Things we learned while in Ireland

There is one road that is smooth in Ireland.....there is good reason to fasten seat belts!
The shoulder of the road is non-existent in Ireland
There are cows in Ireland

They mow the vertical shrubs on the edge of the roads because the cars can touch them!
Weather predictions in country, based on if cattle is standing (sun) or lying down (rain)
Everything is expensive....especially food
Walking up hill......both ways - is very true in Kinsale

There is nothing "old" in the U.S.
The Druids had the first TIMEX......well, they knew the changes in the seasons!

Guiness is yucky and Murphy's Stout is good - although Phil still likes Guinness

A 2011 Honda Fit, (although it has a different name in Ireland), costs about $60,000 new!
You couldn't ask for better hosts than Mary & Dennis Maguire...

West of Kinsale

Saturday, May 21
Dennis Maguire took Fred on a short trip to see the 'Old Head' of Kinsale, just a few miles from the village.

Old Head is the location of the Lusitania Memorial (pictured above) - and a well-known, but VERY expensive golf course. (Fred couldn't even get into the pro-shop, because he was wearing jeans. Needless to say, he was not a candidate for playing golf on a course that charges $400-500 per person for 18 holes!)

Just across the road from the memorial is an old signaling tower. It had three floors, and is one of seven such towers between Kinsale and Cork. If enemy ships were spotted at Kinsale, the residents of the tower would light a fire in the fireplace. The light would be visible from the next tower - and the residents there would also light a fire. Using this method, the folks in the towers could alert the military personnel in Cork of an impending attack in much less time than it would take to deliver the message via horseback.



Friday, May 20

We began the day by heading west, and stopped in the 'microvillage' of Ballinspittle - the location of a shrine to the Virgin Mary.

 It is rumored that some locals have actually seen the statue move... (Don't forget... Guinness is brewed in Ireland.)

 Next, we drove to Timoleague - home to a huge Friary for which construction began about 1300AD.

 It was amazing to walk around in a building that is nearly 700 years old.


Next we were off to see the Drombeg ruins - left by the Druids between 2500 and 4000 years ago.

 The site above-left was used for cooking, while the photo at the right is of a 'mini-Stonehenge'. When the suns rays shine between the two upright stones in the foreground and hit the flat stone in the background - it indicates the Winter Solstice (December 21 - shortest day of the year.)

Our next stop was in the village of Glandore - for tea.

 One of Phil's buddies sails to Glandore from England, and recommended it to us. It certainly was beautiful the day we visited it. (Phil is cousin Elaine's husband.)

 After a bit of a drive - and a stop in Baltimore Village for lunch - we walked around in the town of Bantry.

 

          

Just as in Wales, all signs must be posted

in the native language and in English.

 Our last stop before returning to Kinsale was in Dunmanway.

 The statue above honors Sam Maguire - the man who recruited Michael Collins into the 'Irish Republican Brotherhood. Collins and 13 or 14 others were eventually executed in Kilmainham Jail in Dublin for promoting Ireland's independence from England.

Cobh - aka Cove - aka Queenstown

May 19

We took a day trip with Phil & Elaine (Fred's cousin) - and began the day in Cobh, the largest city in southern Ireland:

  We didn't spend a great deal of time in Cobh, but we did tour the magnificent St. Colman's Cathedral, located a very short distance from the harbor.

Back to Ireland

May 18
Up and out to Liverpool airport by taxi - then off to Cork - rented a car and drove to Kinsale, a beautiful seaside village in the south of Ireland. (TheTitanic left Kinsale in 1912 on it's last leg of that fateful journey, and the Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine just off the coast.).

 

Kinsale is a small, picturesque village - with NARROW streets. (The cars on the right are parked!)

We stayed with friends who have a B&B - with a beautiful view of the village.

 The harbor is stunning - depending on the tide, and the yellow house in the foreground is (or was) owned by Sting - and there's a recording studio in the lower level.) The roof on the right covers a home built about 1600.

The Village Town Hall and garden is in the foreground, and the B&B is the yellow house behind and to the left.

Canal Boat

We saw several canal boats in England and Wales - usually from a distance. During our trip to Liverpool we saw one of them next to the bridge we were standing by. Phil, (our host), 'reckoned' this one is about 50' long. It's like a floating travel trailer - equipped with a couple of bedrooms, kitchen, full bath, and a sitting area.

The bridge pictured above was built in the 1800's, and is actually an aquaduct which transports canal boats across the River Dee near the Welsh town of Llangollen. I think the bridge is over 1000' long..

Liverpool

We've made several journeys to Liverpool since arriving, but most of them to meet with relatives. (Much too boring for most readers!)
We did see a couple of interesting sites... and we'll share a few of them here.

This is the same Strawberry Field which was the subject of the famous song by the Beatles. We learned that the gates had been stolen after the song became a hit - but they were later recovered and returned.

