Saturday was amazing. Three students from my program and I went on a bus tour of the Wicklow Mountains.
Stop 1: Tourist Informaton - We got picked up downtown and were met with a singing tour guide! This guy rivaled dad in his ability to have song for everything. He had us singing along - which perhaps didn't go so well - he'd sing by himself, tell jokes, and had some good information as well.
Stop 2: Lough Tay (Lock Tay) - Lough tay is a giant lake nestled between about four mountains. Its a giant black lake owned by the Guinness Family. Needless to say they brought in over 750 tons of white sand from the south of france and dumped it on the top end of the lake, now they have a giant pint of guinness in their back yard.
Stop 3: Reconciliation center - We stopped at an old British Army Barracks for lunch. It - since being the barracks - has been turned into a reble base, and today is a center for reconciliation. They have programs over the summer for kids from the north to play together (protestants and catholics) Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert have met there, Nelson Mandella has spoken there as well. It is a very cool place
Stop 4: Glendalough - Glendalough is an old monastic site where two lakes are. It's filled with ruins, a cemetery, and a giant tower. They think that St. Joseph is burried there. Very Very cool place.
Stop 5: Meeting of the waters. This is where two rivers meet up to form the Avoca river. Thomas Moore wrote his famous poem "meeting of the waters" here.
Stop 6: Avoca - a little town in the middle of the mountains where we stopped for food. Apparently some Irish TV show was filmed here (bally chris angel maybe?). We got lunch and then headed back.
When we got back we got dinner at home and then went out for Karaoke in a town nearby. Karaoke is apparently only on thursday nights though. The DJ played some pretty great classic rock, Brittany Spears, and ABBA though, so needless to say dancing ensued.
Great Weekend over all - Ok time for school!
2 comments:
Hi Will, I haven't had a chance to respond for a while. but I am caught up now on your activities and glad all is good (and great!) So happy the travel plans are working out for Paris/Dingle/Scotland etc. sounds all too unreal sitting here in the USA, reading what you and La are doing. Bill and I got a web cam and skype going so check for us wmkbwhite.....maybe we could see you and chat. No baby Pye yet....but truly the phone could ring any second. She worked today and is already progressed several hours of labor (measured in body changes you really don't care about) she is doing great, bless her heart. Take care dear one...miss hearing your voice. Kay
Will!!! How is our favorite Irishman? I do enjoy your Irish Adventures, but do look forward to hearing the stories in person. What an amazing experience! Perhaps someday you can lead a tour there including those of us about to enter the "grandparent phase" of life, which I must say is more than slightly surreal. In the meanwhile, we will continue to travel vicariously through you. Laurel tells us that your internship is amazing, which is wonderful. Kay and I miss you, and look forward to when we can see you again. Thanks for sharing the good stories in your journal. Take good care of yourself, buddy. You remain close in thought. - Bill
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