Last Day in Ireland

Monday, 28-Sep
The sun certainly shown on my last day in Ireland. I was trying to decide what to do last night, and realized that my next trip here will most likely start in Wicklow. So we booked a day tour of the Wicklow area, including Glendalough (Valley of the 2 Lakes).

The driver's name was John, and as it turns out he owns a riding stable and livery in Kildare, which you may remember, is one of the areas I have narrowed down to my most desired living spots. I immediately offered him my services as barn manager, and we have in fact exchanged email addresses. Stay tuned!

The ride out takes you through Dublin; very urban, congested and, well, a city. You then travel through Enniskerry; more charming 'suburb' like and starting to get out towards the country. Finally you arrive in Glencree (Valley of My Heart), home of the Peace and Reconciliation Centre (hoping for peace between north and south) - housed in a former children's reformatory.

Then it was up into the Wicklow Mountains, which are wild and beautiful, covered with heather and mist, peat bog and sheep. Then it was on to Glendalough - St. Kevin's monastic settlement dating to the 10th century. Cemetaries, round towers, ruins galore - just my sort of place.

On to Avoca - a charming riverside town, and all too soon back to Dublin.

Those of you reading along may have noticed that I never mentioned the Book of Kells, Guiness brewery or St. Patricks (among other tourist destinations in Dublin). Its because I never saw them. I walked past Trinity every day I was in Dublin, and went past Guiness twice, and "saw" St. Patricks. But the truth of the matter is this; I wanted to spend my time seeing the country, talking to the people, not doing the tourist shuffle past these things. And I did exactly what I wanted to do.

I've made some wonderful friends on this trip; Derek and Gerarda, Helen, Niamh and Claire, John, Cyndi and Maureen. And I've truly fulfilled everything I set out to make this trip be for myself. I fell in love, and found my place and I can't wait to come back.