| Most intrepid travelers have by now come to | | | | Mansion in Clifden town in the Connemara area of |
| realize that the best way to experience a place is | | | | County Galway. This was a group of seasoned |
| through vacation rentals, weekly rental of a | | | | travelers who all had strong personalities and |
| cottage, apartment or even a manor house or | | | | varied interests. We had breakfast together most |
| castle. Staying in one place and really getting to | | | | days and over the course of the two weeks five |
| know it, taking day trips to visit points of interest | | | | meals were prepared by members of the party |
| in the wider area and returning "home" each night | | | | with exquisite culinary talents. Most days we went |
| is much more relaxing than packing and unpacking | | | | off in groups of 4 or 5 to indulge shared interests |
| and moving every day or two as many hotel or | | | | (archeology, arts and crafts, botany, hiking, etc.), |
| B&B travelers do. One should bear in mind that | | | | returning in the evening to share our experiences |
| Ireland is about the size of the state of Maine and | | | | but on one day in each county we all went |
| you can see a great deal of it while based in one | | | | together with special guides to get an insider's |
| place. But one should not try to see everything. | | | | look at Irish heritage. |
| The magic of Ireland is its people and culture and | | | | In county Kerry we visited the Skellig Rocks, an |
| one can find these only if one slows down. You | | | | important site from the 6th through 9th centuries |
| want to experience Ireland rather just drive | | | | monastic period. Our guide was a good friend, Con |
| through it. | | | | Moriarty, whose love of Ireland's history and |
| Renting a small cottage or apartment allows a | | | | culture is unsurpassed. In County Galway, at the |
| family to shop in the local markets for food to | | | | western tip of the Connemara, Michale Gibbons, a |
| prepare at home, even if it's only breakfast or a | | | | field archaeologist who has lectured at Harvard |
| late snack. Having your own kitchen provides | | | | University on Irish history and culture, took us all |
| much more flexibility and can save a lot over | | | | to a holy well for a lecture on the old religion (still |
| having to buy all your meals in restaurants. | | | | in practice) and Ireland's past. On the way we |
| In the spring of 2008 my wife, Jeanne, and I | | | | crossed ancient burial grounds where we saw a |
| gathered together 14 friends for a trip to Ireland. | | | | human jaw bone at an entrance to a rabbit |
| There were six couples, three single women and | | | | warren. All agreed this was one of the best travel |
| one single man. We spent one week at a Manor | | | | experiences they had ever had. It was certainly |
| House in County Kerry and one week at a | | | | the best time I have had traveling with a group. |