The Emerald Isle

Tuesday found us leaving Liverpool about 11:00 a.m. (after one more visit to the gift shop at “The Beatles Story”) and headed north toward Holyhead in northern Wales where we would catch the ferry across the Irish Sea to Dublin.  It was a fairly quiet ride, but certainly interesting with the backdrop of Wales and its beautiful green pastures, herds of grazing sheep, and lots of castles not far off the highway.

The trip rolled on fairly uneventfully, and then about 30 minutes from our destination, our driver took a brief detour to take us to the Welsh town with the longest name in all of Great Britain – LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDOBWLLLANTYSILIOGOGOCH – which is translated as “The Church of Mary in the Hollow of the White Hazel Near the Fierce Whirlpool and the Church of Tysilio by the Red Cave”.   Wow!  And as you can see from the photo, this “truck stop” which bears the name was jammed with tourists, all eager to see this oddity.

From there, back on the bus and to the Irish Ferry at Holyhead for the 3 hour trip across the Irish Sea.   Most of us had taken Dramamine, thinking we’d need it and it was absolutely the calmest sea you can imagine.   We had upgraded to Club level, so spent most of the next three hours eating and drinking some lovely treats and drinking Coke, coffee, water, and the like . . . . so much so that when we arrived in Dublin, Mary Lee and Cheryl begged off dinner.   The kids said they were going later but don’t know if they ever did or not.

Ray and I went across the street to The Ginger Man for dinner, and approached it apprehensively because of the large crowd waiting outside.   These young twenty- and thirty-somethings were outside, though, to enjoy the beautiful weather and to have a smoke.   So, into the bar we waded, sat down, and I promptly ordered a Guinness Stout and Jameson Irish Whiskey.   And, both were really good.  For dinner we each had Beef and Guinness Pie (which was chunks of beef in gravy under a pastry crust with a side of mashed potatoes).  Neither of us left there with any hunger left, and had a great time.  

Back to the hotel for a quick word for the loyal readers only to find that the internet is out so not sure when this will get posted.   Tomorrow (Wednesday), we’re leaving about 9:00 a.m. for a dash to a thoroughbred horse farm, then on to Kilkenny to see Kilkenny Castle, and over to the Waterford Crystal plant . . . . all before lunch.   Then, a two hour drive to Cork where we’ll be spending the next couple days.

Glad to be here, and everyone is so friendly.   Can’t wait to see more of the countryside, and back to you soon to report on it.