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Published: September 22nd 2014
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I could write a book of my adventures of just yesterday and today. But, alas, I will have to be concise for my readers benefit or they'll fall into a deep slumber.....
Leaving the tiny seaside town of Glin yesterday, and having decided to stay in the midlands, I made my way to Caher. It was a lovely drive through hills and valleys with a thousand different shades of green. There are small ruins of old castles and monestaries all over Ireland. On the way to Caher I ran across an old Fransiscan Monestary. It was strange because there were signs all over the place that you couldn't bury anyone there, but then there were fresh graves and recent tomb stones everywhere. It had a wonderful quiet energy about it though, and I can understand the value in being buried in such a place.
I am getting used to the cool, damp and misty mornings where the sun finally begins to shine around 11 o'clock, which is about the time I arrived at Caher where I toured the Irish castle which is what you see in my photo today. There was a short presentation given about the castle's history which was excellent. I can't imagine the amount of suffering that must have accompanied the short life of our ancestors.
After the castle, I walked a couple of kilometers to, what is referred to as the "Swiss Cottage". I could go on for pages about this particular sight, but suffice it to say it was nothing short of amazing. In the 1800's it was the practice of the day for the rich and famous to build idyllic cottages in the country and to pretend to be peasants for a day....honest....no bedrooms in the place. A famous architect, who's name escapes me at the moment, built the place to resemble nature....so no two windows, doors, are the same. The cottage is thatched with ivy growing up the oak pillars in front. Like I said....I could go on and on. But I won't.
I had made reservations that morning for a bed and breakfast near Caher. And for the first time, my Lady GPS failed me and sent me on a wild goose chase all over Ireland. I think I logged close to 30 miles before finding the bed and breakfast. And what a weird place. It was a gorgeous georgian style house out in the country with beautiful grounds but had fallen into disrepair. It was really sad, after the lovely B&B's I had been staying in. The place smelled ghastly of cigarette smoke, the room was freezing and the toilet ran all night. The inn keepers were reallly odd too. You felt like you were an unwanted guest. Anyway, after that little adventure, i was so tired of driving and having not slept well, I headed straight for Dublin where I added a night to my room, so now I have two full days in Dublin. Funny, but a friend of mine will be in Dublin on Wednesday, so we're going to meet up and sight see together. My reservations for Central Hotel (and it is named aptly, as I am smack in downtown Dublin) got screwed up and I have a large suite all to myself, with a king size bed and a jacuzzi bath tub. Needless to say, after last night, it was a welcome sight even if I'll be paying for this vacations for months to come. Ladies....send me those quilts! :o)
So here I am, and I've unpacked, had a nap and a shower and I'm ready to venture out for dinner before night falls. Tomorrow I'm going to walk to Trinity College and see the book of Kells and look for info on a bus tour around Dublin for when my friends arrive the day after. Driving in Dublin was crazy and I found the parking garage (which is several blocks from the hotel, so you have to walk around downtown Dublin with your suitcases...or, I guess I could have come here first, dropped off my suitcase and then parked, but oh well.....) by sheer luck. The GPS lady left me right as I needed her.
And so it goes ladies and gentlemen for another day in my adventures. I am going to be so glad to be home, you have no idea....I am going to relish all the simplicities of my life with a new found love. So today I bless my home, my mom, my dogs and my chickens. Traveling is all wonderful, but home is truly where my heart is.
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