Can you believe it?? Seems only yesterday I was at Weyerhaeuser working on New Years Eve 1999 as part of a team monitoring the computers as we brought all the systems up around the globe, praying that Y2K wouldn't cause disruptions!! (Oh, that sounds important...really, I was just there as part of an emergency team...I didn't do a thing except probably eat...!!) Now, here it is 11 years later and I'm off in Ireland learning how traditions and celebrations are experienced here. I couldn't be happier...unless there was family near. Alex was here for Christmas and it was hard to say goodbye. But I remind myself that even if I were in the US, I wouldn't have family around since each of the kids lives in a different state!! So, I might as well stay where I am for awhile. I read about the snow and cold in the Northwest and laugh...cause we've had it here too. It was a record (100 years since they've seen this weather)cold Christmas. It started on November 29 and didn't let up until December 28. Alex got here on December 22(actually flew into Cork which was a long way to drive...6 hours... but thankfully he came in there since Dublin was closed). I left home at 3:45am with my little pooch tucked into her crate. We drove for about 2 hours before my eyelids were sinking so I found a sleeping churchyard out in the middle of nowhere and pulled into the parking lot for a snooze. Flan just tucked onto my chest, I put a blanket over us and we rested. She was so warm and cozy... then after a pee for both of us, we started off again. We got to Cork at 10:30 to find that his flight was delayed for another hour. This gave me time to walk Flan around the grassy areas near the parking garage. Then, back into the terminal to await his arrival...and wait...and wait...and wait.... After almost every person was gone from the arrival area, I found that many folks had lost luggage...and Alex was one of them. FINALLY he came out sans luggage and we set out for the north. Made a stop in Kilkenny, a beautiful little city surrounding a great castle. Had a bowl of soup and yummy soda bread, a glass of wine and then a walk through town. We stopped in a men's "furnishings" store where he found a good wool jacket (his light polar fleece would never keep him warm). Then set out for Cootehall. Another 6 hours and we were home, tucked into bed and out for the count!! The following day he purchased a 3-pack of socks at the local Quidsworth, some gloves and a cheap pair of boots, and we stopped by the local Tesco for nibbleys, stopped by a pub and learned about hot whiskey (shot of whiskey, boiling water, a lemon wedge dotted with whole cloves and sugar) Very good. Then it was back to the house. On December 24, we set out in the snow for long walks and explorations. Found a castle on the shore of Lough Key that is being restored, walked to the Fairy Bridge in Lough Key Forest Park and into the "big" cedar... then tried our luck at Carrowkeel, but could only get to the fence...the road was just too snowy for my little car. Stopped for dinner at McDermotts in Castlebaldwin. Then home. Christmas was another day of exploring around the area...up to Sligo, into Kesh to find the Caves of Kesh. (The limestone caves are associated with many ancient myths and legends, and are of archaeological interest, because the remains of animals now extinct in Ireland were discovered in these underground hollows: animal fossils include those of the cave bear, Arctic lemming, reindeer and Irish elk. Prehistoric man also used the caves, and they were the site of traditional ritual gatherings during Celtic festivals like Lughnasa until the last century. Keshcorran, the mountain into which the caves are carved, provides wonderful views of the picturesque countryside below.) We just drove all over the area so I could show my favorites. Then home...still no luggage for Alex...and...now no water either. On Christmas eve the water into the house finally froze. We'd been limping along, but now there was nothing. Thank heavens I'd filled 5 diet coke 2/litre bottles so we could still have tea and coffee in the morning. I've learned that there are 2 tanks in the rafters...one for toilets, etc. the other for drinking water so sparingly Alex washed his drawers out each night and hung them to dry by the turf fire....We were both getting pretty dirty but with a little water and a cloth, it's amazing how clean you can get....The traditional TV offering on Christmas is "the Quite Man". Alex had never seen it so ...that was it. On December 26 we took off for Cong where the movie was filmed... Ashford Castle, Cong, then up to Westport and back through Swinford, Frenchpark and Boyle. A long day but fun to show him the area. We'd planned to stop by the Foxford Woolen Mills in Foxford, but they wern't open. So, December 27 saw us back in the car to Foxford. It's such an amazing place, started by a nun in 1892 to harness the waters of the Moy river and provide work for the locals. http://www.museumsofmayo.com/foxford.htm http://www.foxfordwoollenmills.ie/ The blankets are beautiful and come in every color...and there is a "2nds" area which is my favorite. We had lunch there at the little restaurant, made our purchases and then headed north to Ballina on the coast. It's known for Salmon fishing on the Moy that runs through town. http://www.northwestfisheries.ie/Moy/moy_fishery.htm It's not my kind of fishing since you purchase a permit that is good for your alloted portion of a day. There are only 4 rods at a time in each section and you fish from sunup to 2:00 or from 2:00 to sunset. Spectators line the sidewalks watching...To me, fishing is about the surroundings, not just the catching...and being in the middle of a city isn't very restful..but for those who love to just catch, this is a good place. The river was running VERY fast due to the beginning of the snow melt. From Ballina we went north along the Quay road to Enniscrone, known for it's golfing and beach. The town reminded us of our Pacific ocean shore towns. We stopped for a good walk along the beach which Flan loved...then headed out again continuing along the north Atlantic coast. A very pretty area with lots of cottages still in use. Nice to see since so many have been abandoned for new homes built right next door. Then into the outskirts of Sligo and home...a long but fun day. When we got home, Alex' bags were there, the water was on and it was like Christmas. We shared the gifts that were in his bags, had a good roast beef dinner and turned in. The 28th was spent with last minute things in the area... a walk in my old church, to Kilronan Castle to see my "gym", lunch at Lietrim Hotel pub, dinner at my landlord's, and to bed... December 29 was a stop at the local garden shop to see if there were any 50% off bargains and then headed south to Cork. We stopped in Cashel to see the Rock of Cashel, residence of the kings of Munster, http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/rock-of-cashel, then into Cork...dinner at a local pub and to bed. December 30 was showing Alex all my favorite places in the south...Clonakilty, where I'd lived for 10 days, Roscarberry with a walk on the beach and up to the bluff overlooking the sea, Dromberg Stone Circle, Glendore, then back to Kinsale where we shopped a bit before dinner at a local hotel. Then into Cork, to bed for an early morning flight. It was such fun to have him here, to share my world and show my favorite spots. I'll miss him, miss family, but count the days until Aran, Stacy and Linda come in March, then Amy and Leo in June...
This sort of sums up Ireland... after I'd seen Alex off through security, I went back to the car in a multi-storied parking garage to get going. I was parked on the first level, and as I maneuvered to the exit, I saw what at first I thought was a dog run across the garage... on 2nd look...it was a fox. Only in Ireland can you see a fox scurrying across a parking garage in a major city. Gotta love it. The cold has confused them, and I'm sure he was looking for shelter, but it was beautiful.
Well, that's been my last 2 weeks. A perfect holiday and now I'm ready for what each new day brings...I hope you are too.
Photos: Kesh caves, snow, snow, snow...
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