After a day of travelling from London, via an initial delayed train, onto an overcrowded second train (good thing we had pre-booked and assigned seats), and an insanely choppy ferry ride, we arrived in a chilly and drizzly Dublin Port!! Greeted by Aggie, my Polish-Canadian-newly Irish friend, and Deb, a fellow Canadian friend with an inspiring Irish soul we boarded a bus for the city and settled into the nearest pub! With bellies full of drink and homemade soup and brown bread, and our minds abuzz with girl chatter we confirmed our hopes for the week ahead!
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| Dublin Port |
And an amazing week it was….
While I could write paragraphs and posts about the friendships, journeys, daily life and living, and perceptions of Irish folk and the landscape, I will instead attempt to summarize as succinctly as possible the overall feeling and experience…
#1: Ireland is perhaps the most friendly and generous country in Europe, or maybe even the world? Irish folk are both interesting and interested, are always willing and able to lend a hand, clarify directions, or offer a free coffee, and in each case it is executed with genuine hospitality, generosity, and consideration!
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| Relaxed rainy afternoons spent in pubs... |
#2: The landscape is abound with rolling hills, winding rivers, lush meadows, narrow thin roads outlined with stone walls, and pastures of sheep, and dotted along with rural villages, small towns and quaint cities that seem unbothered with the bustle and speed of regular city living.
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| Tide out in Skerries |
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| Calm waters of Greystones |
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| Drizzly days in Howth |
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| Atop the Hill of Tara |
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| Relics of Slane |
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| Tranquility of Wicklow |
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| Meandering through the Wicklow Mountains |
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| Dublin's St. Stephen's Green |
#3: For an industrialized first world nation, their historical and political struggles are heartbreaking and difficult to understand; but their eternal hope, faith and pride are inspiring and humbling.
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| Political murals in Belfast |
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| Signing the peace wall |
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| (Divisional) Peace wall in Belfast |
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| Bus tour of Belfast |
#4: The weather is frequently erratic and often temperamental with eternal cloudy overcast skies, fits of rain and fleeting moments of sunshine amidst cooler temperatures.
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| Cloudy skies at the Hill of Tara |
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| Rainbows in Skerries |
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| Overcast horizons in Monasterboice |
#5: Finally, and perhaps this is more of a testament to friendship… but time spent in conversation, connection and contemplation with incredible friends adds a special flavour to any and all occasions and experiences!
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| Farewell lunch at the Gingerman Pub |
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| Day in Dublin |
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| Picnic in Wicklow |
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| Afternoon Pub visits |
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