It is day four in Ireland and yup, I’m still giddy!

I woke up leisurely, got ready and went down to breakfast, it’s great, breakfast is included with my rooms, interesting thing, it’s more for a single room than a double, but it’s all good. I did skip the “full Irish breakfast” which includes lots of meat and kept with the eggs grilled tomato and garlic mushrooms along with toast, jam, fruit and tea. Brilliant!

I had the best time talking to the other guests over breakfast, a foursome from Birmingham, UK, who come to Duncannon a few times a year and then a woman came in waiting for her friend and she was telling me about going to Atlantic City every few years!

They all gave me suggestions on where to go and Maureen, the woman who goes to Atlantic City is from Klilenny and was telling me all sort of things to do and where to stay. Then Helen, the owner of the hotel, came in and we all continued talking, I found out that Loftis House, the most haunted house in Ireland and Duncannon Fort were both closed! Pook. But…go go a Hook Lighthouse, it’s a must! Helen pointed me in the right direction, kissed me on the cheek and wished me well!

Off to look at Duncannon Fort, from a distance at least, with a stop at the beach, of course, how beautiful a way to start the day, don’t you agree? I had a nice long walk, walk off that full breakfast, take in some fresh air and smile the entire way, life is good!

NB…this is what we are going to see when we come back together!

I got in the car and headed to Hook Lighthouse and what a wonderful drive it was! There were a few spots where you had ocean on both sides, what a treat! I have to say the only bad thing is the wafting odor of dung (horse, cow or sheep) it’s charming and I’ve been told you get used to it, no thanks! I wasn’t sure if it was in the car at one point, but it wasn’t..so, at one point, fish competing with dung…fun!

The Hook Lighthouse, http://hookheritage.ie. It is the oldest working lighthouse in the world, the grandfather of all lighthouses! It was originally built by monks in exchange for a place to live and pray and then when the monks were removed, the first lighthouse keeper came in. We were able to go almost to the top, to the balcony , all 115 steps, for the faint of heart who might be afraid of heights, this might not be the tour for you! But do not let that stop you from going to the lighthouse at all! The view was amazing, the photos spectacular and guess who I met in the loo…Peggy, from the hotel and we went out to sneak up on Maureen! Funny since Peggy was shorter than me! I then met another friend, who’s son was out front selling pumpkins! What are the odds? So much fun!

I then headed back to Duncannon, I had to go back in that direction, to the hotel to tell Helen how much I loved the lighthouse and then I was off to New across and more adventures!

I drove towards New Ross, no longer using the GPS, I’m happy to say partly because it can’t always find what I’m looking for and the other part is I have figured out where I am going and reading the signs is becoming easier, the signs are great, leading you where you need to go, even on the roundabouts!

I headed to the next recommendation, the John F Kennedy Arboretum, http://www.virtualvisittours.com/john-f-kennedy-memorial-park/. I got there and had a choice, stay on the grounds, after viewing some of the photos in the hall or go back out, take a right, then left and walk up to the view point, Slieve Coillte, http://mountainviews.ie/summit/982/?PHPSESSID=dt6vcdfrqtqnpsmq0ogglv6e10, I
decided view point it was, as it only had until 5pm when the gates close and it was about 3k up and and I am so very glad I made that choice! The hike was healthy and the view from the top was SPECTACULAR!!!

After I reached the bottom, it was about 4, too late to get into any other “attraction” and I was hungry, so it was time to find a place to stay and eat. I finally knew how to use the phone! so, I found a place to stay, she said it was about 30 minutes away…hmmm..more like 45, but it was inexpensive and available! So, I am about 45 minutes away from where I was, but…that let’s me go back tomorrow and see the Kennedy Homestead and Sailing Vessel, so all is right with the world!

I wasn’t in the mood for Asian Fusion, which was the restaurant of the hotel, so I went to the local pub down the street and had…dah dah dah…Fish and chips! Yes…I am in Ireland and I knew I was going to have fish and chips at some point and it was yummy! After dinner, it was back to the hotel to talk to you!

Now it’s time to decompress and think about tomorrow!

Positivity Challenge – Day #25
1 – I am so thankful for how friendly everyone in Ireland is!
2 – I am thankful that the color I picked for my hair is just right! (Everyone I meet thinks I have Irish ties!)
3 – I am thankful that the primary drink here is tea! And every hotel room has an electric tea kettle and tea bags!