Galway to Dublin


Our drive to the Cliffs of Moher and a stop in Ennis for dinner and a pub session resulted in a very late arrival at Dingle Peninsula. Our group did a great job of holding it together even when we slowed down to approach what might have been the correct street, only to see a sign for a burial ground. For the most part, we actually were on the right roads, even though at times we, or I, doubted our path. We were greeted by the Night Enforcer, a wonderful Game of Thrones-like name for the night security guard at the hotel, and woke up to eat crepes. I am very fortunate that my travel partners, Isaiah, Kim, and Renee, enjoyed food as much as me. We ordered one round of savory crepes followed by a second round of sweet crepes. We then drove to Killarney National Park, where we visited the Muckross House, Muckross Abbey, and Ross Castle. Pictured here are the remains of Muckross Abbey, a 15th century Franciscan abbey. Tucked away by the lake in the national park, this abbey brought all senses to life and captured my imagination. We wandered around the remains, through dark and twisting staircases and signs of baptisms and worship that occurred over 500 years ago. I felt deeply connected to those who have gone before me, yet disconnected at the same time. Their faith was challenged in ways I will never know; yet we share the same faith in God, which was inspiring and ultimately left me connected to faithful people who lived a long time ago, a long distance from the life I’ve lived in the United States. The night ended with shepherd’s pie for dinner and sticky toffee pudding for dessert, for the second night in a row. After attempting to Skype with my mom, only to be yelled at to be quiet by our bed and breakfast owner, we went to bed and awoke to a wonderful and delicious Irish breakfast from the same bed and breakfast owner, who was now back in my favor. On the beautiful drive to Dublin we passed green fields of sheep and visited the Rock of Cashel, a historic site where St. Patrick converted the King of Munster in the 5th century, and the towers were built in the 12th century. Ireland was a surprisingly spiritual experience for me, but our arrival in Dublin assured that I would not miss the other defining aspect of the Irish. 

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 9, 2012 at 11:41 PM

    Sounds like you are having a very interest beginning of your long journey...Enjoy..

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownOctober 17, 2012 at 12:35 PM

    They can uh... set a headset on you, and download into your neurotronic syntaxes... uhhh various different... uh very complicated historical, uh and scientific equations and things of this nature...

    ReplyDelete

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