Friday adventure photo:

Take a ride in an Irish jaunting car

Click for larger image

When you go to Killarney, Ireland, be sure to go to the National Park. There are some very cool things there, including Ross Castle (absolutely fascinating, and deserves a post of its own), Inishfallen Island (ruins now, but a place for scholars and princes in its day), and fancy-schmancy Muckross House (which will make you think twice about inviting the Queen to visit). There’s more too - it’s a large and scenic park.

But whatever else you manage to fit in on your visit, do take the jaunting car back to town. As your horse clop, clop, clops through the park, and the driver tells stories and jokes, you get a different view of the place, and even a different sense of time.

It’s so peaceful! Sure, you will see a few other cars jaunting out on the paths too, but it’s a far cry from the busy traffic of Killarney town! The hustle and bustle and high-activity of the town are totally missing out here. Here, you just clop along, stopping now and then when a photo-op appears. When you return to the town center, it feels like your pleasant dream was interrupted by a buzzing alarm.

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This photo is from our Ireland tour for women this summer. The jaunting cars may seem touristy (and they are — it’s not like the locals commute this way!), but the ride really is worthwhile. And if you go, please let me know — do ALL the drivers tell the “beech” joke?