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Judi & John |  |
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Judi & John | |
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Aye, an' 'tis a grand thing you're doin', Lass! Leavin' that fine motor car behind and makin' a crossin' of the big pond to visit the Emerald Isle. With a wee bit 'o luck, you'll be here before the sheep see the first light of dawn. Aye, Ireland will welcome you with arms wide open and warm the cockles of yer heart until you return again one day to be with us yet again! Safe journey and God speed! |
Sunday - May 5, 2002
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OH MY John! I'm very impressed with the high tech aerospace accomodations you arranged for us! In this thing we'll be there in NO time! (But do they have movies???) Behind us in the SR71 - a US Spy Plane - one of only 8 or 9 there used to be in the world - there used to be one housed on Okinawa and it was called "The Habu" which is the name for the poisonous snake indiginous to Okinawa and the Asian counterpart to the American rattlesnake. |
Sunday - May 5, 2002
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See ya' later Mom & Dad! But I KNOW there's room on that plane for us! Our son Derek and his wife Deb give us the big sendoff. |
Sunday - May 6, 2002
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We have landed! John, I think that sign just said, "Welcome to Ireland". Customs and all went very fast. We were actually fine until we got to the car! John scratched his head and said: "Ummmmm Judi, the steering wheel is on the wrong side!" |
Monday - May 6, 2002
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And to think! My carriage is in the shop! Guess we shall set our vehicle down here instead! This sign is right outside of the Jury's Inn - the place we crashed the first night - or morning - or whatever it was. Had breakfast here - we think. Outside of the egg and the toast there was nothing we could identify - the Irish seem to love very very bland food. |
Monday - May 6, 2002
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LOOK! I found a castle! It's a BIG one too! This is Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in Limerick. Bunratty (pronounced Bahn-Rhotty) is the most complete and authentic medieval castle in Ireland. Built in 1425, and plundered on many an occasion, it was authentically restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour with furnishings and tapestries capturing the mood and style of the times. |
Monday - May 6, 2002
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Just as life should be! John has left me at the helm of the throne while he goes to prepare a banquet for me in the skullery with the knaves and the concubines. Wait - if he's with the concubines - I may starve! I think I shall go check his whereabouts. |
Monday - May 6, 2002
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John and I survey our royal kingdom from the very top of our castle. We agree this is a fine establishment with many E-Bay rooms to fill. I wasn't too taken with the dungeon - but it will be a great place for non-paying bidders. |
Monday - May 6, 2002
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I am standing INSIDE one of the castle windows. They're quite tall, but very thin. Not much upkeep - John can probably get them all washed in a month or two. Tomorrow we're off to the Cliffs of Muir and then several kilometers out into the country to the bed and breakfast which we may never LEAVE. For now we're off to the internet cafe and tomorrow we will be back on the internet. Be sure to check in for more updates! |
Monday - May 6, 2002
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As promised, this Internet Cafe - I think the guy running it is Italian though! Had a wonderful latte there,and although the Lyra key was where the @ key was supposed to be and the @ key was over by the SHIFT key, we muddled through on the Euro-Keyboard. I tried to send everyone mail but I don't know if I got the "@" in or out! Then we hit the street for more "unusual and life defying driving experiences". I think in a few days John will get the swing of it! We went to bed at 9:00 last night exhausted and it's now 1:00 in the morning and we're ready to rock and roll! I think our bodies should catch up to the time change just about the time we head back! |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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We had the DARNDEST time finding the streetsigns! We couldn't believe we had landed somewhere where they had none. Then LOW & BEHOLD - we looked up and THERE were the bloomin' signs - halfway up the buildings! NO WONDER! |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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For those of you not familiar at all with the location or geography of Ireland, it is bordered on the West by the Atlantic ocean, on the Southeast by St. George's Channel and on the West by the Irish Sea. Our journey today began going along the Western Boarder. For as far as the eye can see, there is nothing but rock - rocks, rocks and more rocks. All the sheep and cows and horses are cordoned off by rock walls - not high - but enough apparently to keep them in. =) Most of it is limestone. I just want to know who stacked all these walls UP! |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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We were headed to, of course, the Cliffs of Moher that rise 700 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. Absolutely breathtaking. The cliffs are North of Limerick and South of Galway. |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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More of the spectacular cliffs. God truly did some splendid work here. |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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A couple from France, I believe asked us to take their picture - then we asked them to return the favor. =) This is the first place we had run into anyone from America - a small group of folks from Rhode Island. It seems thousands of Europeans flock to Ireland. |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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John just HAD to "go where no man has gone before" stepping out to where it says in about 32 languages, "Don't go here" - to get this shot of the waves hitting the cliffs. |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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The Cliffs, and everything else we saw today is in an area of Ireland