Halloween Night, Full Moon, Cobblestone Road, Large Ancient Gravestones, Dark, really Dark!!!
Dec 10 '01 (Updated Dec 24 '01)
The Bottom Line There is a Irish saying that says a little piece of Heaven fell from the sky and they called it Ireland.
That should get your attention, ha. I'M BACK, I took a short break from writing while I went to visit my ancestry in beautiful Ireland.
I went to walk the Dublin Marathon with the Arthritis Joints In Motion Team. I completed the walk with this extra 60 lbs of flesh and 52 years of miles on my life
odometer. It was a fantastic experience. I want to give some traveler`s tips and also let you know about a couple of experiences.
Following the Marathon, a couple of girlfriends and myself rented a car to drive around The Ring of Kerry and head to The Blarney Castle where I can get my blarney recharged. I went ten years ago and kissed the blarney stone and it really works, I am a great bullsh--er. Or was I already, ha. Me Mums from Ireland and it is heredity.
Halloween night we were driving down a long lonely stretch of road in the hills of Ireland. It was pitch black and in the middle of nowhere. The moon was large and full and there was blood on the moon, a bright red surrounding it. On the side of the woods we passed an ancient cemetary with large gravestones the type you see in Stephen King
movies. We kept driving because we needed to find a bed and breakfast or a hotel and we were not seeing any signs of civilization. We started telling scary stories like the couple in the car sitting in the woods and the hand scratching the top of the car. It was a Halloween Night to remember. We finally got to a clearing where there was some lights and places to stay but it was quite a cool experience at midnight in the woods of mystical Ireland.
We stayed in a five star hotel, The Bewley in Dublin. It was a beautiful hotel and it was located centrally
near everything you need. The first tour we took was The Guiness Beer Factory. This is where the famous beer is made. You tour and see how they make it and the history of the beer. There is a Pub at the top of the factory where you can buy a cold glass of Guiness and look out the scenic view of Dublin. The window surrounds the Pub. There is also a gift shop downstairs where any product that advertises Guiness can be had. Getting around Ireland is fairly easy. I recommend renting a car. We chipped in and rented a small economy car at the airport. We wanted to drive around The Ring of Kerry and this was the most enjoyable mode of traveling for us. We could stop where and when we wanted. The car was for three days and it ran about 200 with insurance. I think the car was well worth it. Here are some suggestions to help your trip go smoothly.
TRANSPORTATION
If you don't rent a car you can easily find a taxi. All the drivers of cabs I experienced were friendly and they pretty much can give you info on any tour available. A cab ride is moderately priced and you can get practically anywhere within reason you desire for under ten pounds. There are also buses everywhere just like here. They are fairly inexpensive depending on where you want to go.
IDENTIFICATION
Take your passport everywhere you go. I found out when I left mine in the room that you use it as a form of Identification when in Europe. On the same note most hotels have a safe or something like it in the room. Put your airline ticket safely away. My friend found when we went to check in to go home at the airport that hers was gone. We had so many souvenirs to pack and advertising stuff was thrown away from the marathon that I believe hers got thrown away. It was very inconvenient for her and cost her time at the airport where there is already a delay thanks to Sept. 11.
CONVERSATIONAL TOPICS TO STAY AWAY FROM
Most Irish are good conversationlists. They are friendly and great with stories and advice on travel and what to see. Some will tell you exactly what they think and you can get in some rousing chats in a Pub. Advice: If you are meeting strangers in a Pub or on the street stay off two topics, religion and September 11. Ha! I met an old man outside The Guiness Factory who looked like he lived on the streets. He had an old black horse hooked to an old carriage. As I passed he asked if I had some change for an old man and his horse. I handed him a pound and he asked where we were from. I said America and immediately he shook his head and in his strong Irish brogue chanted very bad luck very very bad luck Americans, very bad luck. I agreed and mentioned September 11 and immediately I was sorry. He began a speech about how we should have known it was coming and we let our guard down, very bad luck, Americans have very bad luck. I asked him if I gave him another pound would I have better luck and he took it and said yes. I then asked him what his horses name was and he said Rocky Graziano. I figured at that time I should make my exit, ha. I learned a lesson about discussing political or religious topics with an Irishman, ha.
On a more serious note, most Irish I met on this trip will discuss any topic and they love good conversation about any topic including September 11. Just remember when you ask for an honest opinion from an Irishman prepare for an honest opinion and a few tall tales and stories to boot!!
I love those folks!!
ELECTRICITY
To save frustration do not take electrical adapters with you. In Europe the electrical outlets are not made for our plug in cords. I learned that when you put the adapter in their outlet it does not hold well because when you attach your cord to the adapter to the plug the weight of the two makes it lose connection and you will not keep it plugged in. The path of least resistance is to buy you a cheap dryer and curling iron when you get there. You can get the dryer for ten dollars American and a curling iron for less. The adapter will cost you half that. Most hotels have adapters, hair dryers, etc at the front desk if you want to give it a try.
DRIVING IN IRELAND
Now comes the experience of a lifetime, driving in Ireland. When you rent your car you will find the steering wheel is on the right. You drive on the left and for Pete's sake don't get a stick shift. The gears are backwards and if you get on the road and think you are stressed by the third turnabout by getting use to left side driving, right side steering wheel wait till you face the drivers of Ireland.
Turnabouts are signs with multiple directions in the middle of a round intersection. Irish drivers believe they have entered The Indy 500. To quote a tasteless saying, When you approach the turnabout you have to, sh-- or get off the pot. My two friends would scream, GO, STOP, TURN, WATCHOUT FOR THAT TRUCK, AHHHHHHH, EEEEEEEEE, GO NOW, NOW, STOP.
My gray hair under my blond hair turned grayer.
