Airport

My favorite combat boots have broken. I fell and nearly broke my kneecaps. I cracked my iPad screen horribly. I miss America.

I’m grateful for security, but having to be searched twice before even boarding is insane.

Ugh.

I miss America.

My last Irish day

Today is bittersweet.

We arose (earlier than necessary), to do some last minute shopping before heading to Dublin.

The bus ride was long, and I read instead of talking to the Frenchman. When we finally arrived to the hotel, we quickly freshened up…well, most everyone did. I just lay on the bed, wishing I could sleep.

We headed to St. Patrick’s cathedral for evensong, which, unfortunately, we missed. Our guide didn’t realize it happened around 3 on Sunday rather than 5:20 like normal. After paying just to walk into the church, and see the gift shop (which really disgusted some of us), we were supposed to go to a very fancy restaurant. Unfortunately, when our guide rang them, they told us they had somehow overlooked our reservation for nearly 30 people, and were too booked to take us…. The guide felt like he had let us down, but all we wanted to do was eat, we really didn’t care where.

After touring Phoenix park briefly, we headed back to the hotel to wait for dinner.

Dinner was a ton of fun, filled with great laughs and too much wine. We made great toasts, and our guide had written a funny story about some of us. It was an enjoyable time with unforgettable people.

I will be in Atlanta in about 24 hours exactly, and I have never been happier to see it. In a few days, I will be visiting my home state of South Florida, and while there I will edit all the pictures I took.

Thank you to everyone who followed the blog, and my adventure. Look out for a plane blog, ya never know when I will wind up sitting with someone worth blogging about…

Cheers!
Fraoć

Ireland day 11

Today was glorious!

We went to Burren and viewed the national park. Sometimes, the lake rises so high, that you can’t even see the road, let alone use it! Luckily, that was not the case today, and we were able to take it in. All kinds of plants grow there, one from every ecosystem… I believe our guide said that’s the only place it happens.

Afterwards, we went to Coole park to learn more about lady Gregory, see her entire estate, and tour the extensive grounds. Jeremy and I intentionally went off every path until we got incredibly lost. It was amazing! We found so many beautiful areas, including a huge green wall made entirely of moss.

Naturally, it was built by trolls.

After unsuccessfully climbing some trees, and successfully cutting myself on thorns, we made our way back to a trail and met up with the rest of our group.

Some of the group has been somewhat hateful to our guide, so I gave him a heart-shaped leaf, told him I loved him, and now he’s using it as a bookmark. Awe

After a brief tour of Thor tower, the home Yeats and Georgie shared, the Frenchman, Katie, and I talked politics and hobbies. It was a beautiful drive, and a learning experience.

Because we ate such a late lunch, I skipped dinner, nibbling on some of the free fudge Folsom Prison Blues got me yesterday.

Tomorrow, we will visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and wind up back in Dublin, only to sleep before heading back to Atlanta Monday morning. I can’t believe how quickly this trip has gone. It has truly been unforgettable.

Cheers,
H

Ireland, Day Ten

Where do I even begin? Today has been so incredible!

Don’t get me wrong, we are all tired of being herded around like cattle, and rushed every moment, but when I think of how much we’ve done, I can’t help but feel grateful for the full schedule.

This morning, after a traditional Irish Breakfast and about four cups of tea, about five of us went to explore Innismaan. I got to see Synge’s house, the chair where he sat and wrote, I was able to lie on cliffs and watch waves break against the stones while seals did flips nearby. I witnessed a cow give birth, the baby stand for the first time, and I even met a nice local who is going to mail me some things I’ve been longing for when I get back to the states.

All this before 2:30.

After getting the most beautiful sweater, I choked down some lunch and booked it to the ferry bound for Doolin.

We have a young French man with us, and I have been conversing with him, which makes me really proud of myself. I must remember to email my French professor and thank her, because he is GORGEOUS.

While waiting for the ferry, I struck up a conversation with a (also very attractive) Englishman. Turns out, he’s a director, in Ireland to research how how should construct the set, as the show takes place in Ireland. We talked for about 30 minutes before getting on the boat.

While on the boat, I started reading a fourth book. Ha.

Doolin is lovely so far! Quaint, and friendly.

