Well, the day started out pretty good.
In bed early, slept pretty late. Walked over and got the rental car and took off to drive around the Dingle peninsula. Kind of rainy and crappy all morning. Here's what Dingle town looks like in the rain:
Got there about noon, so lunch was in town. Dingle reminds me of Usushaia, Argentina: both kind of tourist towns in (on the day I'm there) in wet, cool ports).
Anyway, after noon, drove out the peninsula. Things cleared up a bit. Ireland really has some great scenery. I don't think I captured it.
Drove back to Dingle town about 14:30. I think I should stop somewhere late afternoon-ish each evening as I don't have reservations. Looking on the map, Killarney is about an hour away.
Glad the car has GPS, really helped knowing where to turn. Same reason I got automatic, one less thing for me to have to manage while watching traffic.
Those who've been to Ireland know even the highways are pretty narrow (BY US standards), and have virtually no shoulder. Those who've met me IRL also know I have no depth perception.
At one point along the drive, some overhanging bushes scraped the passenger side. I remember thinking, "I hope that's not too bad. Well, I took out total insurance coverage."
Get to Killarney, find a spot to park, and walk on their High Street to see if there are hotels available. Happened to spot a travel agency, asked them if they know where I should look. Just down the intersecting street is a hotel.
Walk down there, check into things. Ask Vance where I should park, he gives me directions to their car park. Since I'm on a one way street, and it's behind me, he shows me how to go around, and mentions that it's a very narrow lane to get back there. I should've known right then to ask for other options.
Turn into there, manage to bang the passenger side on the building. Wasn't too bad, the front quarter panel a bit dented, but car still operational. Get in there, and there's only one spot open, but the car in the spot next to it is overlapping. Also, this spot is the first one after the gate, there's no way I can turn the car (Kia Optima) in there.
Anyway, get Vance, he rings the guy to move his car, I still can't get in there. At this point I jump in and the key won't turn at all. Car's in Park, seems ok, but now I've got the entrance blocked. Fortunately, Vance knew to just turn the wheel a bit to unlock the ignition.
So I ask him what else can we do? He tells me they have a sister property just a few blocks away with an open-air car park. Gives me directions, and he calls to let them know I'll be leaving the car up there so they won't tow it.
Naturally, bang the passenger side rear door on the way out.
Of course, had I thought about it, I should've stopped him at "down the narrow lane" and got this place earlier.
Even though the car's still operational, I figured I'd better call Hertz so it's not a huge surprise when I return it. The guy I talked to didn't seem too worried--"when you return it, the agent will get a report." He also verified I'm covered.
I didn't think to get his name or an incident number so when they try to **** me later, I can say "well, I got told it would be covered."
Now I think I'll go drink some beer., Grrr.