This is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. It's a magnificent structure, and seats about 2, 000. This picture was taken from Hope Street, and the Anglican Cathedral is at the opposite end of this street.

This is the Liver Building, (located adjacent to the River Mersey). The fictional bird perched atop each tower, (the Liver Bird), is the 'critter' after which Liverpool was named.

St. Nicholas' Church, located near the Liver Building is not a Roman Catholic Church, but Mass is celebrated there once a month. There is a statue directly in front of the church which honors those Liverpool residents who lost their lives during the Blitz. (Roughly 4,000 people died - including Fred's maternal grandparents and three aunts.)

Things we learned about traveling in the UK

1. There are no straight roads in Wales

2. There are no pronounceable towns in Wales (i.e. Pwllheli or Ystradgynlais
3. Wales lifts the spirit, and calls one to just stop and take in the rolling hills, deep green fields separated by shrubs/fences and spotted with sheep
4. There are no cattle in Wales
5. When parking in Wales, or other small villages in England,  remember to push in your side mirror!
6. Try not to travel with 5 adults in one car for very long trips!

Erddig

Today we visited Erddig, an old (started about 1684) mansion and grounds located in Wales, with Phil, Elaine, and Elaine's childhood gilrfriend Freida.

Much of the sign-age in Wales is printed in Welsh and English. 

Fred, Fran, Elaine, & Phil

In its prime, the Lord who owned the place employed 15 housemaids, in addition to the cooks, gardeners, carpenter, blacksmith, etc. The maids slept on the top floor, but the men slept in outbuildings and stables.  (This photo was taken at the rear of the home.)

Here's the home from the front... but I couldn't get the whole building in the picture!

'Looks like a 'family tree', doesn't it? There are several, and they're growth is directed to create this shape!

On the way home we saw the remains of a church built in 1201. It was destroyed during the reformation. (The camera battery was discharged at this stage... but it's in the charger now!!!)

Park Gate - a former port in England just across the Dee from Wales

Fred, Fran, and Chris Gilbertson, (Fred's cousin), just before going for ice cream. (Good, but not as good as Jersey Junction!)
Chris retired last year, following a stroke, and is scheduled for back surgery next month.

Lake Windermere

Last week we went to the Lake District, and the weather couldn't have been better. (We've experienced some showers on a few days, but overall, the weather has been fantastic!)
Lake Windermere is the largest fresh water lake in the UK, and is about 10 miles long, and 220' deep at the deepest point. The 10mph speed limit was put into effect a few years ago to preserve the nature of the lake. (Speedboats and jetski's were taking over, but now it's fairly quiet, and very beautiful.)

The shore of the lake is spotted with sailboats and very large homes - like the one in the background.

The remains of an old home is still standing - although it is derelict and unoccupied.

Here's another cottage and boathouse on the lake...

We stopped and had tea at 'Cragwood Manor', a fabulous hotel near lake Windermere

English 'Tea and Scones' - and the flavor far surpasses the appearance.

A 'trailer' to the Dublin post

Things we have learned about hostel living.
1. think of looking at "elder" hostels so you don't feel older than dirt.
2. always ask what floor your room will be on.
3. always ask if there is an "lift" in the building (3 flights gets old fast)
4. check the bathroom service...
     ie:  is there hot water?
           how far away is the bathroom? (Fred's was next to our room, mine was waaaay  
           downnnnn the hallllll)
           does the shower head work?
           is there any water pressure?
           does the hostel cater to males? (Fred had good pressure and a shower                    
           head)
          is there a night life directly outside your window? (the pub next door had a live band every night)
5. always take your towel to the bathroom if you are a woman (men have
       towels in them for hand use)
6. Always look left before crossing the street.
7.  Smoking pot can make you friends!

Dublin

We spent a few days in Dublin - and stayed at the Litton Lane Hostel, near O'Connell St and the Liffey. [Our room was up three flights of stairs, and the hostel is without an elevator.] The manager must have felt sorry for us, (we were the oldest tenants), and gave us our towels without charging the customary fee and deposit.  The folks at the hostel were very helpful in directing us to various sights and attractions. We toured the city on the 'Hop-on/Hop-off bus, and thoroughly enjoyed the trip(s).

We saw the Book of Kells - located in Temple University's library, the National History museum, (aka, 'The Dead Zoo'), the National Library, where we looked - without success - for information regarding Fred's family history. [Most of the genealogical information was lost about 1916 during the Easter Rising, and the fire in the Post Office.]
We also toured Kilmainham Prison - which we both found Very interesting, and walked around the shopping areas.
The food in Dublin is great - but the prices were considerably higher than anything we've ever experienced.

Here's a view of the inside of Kilmainham Prison. {NOT as nice a place as the Litton Lane Hostel!!!