Most of the roads going through small villages only have room for one car. Now how the Irish do it on a daily basis I will never know. Many times I would be on a two feet wide cobblestone street and here comes a big truck going the opposite direction. I would stop and closs my eyes till they squeezed by. Mind you there are cars parked on both side of the street so there is no escape.
Passing is an Olympic sport in Ireland. A hill will be in front of you with no visibility and the guy driving behind you will go around you and pass just in time to miss the car coming over the hill. I am not even Catholic and I was saying Hail Marys and crossing myself.
Hint: Let the most mentally stable amongst you drive. By the time they go insane you will reach your destination. If you are already three tacos short of a combination plate like me it will drive you stark raving mad. They should take 16 year olds there for there driving test with The Motor Vehicle Department.
THE FOOD
Everywhere we stopped in Ireland we ate heartily. Of course you know Ireland has potatoes to the max. My fish and chips were always available. Breakfast was my favorite meal. Eggs, homemade biscuits with jam, slab bacon nice and thick, blood sausage (like a down and dirty chorizo) I didn't like blood sausage but you might. Tea, porridge. The porridge I had at a Bed and Breakfast was like a creamy oatmeal with brown sugar, it was great.
We stopped at McSweeney's Hotel in Killarney and had dinner one night. The fish, salad, potatoes, and dessert were heavenly. The hotel was fantastic. The Head Waiter even came by our table to check on us and he had a lobster on a platter that was alive and moving. We asked what he was doing. He told us that everynight he took the old boy (lobster)out for a walk to get him out of the tank. I guess he hid this one when someone ordered lobster.
In Ireland Halloween is a week long holiday for the children. We were eating our dinner at McSweeney's and several kids in costume ran in to trick or treat. The manager had to run them out because they got rowdy in this fancy restaurant. We saw children everywhere trick or treating. Candys and coins is what was placed in their bags.
The beer is great in Ireland. Of course having a Mother from Ireland I took on that trait too. Basically, I love my beer but my body doesn't. Guiness is the most popular beer but I fancied Smithicks Beer. It was milder and had a good taste.
WEATHER
Ireland has four seasons in one day. I was there for the marathon the end of October. I took a raincoat because the rain can come on in an instant when you didn't expect it. It can be rainy, sunny, cold, warm, and windy all in one afternoon. I saw several rainbows over the blue sky sitting as a backdrop to the green fields.
Bring a small umbrella or poncho and a coat. I also went in April ten years ago and I dressed in spring clothing. Big mistake I froze and had to buy a coat.
SCENERY
Take your cameras, movie, throw away, 35 mm. whatever you have. You will be traveling through breathtaking scenery. The castles are ancient and you can feel the history. The Ring of Kerry is a visit to Heaven before you are scheduled to go.
Visit the Blarney Woolen Mills if you love to shop. Crystel, fine linens, woolen products, tee shirts, coats, jewelry, everything Irish.
Ireland has castles everywhere. Real castles not Disneyland castles. You can feel the ghosts of the past in their walls and dungeons. The Blarney Castle is fantastic and you have to go to the top, up high, to kiss the Blarney Stone.
Hint; If you are traveling with an older or disabled person some of the castles have some steep climbs. The Blarney Castle for instance has a steep single person stairway down. You have to climb to the top of the castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. When you come down you are going through a narrow steep passage way with a single stairwell. I had just finished the marathon two days before and it was hard for me.
The reason for the single stairwell is part of the castle's history. In Medievel times the Kings would have the castles built and with frequent battles they had to prepare. The stairwell purpose of being only able for one person to pass was so that when the armys came to invade the castle only one soldier at a time could come up to the top. When they reached the top of the castle the King's men could bump them off one at a time as they came through the tiny opening.
Castles lost their effectiveness in battle when the cannon was invented. Now Invading Armys could shoot down the walls with cannon fire instead of bows and arrows.
THE PEOPLE
Having a Mother from Ireland I knew there was something special about the Irish. They can tell you to go to Hell and make you enjoy the trip. Everywhere we traveled in Ireland the folks were friendly and helpful. We heard stories that were so good we didn't even want to know if they were true. Heck, I grew up knowing there were Leprechauns and I still believe it because my Mom said so. I bought a lucky stone at The Blarney Castle gift shop and when I got home I took it with me to Harrah's Casino. I rubbed it on the machine and won $1600.00. Maybe so maybe not who knows, only the Irish.
We drove around the Ring to the Dingle Peninsula. The view was breathtaking from that little shop. The peninsula water was blue and the fields were bright green with sheep grazing on the hills. Not a smidgen of trash anywhere. The wind was blowing softly and there was a bright rainbow in the sky. I felt like I was looking at a picture in a Fairy Tale book and from inside the shop you could see the scenery outside.
The shopkeeper asked if he could show us any item or help in anyway. There was Irish music playing in the background and it was peacefully tranquil in this tiny shop. Just being in Ireland was enough for me but moments like this one was priceless.
One of my friends began looking at her watch and saying we need to hurry up. She looked anxious and kept saying to hurry or we won't get to Blarney by dark. I guess my driving was wearing her thin, ha. Anyway she looked at her watch again and the nice shopkeeper who had a low and soft heavy Irish accent looked under his glasses at my friend and said softly, Slooooow down mi-lady. At that moment I felt like yelling AMEN BROTHER, but I didn't want to ruin the moment. In this beautiful place at that beautiful time we needed to slow down and enjoy right now. The Irish seem to know how to live for right now and I loved it.
My recommendation for any person on Earth, If there is one place on this planet you need to visit it's Ireland.
Do the Dublin Marathon or go as a family trip but go. To travel to The Emerald Isle is to leave this planet and visit another world. We all need that from time to time. When I am stressed I picture that green field and that sheep grazing with a rainbow behind it and I slooooow down, I slooooow down.
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