Four of us went to buy fudge, after being told it was the best around. I bought plenty, and we learned the owner loved Johnny Cash. She wanted us southerner a to sing, and not surprisingly, no one wanted to….

So I sang Folsom prison blues! She enjoyed it so much, that she gave me free fudge! I shared it with everyone, even the Frenchman .

It was another unforgettable moment.

At the pub, I finally found my Middleton whiskey, and at 14 euro a shot, I’m happy to report it was worth it! I’m so warm!!

I somehow forgot to mention some unfortunate events in past blogs: one of my fellow travelers spent three days in Sligo’s hospital, being rehydrated via IV drip. He had numerous bugs, and I can guarantee he will never forget his trip to Ireland…

I’m ecstatic to report he has made a nearly complete recovery, and is smiling and enjoying the adventure.

Yesterday, though, a sweet girl with us began to suffer from vertigo. She has slept for a day and a half, and has to be helped everywhere, as she can’t balance.

Please send positivity her way.

Anyway, we are resting before venturing to the pub for some live music.

Cheers,
H

Thoughts while on a ferry to an Irish island

The pluck of a fiddle string,
your hand around my waist,
and though wine was just pressed
against my mouth, all I can taste

are your lips. Darkness set
long ago, but the moon still hangs
low, and I’m craving you more
than you could possibly know.

One, two, three, step runs on loop
through my head, as I follow your footsteps
with my drunk, drowsy head. The dancers
are yawning, and their applause rings hollow,

but as long as you’re waltzing,
my feet will still follow. The fiddler stops,
and his fingers ache, and we all start
to leave so that, soon, we can wake.

I step lightly through the doorway, missing
your hand, craving your touch more than
even I can understand. Outside the faeries sing,
lulling me to sleep, but my feet hasten

a bit, desperate to keep
waltzing with you in a huge, drafty
room, but my car door is opening,
and reality looms.

I turn to wave goodbye to you,
to see your face once more,
but the light is extinguished on the porch,
and no one stands at the door.

The faeries grow more distant, their words
a churning hum, and as I settle into my
seatbelt, I can hear a Barron drum.
Inside you’ve found the music,

and ladies linger, still,
and although you’ll stay in
my memory, I know
I never will.

Ireland day 9

Today has been quite long.

We left Sligo to go to Pontoon and Lahardaun to see the Titanic Memorials and Knockmaria cemetery. One of our fearless leaders is cousins with a descendent of a Titanic survivor, so not only did they get to see each other again, but she got to visit, for the first time, her great, great, great, grandfather’s grave.

It’s an itty bitty town, but 14 members died on the titanic, so that was a huge devastation to their town. They have tons of memorials, and everyone expresses so much reverence towards it. It was an incredible tour.

We then had a long, but beautiful drive, to the ferry that took us to Inis Meain island. We swelled the population by showing up here! It’s just so beautiful…you should all come see it.

Daragh Molloy spoke to us after dinner about emmigration, Celtic Christianity, and life on Inis Meain

I’m going to see Synge’s house tomorrow! I can’t wait!

Sorry all of these are belated. No wifi anywhere

Cheers,
H

Ireland day 7 (belated)

Unfortunately, it rained even more than usual…

We were supposed to see Queen Mave’s tomb, but the rain would have made the hike impossible.
So, we went shopping in Sligo town.

And…

I found a cape!

It was the one thing I really wanted from Ireland, and I got one!

After getting some great gifts for mum and daddy, we hopped on the bus and went to the Countess Markievicz statue. After our tour guide related her to Bin Laden and got us all into a huge fight about terrorism… Ugh, lets not talk about it…we went to…

Wait for it…

…YEATS’S GRAVE!!!

And Georgie’s…

I just…I couldn’t handle the amazement I was feeling. There is no point trying to put it into words, so please, go visit him for yourself.

We also visited/talked about the Lissadell House, the round tower, Battle of Books, Mullaghmore Headland, Classiebawn and Mountbatten. Such beautiful ocean sights today. Cliffs and all.

I got to not only see swans, but Practically pet them. I’m telling you, so much beauty in today.

We then went to dinner at our guide’s beautiful, historic home, and heard more poetry from Brian Leyden. He was so kind, and his reading of Adam’s Curse made me cry.

We are all so sleepy, as this study is GO GO GO

But

It’s amazing.

Cheers,
H