September 20 2016 Doolin
Enjoyed our stay at the Schoolhouse Hotel. Got up early and walked to Europcar to rent a car for the rest of our Ireland trip. We drove to Galway, which is about 2-1/2 hrs. Blaine has become an expert left-side driver! We had lunch in Galway and then got back on the road. It took another 2-3 hours to get to Doolin. Rural Ireland has VERY narrow roads! We stopped at the Hazel Mt. Chocolatier (only because there signs pointing us there:-) We are now in The Burren. Beautiful scenery & chocolate tasting! We got to Doolin around 6pm. We checked in at the Doolin Lodge (because they offered laundry services and we are each down to one pair of clean underwear). Rick Steves had recommended a few places to hear traditional Irish music, so we asked the man at the Lodge which one he would recommend. I was happy to take a nice walk to McGanns Pub and get a table while Blaine checked email and decompressed after the hard job of driving. Doolin is well known for its music and the place fills up well before the music starts @ 9:30 pm. They also serve good Irish food. Blaine had his first Irish Stew--delicious and very hearty portions). The music was fantastic (a 3-piece band) with our sweet hostess playing the small hand-held drum instrument (don't know the name of it). She also sang some beautiful ballads unaccompanied.