

Then he stopped all of a sudden. And because I wasn't comfortable just sitting there on the lake, I took over. I get very anxious when on/ around large bodies of water.

It was pretty quick, not much to photograph. But these videos are pretty funny...