known as the Burren in the County of Clare. The Burren is "rougher" if you will in terms of roads - travel slows to about 30 mph - but the scenery is very rough and gorgeous. Many of these churches can be found scattered about the countryside in the Burrens and all of Ireland. All stone, of course, this was the graveyard for young people with the traditional Celtic crosses. Very pretty. |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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This, of course, was the church at that graveyard. The other end of the church was painted a bright yellow but I couldn't get far enough away from it to shoot it. Yellow seems to be the color of choice for most homes in the country. |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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Between the caves and the Portal Domen Tomb (pictured here to your left) we visited the Aillwee Caves in the Burren. Most of you have seen caves so we didn't do any picture taking there to post here. However, the Portal Domen, dates back to 2,500 B.C. and is considered one of the miracles of the Burren. The top slab weighs nearly 10 tons and was not put there by man. I believe I have found my calling - and trust me this rock is HEAVY! |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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A nice Englishman was kind enough to take our picture on the other side of the Portal. |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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I wanted you to have a pretty shot of the ROCKS! Miles and miles of rocks. Absolutely beautiful wild flowers manage to pop up through all the limestone rocks up here - we are up fairly high - leaving after this to head to County of Mayo. |
Tuesday - May 7, 2002
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Just a lovely shot of some of the green countryside that accompanies the rockie roadsides. Man there's alot of rocks here. =) Tonight we are in our first bed and breakfast and we'll have pictures of that tomorrow. I can tell you that 1) WE FOUND A McDONALD'S - but somehow wound up with much more than we ordered - bit of a language barrier up in this part of the country - grin - and 2) the B&B is absolutely lovely. Don't miss the pictures of that tomorrow. Tonight Bernie, the B&B owner is driving me to the home of one of my e-Bay customers. Can you believe that??? |
Wednesday - May 8, 2002
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Today we had to find out what "Pub Grub" was all about, so we decided to drop into one of the local very colorful pubs to grab a bite. A German couple was there also and took our picture for us. John had fried cod (YUCKIE) and loved it - and I ordered a baked potato. What I actually got was mashed potatos with cheese. =) It was very good though. I thought we were havin' a time of making ourselves understood until I had to escort a Chinese man out of the lady's room who was looking for the urinals. He not only couldn't speak English - he also couldn't read English. He was quite embarrassed - but I think everything came out alright. =) We MAY be beginning to catch onto this "food thing" over here. I'll let you know after tonight! |
Wednesday - May 8, 2002
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This is the outside of the pub where we ate. This is also a cyberpub and they have a lovely internet room that looks as pretty as any living room you could imagine in someone's home. |
Wednesday - May 8, 2002
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These are the types of shops that line the streets of Westport (Castlebar is much the same). Very colorful, very European looking - almost Scandanavian. Interesting shops - didn't buy a THING! Well, a tad of Irish linen over by the Pub, but nothing more so far. I told John just WATCH OUT when I finally find the right place! |
Wednesday - May 8, 2002
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This is Drumshinnagh House, our B&B where we will spend 3 nights. Bernie is our hostess and she's alot of fun. It is a 7 room house on 35 acres of land. We are on the top floor, dead center of the house in a large bedroom and when I look out the front window - all I see are the sheep - with mountains all behind and lakes all around - it's a really beautiful location. |
Wednesday - May 8, 2002
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Today was my day to make friends with the sheep. However, the further I walk - the further they RUN! I'm even making sheep noises! I'll tell you one thing - I will never eat another lamb chop again ever. I have bonded with sheep since being in Ireland. |
Wednesday - May 8, 2002
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I think they can tell when someone has previously in their lives eaten a lamb chop. So, we shall settle for a picture of me WITH the sheep. I think Bernie and her husband Michael have about 250 head of sheep. No, I don't want to know what becomes of them if it has anything to do with Pub Grub =) |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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Today we traveled up into a higher portion of Western Ireland - our journey beginning through the Doo Lough Pass. The mountains in this part of the country are unlike anything I have ever seen anywhere in my life. The sheep, as you see, roam very freely here, this one looked right in our car window as we passed. There were very young lambs up this way - was all I could do to not stop and try to sneak some home. =) There are no trees on the mountains here, and though they are quite tall, they are rocky and green, green, green. Because of the heavy annual rainfall in Ireland, rivulets of waterfalls have marked deep gorges down the mountainsides. Just breathtaking. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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Prepare yourself for several sheep pictures. I simply couldn't resist. The sheep are not bleeding - you will see herds spray painted with a stripe of red, or orange or blue - which, of course, indicates their farm, much like the branding of cattle would. Today at the house where we're staying, there were three brand new baby lambs born. A pair of twins and another. Unfortunately when they reach 90 pounds they become mutton. =( |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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There were many of these monuments as we traveled today, but perhaps this is one of the more telling of Ireland's history, as it is in memory of those who died during the Famine. