The sun was out this morning and I'm trying to get back into tourist mode, so the question was today.... where will I go??
I watched the match between Brisbane and Collingwood first, so I wasn't ready to leave home until nearly 12 noon.
I looked through Google Maps trying to find somewhere new and different, because I have been to many places within a day's drive around Lahinch. The only place that I could see was Shannon Airport and Shannon town. I flew out of Shannon Airport a very long time ago when I was returning to Perth via London. And I remember it clearly because the lock on the cockpit door was not functioning so they wouldn't take off and they had to wait for a part to be flown in from London!!! Consequently I missed my connecting flight via Singapore Airlines. Funny the things you remember!!
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| Map Lahinch to Shannon Airport |
The drive was relatively easy. The road to Ennis is a bit of a pain because it has so many twists and turns and I'm usually the slow driver at the front who is holding everyone up. The speed limit is mostly 80 kph, but I rarely get over 70! There is a back road from Marie and Pat's house to Inagh and most times I take that if I'm heading towards Ennis, because that cuts off the slow parts through Lahinch and Ennistymon. But it has its challenges too, because it is mostly one lane, and also has multiple twists and turns and sometimes you have to reverse back a little if you meet someone coming the other way, until you find a passing place. But there is usually not too much traffic and is certainly easier than the main road.
Once you get to Ennis there is a motorway and that is easy driving.
So I arrived quite happily in Shannon - except I managed to confuse my GPS by taking the turn into Shannon town, instead of the airport.
I had never been there and it was a bit different. The shopping centre was a bit weird looking outside and I had to ask a lady how to get int!!!
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| Shannon Town Shopping Centre |
But once you were inside, it was quite like other shopping centres. It had Dunnes and Tesco and multiple other little shops.
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| Inside the shopping centre |
I had a coffee there at Insomnia, which is a popular coffee shop chain in Ireland. The coffee cost me €4.05 which is a bit of a rip off!!! But it tasted nice. I asked what the wifi password was, and the girl said not to bother because it never works. But if I moved nearer the outside of the cafe, I would pick up the Dunnes signal!!!
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| Coffee at Insomnia |
I had a bit of a look around the town, mainly because I was a little lost again!!! It looked a bit tired and jaded to me.... but that's just an outsider looking in. Pat said they have a good football team though!
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| Shannon houses |
Having refreshed myself, I headed for the airport. I have to admit it was a bit of a disappointment! They allowed you the first 15 mins free in the car park and I was in and out in that time. There was absolutely no action at the airport.
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| Shannon Airport |
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| Inside Shannon airport |
Seeing that part of the journey didn't take too long, I thought I would call in at Dromoland Castle (see map above) on the way home. Because my GPS was set for Lahinch, I thought I would just follow the signs.... But somehow I managed to miss the turn off. The nearest town was Newmarket-on-Fergus and I think I went through the town three times. (Sorry I didn't know where your friends were, Paula!) My GPS once again took me down some dinky little lanes, and the last one told me to turn left onto a track that had big sign up - Private Property - No Trespassing!!
