Monday, March 26th later - Dublin

It is evening and we are packed and about ready to get to bed - early to rise tomorrow to get to the airport.

Today was another stellar day in Dublin - full sun and warm. Elodie had classes from 9-11am and then 2-4pm. We met her after each class for lunch and then tea and dinner.

Bought a duffle bag and filled it with clothes and shoes she no longer needs to bring home tomorrow.  She crosses the river each day for class and shopping.  A bridge just down from her crossing resembles a harp.  Ireland is the only country with a musical instrument (harp) as their national symbol.

We found an Italian restaurant for dinner.  Saw it the other day and it came highly recommended on YELP.  We ordered appetizers one at a time and then dinner and then two desserts - each separately.  Our dinner took over two hours and the restaurant appeared to enjoy our leisurely approach - even contributed with their own starter/appetizer.

 Elodie has about one month left of classes - each class ends at different times.  She is working to find travel partners until her return to Iowa in early May.  While unsettled it is also a myriad of possibilities at this point.

It was really good to see where Elodie lives, where she goes to school and where she walks each day.  It has been a very good trip.

Monday, March 26th - Dublin

Yesterday was an extraordinary beautiful day so we took the train to the coastal town of Howth.  Of course, after a late morning start.

Great fish and chips ever followed up by mimi-cupcakes from an open market.  We did the wharf walk out to the lighthouse.  

Off the coast is an island called "Ireland's Eye."  Have not determined the meaning.  Back by train we were five minutes from Elodie's dorm room.  Small and efficient and a college/university atmosphere.

We walked to Merrion Square, another hidden gated park.  There was an art fair in process along the wrought iron fence.  No purchases made but always fun to look and stroll.

Our hotel is quite eclectic in its decor.  Huge urns, statuary, ornate ights and over-sized furniture in garish colors (organge, fuchsia and cobalt blue).  It reminds me of cirque de soleil.

An Irish movie and dinner ended our day.  And the sun never stopped shining until the stars came out.  No museums or churches today- Sandy and Elodie got off easy today.  We did see an old church for sale on the wharf at Howth that would have been a fun buy.

Sunday - March 25th - Dublin

Yesterday the sun was shining all day in Dublin.  This is a rarity.  Dublin is a city full of young people, as there are several universities, and really good street performers.  We visited several outdoor markets catering to food, jewelry and books.

Then we got serious.  Trinity College campus holds the Long Library and the Book of Kells.  The Book of Kells is a series of illuminated manuscripts written around 600AD and then buried by the Vikings in 1000AD.  Luckily it was found and moved to Dublin so we can enjoy.

We then trekked to St. Stephen's Green a gated park which Elodie enjoys.  She is very comfortable getting around Dublin.

We visited St. Patrick's Cathedral and also Christ Church Cathedral which has the crypt of Strongbow. He fought a battle around 1160AD and lost his legs and life in battle.  The legs on his crypt indicate something was definitely wrong when he was buried.

After a "family nap" we were off to dinner.  And we ran into Elodie's sorority sister and her friend.  They were in Dublin for a few days.  Elodie knew they were here but they had not planned a time to meet.  Since serendipity brought us together on the streets of Dublin, we all went to dinner.  Indian cuisine and hours of stories.

Saturday - March 24th - Dublin

We left Limerick yesterday morning a the recommendation from the hotel staff to go to the Cliffs of Moher. It was supposed to be a very good day for the view.  And it was a good recommendation.  Sandy has become quite adept at small roads bounded by stone walls.  So many stone walls and so many kinds over hundreds of years.  Someone should write a guidebook.

We drove around the coast and found a great little place for lunch - a small pub in Kinvarra.  It was very welcoming.  Loved the Earl Grey tea and she gave me extra tea bags for the road.

Kinvarra had everything - a small fishing village with nice people, good food, atmosphere and a small castle.  My kind of town!

We arrived in Dublin late afternoon.  GPS did its work to find the hotel where we dropped off our luggage and then went to the airport to get rid of the car.  It is not needed in the city.  We met Elodie for a walk around the Grafton Street area to find dinner.  It is great to see her and we have all day and tomorrow with her.

Friday, March 23rd - Limerick

Yesterday morning we took some time to visit Killarney National Forest before traveling through the  lower midlands of Ireland yesterday to Limerick.  The moss covering trees and rock is really thick and gives everything the look of velvet.  We saw some rangers and they gave us names and ages of the trees in the woods.

We made a stop in Adare for lunch at a little cafe.  It is a early nineteenth century commercialization of thatched roof cottages - built to enhance the duke's estate.  Cute.

We arrived in Limerick - unlike most towns we have visited.  Row after row of brick Georgian style step-up residences.  Each door a different color - so you can find your way home.

We ate at restaurant two blocks away last night.  And the door was locked.  We rang the doorbell to get inside.  Limerick has a past reputation for crime and gang activity.  Not a cozy feeling.  We did not roam the streets at night.  Today we are off to see a major castle and then to Dublin.  Having dinner with Elodie and then will spend the rest of our trip with her touring Dublin.  

Thursday - March 22nd - Killarney

Breakfast for the past two mornings in Killarney has included world class porridge.  Cooked oats and we have secured the award winning process as well as the brand. We are now on the hunt for a five pound bag of Irish rolled oats.

Yesterday we drove to Dingle - a small fishing village.....If you look closely, I caught a seagull flying overhead.

From there we started the drive around the Ring of Dingle.  The route roughly followed the cliffs and coastline.  "Roughly" applies to the twists in the road and the way of life.  Sheep appear to be the only business.  Pastures are small and walled by the rocks pulled from the fields.  How long a process amazes us because the walls are tall and everywhere.

We were fortunate because the wind was blowing but it was not too cold and while it was cloudy there were breaks in the sky and no rain.

