Cupid Castle Cures - Dromoland Castle in IrelandWritten by Kriss Hammond
Cupid Castle Cures – Dromoland Castle, Ireland Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Read this entire feature FREE with photos at: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/ireland/dromoland/dromoland.htmlWhen touring Ireland you can stay in a farmhouse, guesthouse, villa, secret hunting lodge, abbey, palace, or country manor house. But for romance you must stay in a traditional and authentic Celtic castle! The first castles were built in England by Normans, made of wood and earth and mostly on a motte and bailey plan, a central mound (motte), topped with a stronghold (the keep) and circled by a wall. The enclosed area was called Bailey. While touring Irish countryside I notice a green ziggurat covered with grass as if pushed up from depths and into sky. The first mottes were more defensive in nature. Norman castles were royal military bastions. The Normans built Ireland ’s oldest castles. Superb Carrickfergus, begun in 1180, and still well preserved today, is probably first true castle in Ireland. A garrison town was usually built next to each castle, but castle had to be self supporting in times of a siege. Castles usually included stables, workshops, gardens, storerooms, and a chapel. Castles were economic and administrative and social centers for feudal society. The end of feudalism, and not introduction of explosives, hastened use of castles. A few nobles still live in castles, surrounded by servants, or they are turned into luxury hotels or tourist attractions with Medieval banquets. Royalty still lives in castles in England, at Windsor. The signature castle in Ireland is a Preferred Hotel — Dromoland, in western side of country. You won’t find serfs hurling rocks or spears or shooting flaming arrows or boulders catapulted onto castle grounds. The four-hundred-year-old castle is more of a Baronial home than a castle — and it never was used as a defensive castle. You don’t need a battering ram to get in to make a reservation. Dromoland is not just a castle, it is a large sixteenth century Gothic revival castellated multi-towered aslar (hewn and dressed stone columns laid horizontally) monument. Dromoland was former home of O'Brien Family, one of great noble Irish clans, who ruled Southern Ireland. This stone splendor is set on 365 acres of its own estate in a natural amphitheatre scooped out in bygone days by action of a glacier ice sheet and surrounded by a lake (louge) and woodlands filled with deer. The castle first opened as a hotel in 1963, and today, after many renovations, there are 75 rooms and 21 suites on four floors; function space and conference facilities can handle hundreds. This is most romantic place I have ever stayed in, and all guests I talk to wish they could stay forever and role play as a baron or baroness. Because of its romantic appeal, Dromoland is a major draw as a wedding and honeymoon destination; set your Rolex to GMT so you won’t be late for your own special event! Plush carpets regale landed gentry’s museum quality of castle. Vibrant paintings are stars on vivid velvet walls. Exquisite sculpture stands testament to fine living. Luxury service is expected and received on damask dinner tables. Jetetters Magazine readers have always given castle superior ratings. Gourmet dining at castle is a knightly pleasure, with many options and wonderful cuisine choices for various group sizes or for private romantic interludes. The Castle's signature restaurant is The Earl of Thomond Restaurant, offering a relaxed but elegant dining experience. Located on ground floor, dinner can be enjoyed in an ambience enhanced by soft music of castle's resident harpist. Enjoy breakfast, light lunch, and dinner in this wonderful setting. The bill of fare includes a large à la carte menu, a daily table d'hôte menu, and a selection of gastronomic menus.
| | A Guide to Your Ideal Ski Resort and VacationWritten by Larry Denton
Few things in life are better than an adventurous and exciting vacation. Especially a ski vacation. Whether it's a family outing, a romantic get-away with your special someone, or you are going solo in search of snow and fun in sun, this site can assist you in determining which destination is right for you. First decision--a ski resort in United States or a trip to a more exotic foreign destination--perhaps majestic and scenic Alps? If you decide on an North American ski vacation, your next decision might be choosing which geographic region of United States most beckons you.Thanks to presence of Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevadas, and Cascades, western portions of United States feature breathtaking scenery in addition to fantastic skiing conditions. With 12,000 foot peaks, azure blue skies and hundreds of inches of snow it doesn't get much better. Do you want to blast down ruggedly beautiful mountains of Montana through waist-deep, dry powder natives call "white smoke"? Maybe skiing with rich and famous is more your style--if so try Aspen, Colorado, known for its majestic four mountains. Mammoth Mountain, Vail, Jackson Hole, Steamboat Springs, Taos, Snowbird, hundreds of runs and resorts of Utah, Washington, California, and Idaho. Simply too many to list! Just north of 49th parallel (the Canadian border) lie some of world's best skiing options featuring top ski resort destinations. Banff/Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, located in heart of Canada's Banff National Park, ranks as one of most scenic mountain resorts in North America, if not entire world. And Whistler/Blackcomb in British Columbia with 8,000 skiable acres and its 100+ bars and restaurants in village is definitely a "must do" destination. These magnificent mountain peaks provide gorgeous scenery, abundant snowfall, pristine wildlife areas, and steepest vertical drop in North America. The Japanese have repeatedly ranked it as their favorite international destination.
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