Killarney with own car and driver.

Joe and Carolyn Ricapito at Ladies View in Killarney.
Coming to the end of our tour in the lovely town of Adare.

Well, yesterday i had to finally bid farewell to Joe and Carolyn Ricapito as i dropped them off at their hotel in Killarney where they stayed last evening. They had an early departure from Shannon this morning after what i hope was a lovely tour for them. They were the best of company and we shared many wonderful experiences in a short space of time. It is amazing just how much you can cover in just a few days and i know that having an experienced guide like me does help. Planning is very difficult when you have no idea of how long it takes to get around, and indeed how to get around.When you look at a map of Ireland and everything looks so small, and distances look so short, you think that you can cover the whole country in a few days. It does not work out like that. If you do not know the country then you will be lucky if you can cover twenty miles an hour allowing for stops. If you get lost, then you can add a lot more time, and that does happen quiet a lot. I know my country, and i know exactly how long it takes to get from A to B. I know what is worth seeing and what is best left out. I do not go by guide books and i do not agree with much of the stuff that they include as worth seeing. Many of these books and articles are written by people who have only spent a very limited amount of time here and i think that having been born and reared here i should give me a better idea of what is what. I know the best places to eat and shop, and of course the best places to stay. Carolyn and Joe loved all that we did and really enjoyed our stay in the Plaza Hotel in Killareny. At the end of a long day it is important to have a nice place to look forward to where you know you will get a good nights sleep to prepare you for the next days touring.
One of the highlights of our tour was a get-together with my own writers group in Kinvara. Joe and Carolyn are both writers and their participation in our meeting was a real treat for all of us. I know that they loved meeting all of my own fellow writers and we all shared some of our work. They will be returing now to their own writers group in Baton Rouge where they in turn can relate their experience of sharing with an Irish group. I send our regards to all of our new friends in Baton Rouge and extend a special welcome to them and to any other writers who may come to Kinvara.
Our day in Connemara with Ignatio, their friend, was special, as was our journey down the coast via the Cliffs of Moher on our way to Killarney.
I know that their day in the Gap of Dunloe was another highlight. Our day on the Dingle peninsula and our visit to Maire Houlihan's home near Slea Head was another highlight. The meal of Fish and Chips in Harrington's in Dingle was another first as Joe had never had fish and chips before. He will have them again i am sure now that he has become hooked. Our night in the Genting Thai restaurant in Killarney was another treat as was our lovely Italian meal in Robertino's in Killarney. I could go on.
Saying goodbye is never easy, and yesterday was no exception. I have new friends, and my first from Baton Rouge Louisianna. I wish them Bon Voyage and i hope that their memories of their time in Ireland last a long time.
Thank you for choosing me.

Dave