Day #2 -- The Aran Islands

After the Cliffs of Moher, we stayed in a B&B in Doolin so we could take a ferry to one of the Aran Islands.  The man selling tickets talked me out of going to the big island that I had wanted to see; I'm so glad he did.  The smaller island, Innis Oirr, was beautiful and had plenty to wear the kids out!

The kids enjoyed the half hour ferry ride where a dolphin greeted us at the island.  We took a carriage ride around with a friendly, weathered-looking guide.  Nadia was less concerned with sight seeing and more interested in the guide's cute little terrier, Rex, that was in and out of the carriage racing against the horse.

The castle was in ruins, much to Dante's dismay.  On our drive through the Burren, we saw tons of stone walls -- more so than in other parts of Ireland.  Centuries ago,  they had to clear away all the limestone in order to build and farm and such.  Instead of hauling them away, they just stacked them into walls. 

The beach was gorgeous.  There was a local snorkeler that has been swimming with the resident dolphin for over ten years.  The dolphin's comfort with this one man has lead others to believe that it is tame.  Some idiot told his pre-teen son to touch it.  So the kid grabbed its dorsal fin, only to be thrashed by its tail and rammed in the leg by the dolphin's nose.  The boys were happy enough to get a close look at the dolphin while Nadia spent the whole time playing fetch with a random dog.