The views went from the green pastures to more barren terrain as we reached higher elevations.  We ended up back in Dingle - lunch included Dingle crab claws.  I like to think from a boat in the first photo.

We took an alternate way back to Killarney through the steep and narrow Conor Pass.  There were warning signs.  I tired to capture the moment through the windshield - cliff on one side and oftent a narrow wall on the other.  One car lane wide road and traffic in both directions.

Sandy did the wash this morning.  We were able to use the laundry here at the hotel.  Breakfast between the wash and dry cycles.  We will stay in town to visit the forest and lakes and then head over to Limerick for the night.  Looks like a nice day.

Wednesday, March 21st - Killarney

My theory on green.....Ireland has a lot of cloudy days, mists and soft rains.  Coupled with cooler evenings and mornings - perfect weather for plants.  During our spring at home everything always look so perfect and green.  My plants only lose color with the relentless heat of summer.  Ireland does not have that problem.....I found a 2 euro coin in the grass.

We are in Killarney and will be for another night.  To travel here, we drove along the southern coast and turned north traversing across the most inland portions of the peninsulas.  The terrain changed back and forth between green pastures and barren rocky fields at higher elevations.  It was cloudy and my picture does not give depth to the colors and vistas we saw.

Up high there were many sheep - some of which escaped and were finding grass along the highway.  Hairpin turns and narrow roads only added to the excitement.

As we descended from the higher elevation into the valley of lakes to Killarney it is a wonderful transition through barren fields, to small forests of huge cedars (reminded me of the giant sequoias) and then to moss-covered oak forests.  I felt Irish fairies live in these woods.

WB Yeats said fairies are beings not quite good enough for heaven or bad enough for down under.  Not a bad deal to have a pair of wings and live in the forest for eternity.

Tuesday, March 20th - Remembrance

We were hoping something would happen today.  I guess we look for signs or coincidences - not like fanatics but just to keep memories more alive perhaps.  Galen would have been 28 today, March 20th.  As I think about the day, nothing really happened but there was one gentle observation...

We visited a 13th century Franciscan abbey - Timoleague Abbey.  It was "renovated" in the 16th century and then sacked by the English almost immediately afterwards.  However, while there is no roof, the old bones and significant pieces remain.

There are graves inside and outside the abbey - everywhere.  And while you might believe all these graves to be abandoned, they are not.  Scattered around are fresh flowers and baskets.  Remembrances of ancestors and family from long ago.

We left the abbey and saw many new places today....I think I know why the green is so green - but that is for tomorrow's blog.

Tuesday, March 20th - Kinsale

This morning I write about yesterday....

We had a leisurely morning in Cork - breakfasting with two other couples at the Avondale B&B.  One couple will be in Dublin at the same hotel same day to end our journey.  Before leaving we took a vigorous walk through the University of Cork Campus - one of the most beautiful in terms of grounds and architecture.  Sculptures, century old cedar trees, gardens, blending of old and dramatically new architecture.

Leaving our B&B "hosts" Delores and John, we had a nice chat about taxes and healthcare....Ireland has just introduced a new 100 euro "household tax" which is the beginning of restoring property taxes which were eliminated in the 1970s.  Welcome to our world.  Healthcare is 100% paid by the employer and their needs are met - no complaints.  

We drove to Kinsale via Cobh, an island harbor town just south of Cork.  The GPS was our guide and it was a bit weird to hear him say "take a left in 200 meters and take the ferry."  We took the left and immediately descended via concrete ramp to the awaiting ferry.  

Kinsale is a small inland harbor town.  The photo below was hard to capture - but note - 5 houses stacked smartly exactly behind one another in different colors along a steep climb.

All for now....More about the 20th to follow when we begin today's journey.  We have another cloudy day - but when the sun pokes through it is much appreciated.

Monday, March 19th - Cork

We arrived in Cork yesterday afternoon.  After leaving Thomastown we took "the less traveled roads" to the Rock of Cashel.  Narrow roads edged with stone walls and the greenest green pastures.

The Rock of Cashel was shrouded in scaffolding and plastic sheeting - what a disappointment.  Since the drive took so long we hopped on the "M" - moniker for the four lane - and traveled quickly to Cork.

The day after St. Patrick's Day in Cork was a bit more calm - with gentle reminders of past celebrations.

Late lunch on the street in this university town held opportunity for creative street artists.  Guys with drums had a great concert - and they never asked for money.

It was a beautiful sunny day.  Blarney Castle was next.  Located 20-30 mins away we let ourselves get a bit lost.  We take a wrong turn and then let the GPS find Blarney through a circuitous route.  The GPS does the work, I enjoy the scenery and Sandy "minds" the road.

We wonder if Blarney is privately owned as entrance fee is "cash only" and the signage is not about the Keep's history but bad jokes/cartoon character.  Nice gardens and grounds.  Kissing the Blarney Stone is a process to gain the gift of eloquence.

So on upcoming blogs look for Irish eloquence.  

Sunday March 18, 2012 - Thomastown

We arrived yesterday, St. Patrick's Day, drove into Dublin (lefthand side of road/steering wheel on right) and found Elodie and Sean.  Great to hug Elodie but did not stay long as Dublin was gearing up for a huge parade (cirque soleil on steroids).  Drove 90km south to Thomastown to stay at Mount Juliet - built in 17th century.

Expansive gardens with spring flowers in bloom.  Stone walls and century old oak trees along morning walk.

We drove the smaller roads and visited Kilkenny and Kells - neat farms with green pastures outlined in shrubs or stone walls.  Ended our day at the manor house pub.

We will try and keep up with this daily and not get to verbose.  Bookmark the page if you care to care to come back and check on our progress.

Elodie and Sandy