Killarney, Co. Kerry

Winter in Ireland is wet. Period. That being said, why would anyone go down to County Kerry during Wintertime? Well, maybe because there is a stunningly quiet beauty awaiting. When I arrived in Killarney (Cill Airne, Irish for church of sloes), after a long train journey from Dublin, the glorious blue sky soon became a herd of silver clouds - a promise of rain ahead, an invitation to have a full Irish breakfast indoors. Exploring Killarney National Park was, however, worth the effort: venturing through bog, mud (after a few drinks, things get slippery alright), oak and yew woodlands, coming across Muckross Abbey's cloistered courtyard, gazing silently at the Purple Mountains and photographing the splendid view of Innisfallen Island from Ross Castle. The ducks on Lough Leane quacked hysterically and the sun shone upon the lake every now and then, reflecting the somewhat muted daylight. There were so many shades of green offered by Nature, the landscape looked Jurassic as fuck! I haven't seen enough of Ireland yet but I'm already sure that there is a triumphant countryside adorned with lakes and mountains that will make any tourist fall in love, and also a spectacular coastline providing inspiration for free to the most sterile imagination.