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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This area where you find all the wonderful sheep is called the Western Highlands of Ireland. It is surrounded by the Twelve Bens mountain range. The sheep here are very very tame and friendly - obviouly used to people - unlike the sheep being raised at the house where we have stayed for a few days. The "town sheep" must be herded by sheepdog - and not by man. I talked at great length with this lovely little lamb - who looked at me the whole time as though I had grown a set of horns. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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Our destination today was the Kylemore Abbey in County Galway, but before we came upon the Abbey, we passed the Aasleagh Falls on the River Erriff. Just absolutely gorgeous country. The topography is nothing like I have ever seen before although we have traveled extensively in Asia and in America. John and I both agreed it was like simply waking up on another planet. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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This is simply a gorgeous place along the River Erriff. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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Welcome to Kylemore Abbey Connemara, Ireland, County Galway. This is the monastic home of the Benedictine nuns. It is also widely known as a boarding school and open by special privilege to tourists in the summer months. It was erected in 1868, originally as the home of Mitchell Henry, surgeon and financier in the mid ninteenth century. Mitchell Henry inherited an immense fortune from his parents and asked his wife Margaret what they would do with such a massive amount of money. She said, "Build me a grand castle" That he did! In 1874 one of their youngest children became gravely ill and when they consulted a physician, he advised that they should take the child on a Mediterranean trip. So certainly they did. Unfortunately, Margaret died of fever during this trip. Mitchell, being incapable of burying the love of his life, built her a mosselium at the castle grounds. In 1892, his daughter was thrown from a pony trap and died. The Duke and Duchess of Manchester purchased the castle in 1902 and lived there for some eleven years. In 1920 the Nuns of the Order of St. Benedict purchased the castle. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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The Abbey stands in the midst of the powerful canvas of Connemara, mist and mountain thrown into relief by lough and glen - in the heart of the Western Highlands. The mansion took 7 years to build at an estimated cost of one million pounds sterling. Outside of the grand entry rooms, there are 70 other rooms, none of which we allowed to see, of course. But this dining room was simply spectacular. All of the pieces and furnishings are all authentic period and simply stunning. This is not a "working dining room" - however, it was not much of a stretch to envision Mitchell, Margaret and their children being served around this table. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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Another shot of this elegant room. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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This is the awesome mohogany fireplace in the dining room - which also has oak walled paneling with intricate carvings to the lead light windows and ornate gilded pelmets. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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The St. Benedictine nuns were the only religious house of any nation to remain intact in Flanders during the French Revolution. When they were forced to flee France and settle in the cloistered comfort of Connemara, they brought with them several religious artifacts and treasures. This tea chest in the front hall was one of them. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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John standing by the exquisite white granite fireplace in the sitting room. We'll be leaving The Abbey now to continue to Cong, so everyone be sure to stop by the potties on your way out the door! =) |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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If an Order of Nuns is similar to a flock of sheep - there were probably many hundreds living there - however, I only saw one "live" nun - not that I saw any others in a dissimilar state. =) We traveled back toward Castlebar late afternoon down through Joyce Country, headed to Castle Ashford in Cong. There was a rather magnificent view of a large maze of the stone walls I've told you of since we've been here, so I had to stop, just outside of Cong and take a picture. Mind you, there is not a drop of mortar or any other bonding agent involved in the building of these walls. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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This is the Entry Archway to Ashford Castle. It has housed many visiting Presidents from the United States - the last being Mr. Clinton (NOW we know where all our taxes go!) and is a popular wedding reception Castle for the rich and the famous. |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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Viaducts and Turrets around the waterways that surround the Castle. The Castle is also home to a sanctuary for Peregren Falcons - I believe they told us they train and house 12 of them here. There are simply acres and acres and acres of walled gardens at this Castle. (And BUTLERS!) |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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The Castle in its entirety. Well, for the most part. =) |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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I am standing in the archway that leads to the gardens and to the falcons of Ashford Castle. What a grand place this would be for pictures of a bride. =) |
Thursday - May 9, 2002
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As we made our way home today, along the roadside was this awesome cemetery, the Neale Cemetery. The ruins you see above the Celtic Crosses are common throughout your travels in Ireland - we have seen them just about everywhere. A long and very lovely day - tomorrow we travel to the Achill Islands and then we will bid a sad farewell to County Mayo and will head North for Donegal. |
Stay tuned for more to come!
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