Day 4, June 24, 2005

Today we planned to tour from Tralee via Tarbert (here by ferry across the Shannon to Killimer), Lahinch, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway to Inveran and covered 224 km.

On the way to Tarbert, as usual after a hearty breakfast, we had nothing planned other than to catch the ferry on time, which we managed without a hitch. After the ferry, it was just under an hour's drive to the Cliffs of Moher, and we were pleased to see that the area is still being developed. Unlike our first trip, the parking lot is now on the right-hand side, complete with a souvenir shop and a small snack bar. The climb to the cliffs in motorcycle gear is "somewhat" strenuous in warm weather. We admired the approximately 200-meter-high cliffs, from which, it seems, every year at least one tourist chooses the unconventional but extremely fast descent. Further activities are apparently not on the agenda. Unwary people venture too close to the precipice, and the sometimes strong winds can easily blow someone off, regardless of their size or weight, so be careful!

On the way to Galway, we come to the next natural wonder, the Burren. The Burren is a kind of lunar landscape made up of highly porous limestone, without trees or bodies of water – very impressive. Our next photo stop is at a megalithic tomb.

Our journey continues to Galway, where we'll stop for a coffee break before driving on to Inveran in Connemara, where we'll be staying. According to the B&B owner, it's a short walk to the pub, barely 10 minutes. We were under the impression that time works differently in Ireland; here, an hour seems to last 80 minutes. Oh well, we're here to enjoy ourselves and have taken the time to admire the scenery along the way!