Start of the New Year in Athlone

From the right Bank of Athlon
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All Four Seasons Day started how we expected. It had been our last night in Galway, and we had to pack our few backpacks, and head to the Bus station. We stood in a long line when it got suddenly cloudy. It was only a hail shower, but we were wet through in a snap. During our way to Athlone it was mostly sunny. I bet Philee that when we get off of the bus, it will rain again… Look, sheep everywhere! Wondering if any of us have seen a black one, between that many we had chance to see, while we were traveling across this very green Island… Next stop Athlone! So anybody whose gonna use the exit, let gets ready…

A Slice Of Life
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Athlone means in Irish “ford,” and it means you can go across the river. It is a nice hilly town with a Castle bellow the two towers of St Peter and St Paul Church. Lots of pubs of course… how we could be in another Irish City if there no pubs? We have found local BnB, and on the way to find some Athlone’s traditional dishes in one of local restaurants, it started rain (I won the bet!). A nice Ship Quay in this Town. We took a few quick pictures on the bridge, and on the other side of River Shannon found a real Italian Pizzeria. We asked about live music for tonight in a local pub, and were ready to take nap in B&B. That is always good for you…

Sometimes I ask myself why we cannot ring out the glass after we are done with a yummy beer like this.

Sean's neighbors
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Most of the little houses we passed by had at the entrance door a different kind of flower as in stain glass window, may that means welcome… “Friends are Flowers that never fade”.

Sean’s Bar is located on the Lee side of Castle. It is the oldest Irish pub in the World. It was founded in 900 AD, and decorated with all fishy accessories and tools. The Byrnes could love this place for many reasons… It was quite full when we got there, after a little break back in B&B. Murphy’s stout is a good Irish beer, we have to find out where is brewed. Sometimes I ask myself why we cannot ring out the glass after we are done with a yummy beer like this.

A cameleon's Slip
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Some of the people in Sean’s Bar are drinking in the beer garden on a frosty New Year’s Night. They are probably sleepy, this yummy sedative liquid doesn’t help them to stay awake, perhaps they decided to stay on the patio to keep away the sleepies.

After a few pitchers of Murphy’s, it turned ten a o’clock, and the live music hadn’t come yet. Where the hell they are? We enjoyed as well along side a good glass of beer, but we expected a little more in one of oldest, and most famous Irish pubs.

A Viking's Boat
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We had an appointment with Lady B&B in the Morning, so we went down stairs for a Breakfast and stared in wonder. Her dinning room was designed still in the X-mas colors, that we appreciated. To eat, we had a plate served with cheese omelet and a home made delicious bread. I left to check what time we had to be at the Bus station to go to Kilkenny, and for how much. Then aimed my steps to the left Bank of the river where is the St Peter and St Paul Church, in the shade of the Castle of Athlone, to take some pictures of its stain-glass windows, which are a reason for the Irish artists to be proud. When the batteries of the little camera were done, I headed to pick guys up before the eleven o’clock check out time. Each of them they did get up their nose from a book when I came in. We left our suitcases in the B&B House and went to take a walk down along the river to stretch our feet a bit. It wasn’t as windy as near the Atlantic Ocean coast, even the sun pushed its strong sunshine through dark clouds today. It made the town more colorful, and for us it left much more time to pass by slow and enjoy the view with a deep Irish breath. Let’s go to Kilkenny!

Where all swans disappeared?
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Recipe of the day

Athlone is heart...

... and Saint Patrick the patron of Ireland... Here under some of Ireland's cakes named after him... these little iced sponge cakes were traditionally baked in three-cornered tins to represent shamrocks. - These chunky pieces of sweedness reminds me for Soan Papdi pure cokkies from Dorothy Seeger, it was so delicious sort of Halva with copped pistachios in it.

Saint Patrick's Cakes

Ken's Place
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4 oz. butter

4 oz. caster sugar

2 eggs

4 oz. flour

A change of Tide
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1 teaspoons baking powder

white glace icing

pistachios nuts

Set oven to 375°F or Mark 5. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until fluffy. Beat the eggs in a bowl set over a pan of warm water, then stir into the butter mixture a little at a time. Sift the flour and baking powdre together and fold in. Add whole pistachios nuts to get the natural green colour of the cake. Place about 12 paper cake cases into tartlet tins and divide the mixture between them. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the cakes are well risen and golden. Cool on a wire rack. Reserving a little of the icing, coat the cakes with the remainder and allow to set.