DAY EIGHT
After breakfasting on Irish Oatmeal, rasher, blood pudding, and bangers, we headed out to explore a little of Galway. The hotel was kind enough to retrieve our van so Shavon didn't have to figure out how to extricate it from the chaos in the underground car park and we headed out of the city a ways to the coast. We wandered a bit oohing and aahing at the people brave enough to swim in such chill weather. We soon found a bakery and sat down to feast and talk for a little while before driving to Dublin.
Our tummies full to the point of exploding, we got back in the van and drove a little over two hours to Dublin. I didn't realize it at the time but we drove all the way across Ireland that day from coast to coast!
It was on that drive that we finally found a name for our Renault van. At one of the toll stations on our drive the toll booth operator charged us the bus fee rather than the car fee. "We aren't a bus. We are a van," Shavon said. "You're either," the man replied. "Well, that isn't fair," Shavon said. "I don't get to park where the buses park!" The operator wasn't amused. So, the Renault became known as Either.
Once we arrived in Dublin we parked the van and started walking. We walked and walked and walked. We looked in shop windows and watched people on the street. We stopped at Trinity College to try and see the illuminated manuscript, The Book of Kells, but the line to get in was hours and hours long. We walked through Dublin Castle but did not have time to fully explore all 11 of its acres. We passed by St. Patrick's Cathedral and we walked through St. Audoen's Cathedral. It was in St. Audoen's that we came across the 9th century Lucky Stone. The story behind the stone is an interesting one.
“This late 9th century grave-slab stood outside the
tower of St. Audoen’s for
centuries. It was rumored to have a supernatural guardian, because, despite
being removed a number of times from the church, it has always returned to its
rightful place.
In 1308 a marble cistern was erected in
Cornmarket to provide the citizens of Dublin with their first public water
supply. The Lucky Stone was set up beside the cistern so that all who drank the
water might have luck.
Local merchants believed that success in
business depended largely on making a daily visit to touch the stone.
In 1826 the Lucky Stone was stolen by
people from outside Dublin. However, during the theft the stone became heavier
and heavier until the horse collapsed under the weight. The thieves dumped the
stone on the waste ground. later, when workmen attempted to smash it, the stone
moaned and rolled.
Reverend Dr. Alexander Leeper set the stone in its present position in the
1860’s. It is said the ghosts
of clergymen still walk the passageway to protect the stone.”
After all our walking we were glad to reach the hotel where we watched a traditional Irish music and dance show and had dinner. The music was lively and the dancing was fun to watch. We laughed at everything and enjoyed one more evening together.
Trinity College
Dublin Castle
St. Patrick's Cathedral
DAY NINE
We said farewell to Shavon at the airport in Dublin. The rest of us flew together to Canada where we were searched and questioned for almost two hours before being allowed to fly on to Houston. The Border Patrol up there really does its job!
Just when we thought our adventures were over, Sam gave us something else to laugh about. We had just come out of the restroom and were waiting in line to fill up our water bottles in the drinking fountain. "Renee, I smuggled an orange in through customs for us to snack on," I said. "I am going to have to report you ladies," answered the man at the fountain next to us. We laughed and turned to leave. At that moment Sam came out of the bathroom, saw the man walking away, threw her stuff on the ground and began chasing him. Renee and I looked quizzically at each other. I bent down to retrieve Sam's stuff and Renee followed after her. Turns out Sam recognized the man as being actor David Paetkau from the TV show Flashpoint. She fluffed her hair, got his autograph, and then proceeded to inconspicuously follow him around the airport. The rest of us were glad to have the internet again and spent our time looking him up to find out who he is. It was very entertaining.
In Houston we parted ways, the Utah crew flying to Salt Lake and Renee and I heading home. The flight home felt much longer than the flight there and Renee and I could hardly wait to get home.
I enjoyed my once in a lifetime trip very much but nothing could have made me happier than my two girls running to hug me and Josh's smile when we arrived in Tucson. It was so good to see them.
Before I wrap up this travel series, I have a few more random thoughts and facts about our trip.
The Scottish and Irish must never be thirsty because we didn't see a single water fountain anywhere. They also must not use wash clothes because there weren't any of those either.
The only vegetables we were served were peas and a few scraggly carrots.
Potatoes were served with every meal.
Everything has less salt and less sugar than we use here in the U.S.
Blood sausage tastes like stuffing.
Their bacon is limp and rubbery. Someone really needs to go over there and show them what bacon is really supposed to be like!
The bread, cream, cheese, and butter is out of this world. I have never had bread or dairy products that taste like that.
If you don't believe in magic, go to Scotland. There is something magical about the Highlands.
Some day I would like to go back.
Here are a few more photos taken by my sister.
Dog Falls
Holyrood Palace
Blackness Castle
Linlithgow Palace
Edinburgh
Clava Cairns
Holyrood Palace
Sterling Castle
Clava Cairns
Blackness Castle
This trip would not have been possible or as memorable without all the effort and time Layla put in to planning and coordinating, Becky's help making sure everyone had the money they needed to go, Sam's amazing photography skills, Shavon's excellent driving skills, the memory boxes Lorelyn created for each of us, and Renee's knack for being prepared. She had something for everyone's aliments! I am blessed to have all these strong women in my life. I love them more than words can express and I look forward to more adventures with them.
Where to next Ladies?
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