4300kms Fu...* Ireland Tour II

[T-Modell]

Hi all together,

we came back from our second Ireland Tour with the R107 500SL ... this time Northern Ireland and the North of Ireland. Nearly three weeks of rubbish weather, rubbish overpriced hotels and disgusting expensive food with a few exceptions ... well, British.

We took the ferry from Normandy to Dublin and headed straight on to Belfast. We had a fantastic walking tour with Marti including the troubles. I wasn't aware how much of it you still see and "have", e. g. gates closing every evening between districts. Hopefully the violence will not come back, thanks to the clown with bad hair.

We then took - pouring rain - the atlantic way and ended up in Derry ... again great walking tour (at +12 degrees, storm and rain, felt like 5 degrees). Next tour along the North ... rain, what else. Then we made the bad decision to book three nights in Enniskillen ... I don't want to hang dead over the fence there ... as we say in German.

Three nights in Dublin, interesting, great walking tour with Sinéad, but overpriced hotel with a badly overpriced restaurant. Two nights we went out with good food (recommendation from Sinéad). Last three nights in Macroom, hotel ok, food not. Due to covid everything closed in this town except the hotel restaurant ... so possibilities were limited. One day of good weather (heat wave of 18 degrees and there was a strange light in the sky; later I found on the internet, it was called "sun").

Over to Wales and visiting friends South of London ... that was nice. As a surprise for me, they took me to the grandfather (93 years) of the boyfriend of their daughter ... who had an original 1962 190SL, which he bought in 1970 for 800 Pounds. Great to see that leather in an original state. Even the original English manuals were there ... he put a sticker on the passenger's door "do not slam the door" Also he handmade a stainless steel strip for the passenger's sillbar ... his girlfriend's at the time wore high heels and scratched the paint

Sunday we took the tunnel back to Europe and we made it home ... maybe enjoy the pics.

Btw., fuel consumption overall was 12.4 litres/100kms ... not bad for a fully loaded 500SL. Cost this time 1,150 EUR for fuel, in 2015 it was 790 EUR, although it was only 5% more kms driven ...

Regards
Thomas

* Fun





Passed by Rock Cashel by accident:



Crossed the same pass as in 2015, Kilcrohane, but the sign was stolen


The 190SL surprise:



Back home:

[brycedunn]

Some great photos there, sounds like despite some of the costs, it was a good trip.

[Christo C]

Interesting.
I have been visiting and driving around southern Ireland regularly for work & holidays since the early 80s and always found it delightful and great value for money; granted, the food back in the 80s was disgusting but it improved to amazing more recently; my last long trip (3 months) was in 2018; a visit in 2020 was aborted for obvious reasons; I suspect your recent experience is largely due to the aftermath Covid and inevitable crappy weather (global warming) … good on you for going there and reporting!

[pastelgrey300D]

At least the heater in the 107 would have kept you nice and warm. I suppose you when you go out to a restaurant "Irish Cuisine" doesn't exactly spring to mind very often...

I'm still fascinated by the trip computer dash in your SL, and it's bizarre seeing a 107 with an airbag. That 190SL is lovely.

[T-Modell]

Hi guys,
well last time in Ireland the food was at least 50/50, Northern Ireland as bad as Ireland this time (although it was 2/3 Northern Ireland, 1/3 Ireland).

What was also surprising: As well as 2015, this time the Irish people are extremely friendly, roughly 95% friendly, 5% not. In Northern Ireland - if you want to be polite - it is around 50/50. We had rude experiences to the max. Just one example: we booked in a hotel (not cheap as mentioned) for three nights and went to the bar/restaurant of the hotel for drinks. So by entering it, we were asked if we wanted to eat or just drinks. "Just drinks at the bar" we answered. The premise was filled to about 1/3, three young women serving, we were sitting at the bar for 15 minutes not even talked to. They were busy chatting. We left the bar, went to reception and complained, got a "sorry" and nothing more happened.

I'm still fascinated by the trip computer dash in your SL, and it's bizarre seeing a 107 with an airbag. That 190SL is lovely.

Well the 69 year-old lady, who ordered it in 1986, nearly got everything, Airbag, limited diff., seat heating, alarm, aircon ... but no cruise control. I put this in two years ago, got the parts, restored them and it's working. Huge improvement on those trips ... worked well all the way.

Regards
Thomas

P. S.: Here's more pics if you like ...

That sign was still alright in 2015 (close to WWI sites):


Belfast, closing gates at night:


Contemporary fuel station ... sign said 1.06

[matthewz108]

Great trip - shame about the weather, the cost of accommodation, fuel and food, and also the unfriendly people... otherwise sounds good. Lucky you had good company on the drive and a great car .
Maybe don't get a job for northern Ireland tourism
It's funny how friends and family always direct us to the uncle or neighbour that has an old Mercedes - sometimes it's a real surprise. My wife would say we've spent thousands to get here, and all you've got is 50 photos of uncle Joe's old Mercedes...