Blogs from Ireland, Europe - page 8

I continue to revise and update this email about corned beef. This was written a many years ago, but still applies today. These days, we have our St. Patricks' Day meal at home. I actually enjoy preparing it. It is one of the few meals I know how to prepare. In years past, we had parties! I think they have become extinct. St. Patrick's Day is the perfect time to have one of my favorite dishes, corned beef and cabbage. So, aside from buying and preparing this dish, I wondered about the origin and history of corned beef. The term "corned" comes from the large rock-salt kernels, or "corns of salt" covering beef in a crock. This process preserves the meat. The term has been in the dictionary since 888 AD. Leave it to the Irish ... read more

Oh my I feel good . I slept 9 hours last night and it was great . I hadn't realized how tired I was . Being on the go for 10 days with many start times at 8ish and not going to bed till later does catch up to one's body . All the driving is tiring as well . I also had more trouble with jet lag this time . Melatonin doe s help but the tossing and turning takes its toll . Anyway a great sleep last night and now on my own schedule. I believe I left the blog in Derry . I forgot to mention a stop we did at a place called Knock . It is pilgrimage site where Mary , Joseph and John appeared to the villagers. It has been ... read more

The drive from Dublin to Kilarney was four hours long with one stop . It was pretty enough and I did get to do the blog so I shouldn't complain. Kilarney has a compact town center easy to navigate . There Is a National Park in the center which was once a private estate. There are acres of land , much of it mowed green grass , a mansion/museum and flower beds and pathways all the way down to a lake . Historically there are churches. I have found most of the churches to be Church of Ireland NOT Catholic which surprises me . Dining was again an event . I had roast lamb with a cider for my beverage . Both were great . The evening was capped with a 90 minute Celtic performance . ... read more

Arrived yesterday after an uneventful flight . I was however reminded of the goodness of people in the Toronto airport . While changing into my comfortable long distance flight clothes I had taken my tablet out to set it on flight mode . I was quite perplexed when I was paged to come to the desk in the departure area . I was first asked for some ID then I was presented with my tablet . I had forgotten it in the washroom and someone had turned it in . Wow ! It affirms my belief that people are good. Arriving in Dublin at 8:30 was good although it was raining. Fortunately it didn't last too long . I found my bus and my BnB with little difficult . I was able to drop my luggage ... read more

Fiona's family are from Ireland. We received an invite from Fiona's cousin to attend her wedding. Fiona really wants to go, so we organise to stay with her uncle for a few days and decide to travel to Ireland with Fiona's mother (Anne), who also lives in England. We drive to Fiona's mum's house where I leave my car and we move our luggage into her car. I am designated driver of Anne's car since she doesn't like driving on motorways. Our drive is over 3 hours as we take the roads from Southeast England to Pembrokshire Dock in Wales to catch the ferry over to Ireland. The weather conditions are awful with strong winds and rain. I am not looking forward to the choppy sea, but it will be in the middle of the night ... read more