Connemara Tour

Had a really good tour today of Connemara. I finally got to see Kylemore Abbey, and we were able to tour a little inside, and to see their little cathedral. The abbey is very nice, and quite rich looking inside. We didn't see any girls around so they must have been in clases (it's a boarding school).

We saw lots of Connemara ponies, a zillion sheep, and many cows. The scenery was very much like Newfoundland, very green for a while but then the bogs were brown a lot. Saw them cutting the peat for burning, and from the looks of the coutnryside they have been burning peat bog for many years.

We stopped man times, including a stop at a thatched roof hut (two actually) and several stops at gift shops. I bought some souvenirs today, finally a thimble for myself, a silver bookmark for Kimm, a handpainted scarf each for Mom and K., and a lambswool scarf for myself. I still need to buy something for O., A. and of course, my daughter. I think I am going to get O. a peawhistle with a book, and for A. a double decker bus. My daughter will mostly like get a necklace if I can find one that I think she'll like. I want to get some Irish marble too for her, and would love to buy her a sweater if I thought she would wear it, but I know that she won't. so i will look for something that I know she'll like. I also have to buy something for Dad, but I think it will either be a pin for his had or a hat. I have bought a ton of postcards and have mailed bunches out, but I need to get some more stamps.

We have new bunkmates again tonight, a group of 3 and a single guy, all from France. We also met a nice couple in the kitchen tonight from Italy who shared their Bailey's Haagan Daas Ice Cream (which was DIVINE). After we gals cooked our supper tonight, we sat round and played cards and popped popcorn. We played Gin and out of probably 20 hands, I only managed to win one! The other gals won about the same each.

Madeline and I hve to catch a bus at 9:00am tomorrow morning so I should get myself into bed. I finally slept a bit last night but only because I took some cold meds, and slept on top of my comforter so my back wouldn't hurt. i had an extra one pulled over me as there was an empty bed. Tonight I don't have it, so I think I will sleep with just my sleep sheet over me and with all my clothes on, plus a jacket.

Called and spoke to my daughter tonight - great talking to her!