Adventures in Ireland: the final chapter...for this trip

Today officially marks 5 years of marriage for Stephen and I. To celebrate and honor this milestone we renewed our vows in a private hand-fasting ceremony.

It was just the two of us saying our vows to one another while literally tying the knots in a cord that was wrapped around our hands. This comes from an ancient Celtic tradition - and probably even predates the Celts.

We chose to do our hand-fasting at the cliffs. So, shortly after breakfast and just as soon as the morning drizzle let up we were out the door and at the cliffs again. We were there early enough that there were very few people and it really did feel like it was just him and I and the powerful forces of the wind, cliffs and waves. (Pics will soon be posted)

We also chose to hop in the car and take a drive to some near by villages where we found a beautiful spillway (see photo) and a busy sea side promenade - complete with surfers! We found some lovely trinkets and had some lunch before we headed back to the B&B for a rest. We watned to be sure to have enough energy for our night out on the town.

At a little before 6pm we got up and out to a recommended pub for some food and music. The pub was about 80% full by the time we got there but we found a great table just around the corner from the band. We couldn't see them, but we could hear them. It was a fun 6 piece band of an accordion, guitar, spoons and 2 mandolins.

I was hoping for a reenactment of the scene from the movie "Titanic" when Rose meets Jack below deck for a dance party. I think we may have left too early for such an event to occur - for here I sit typing at 9:15pm.

Hey, give me a break! We need to be on our way to the airport at 4:30am tomorrow!

I have had one funny coincidence each day that we've been in Ireland. Every where we go, I run into people from Wisconsin - and they have all been familiar with my home town, Wautoma!

This really is a small world.

Adventures in Ireland: Day Two

Today was our physically fit day. We started our morning with an attempt at walking to the nearby cliffs of Moher. The hostess said it was only 5 minutes away! After we were 15 minutes into our walk, we realized that she meant it was a 5 minute car ride. So we changed our focus and went for a long morning walk around the countryside.

We are staying in an area that is quite rural. In fact, Mrs. B&B runs the inn while Mr. B&B tends the cows. There is even a hobby petting farm one house up.

The land here is all rolling hills that are parceled by beautiful ancient stacked shale stone fences and watched over by surprisingly large, simple and colorful houses.

After our walk, we returned to the Inn for a freshly prepared breakfast that included eggs, sausage, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice and coffee. Stephen and I shared a very leisurely and intimate meal while sitting in a quiet dining room. These are the moments that really resonate with me when we are traveling and for the first time, I realized I was on vacation.

At midday we went sea kayaking! We took a 3 hour paddle around the bay of Galway and it was magic! Not to mention the magic that was needed to get my curvy body into a wetsuit. Whoa, it's a been a few years since I had one on last but the feeling is the same. It's both a feeling of security and of suffocation. I don't know if I'll ever be strong enough or skilled enough to get into one of those things by myself!

The day started drizzly and grey but cleared up in time for us to set out into the water. About 40 minutes into the tour, it started drizzling again, then down pouring! The drizzle was enchanting, the downpour was misery. Thankfully the heavy rains swept further out into the ocean and we were eventually treated with sunny, partly-cloudy skies for the last hour of our tour. We saw castle ruins, sea birds and migratory birds aplenty. We took a quick stretch on a sandbar beach out in the middle of the bay. Most significantly, we didn't fall in. Water temps are still pretty cool here this time of year.

We savored some pub grub at McDermot's in the village of Doolin after our paddle. It was the best Guiness Pie I've ever had (a total of two). We had every intention of sticking around for the live music, until we found out that they started playing at 9:30pm. It was only 5:30 and there wasn't enough good beer in the bar to keep us satisfied for 4 hours.

Oh, and then there's that whole "up after 8pm" thing that we still struggle with.

We resolved to stay out late tomorrow night (St. Patty's Day) and really enjoy the culture!

I now write this posting from my bed at 8:45 with very heavy eyelids. Party people, we are not.

Adventures in Ireland: Day One

On Thursday, March 15,
2012, Stephen and I were out of bed at 3:15am to prepare for our very early flight to Ireland. Thankfully this time we made it to the airport with no problems (our last trip to the airport started out with a flat tire 10 minutes from home).

We got on the flight and had smooth sailing into London-Heathrow. It was very exciting to see the city below appear as we descended through the clouds and then down into the famed "London Fog". Unfortunately, that London fog caused us 30 minutes circling of the airport and 3 hour delay on our next flight.

Eventually we got onto or Ireland flight where I sat next to a very entertaining but frazzle man who was headed home after being away from his 2 daughters (ages 6-yrs & 10-months with one on the way) since Christmas time. He worked in Australia and had been awake for roughly 48 hours. Oh, and he was a smoker and if you ask me, it had been quite a while since his last fix.

We landed in Shannon (on the west coast) and drove for about a half hour to our beautiful Bed and breakfast located just one mile from the Cliffs of Moher(google it! You may have seen the cliffs in such movies as "Harry Potter").

When we first stepped off the plane, I was immediately assaulted by the sea air mingled with dairy air. It was the most overwhelmingly charming sent I've ever experienced! It sounds horrifying, but it was so non-sequitur that my brain was totally baffled into submission.

We decided to take our hostess' advice and had dinner at the home of "BIM Seafood Chef of the Year 2011"- a small-ish restaurant called Vaughn's.

We put our GPS to the test and selected the restaurant. We ended up driving on what Stephen labeled "pony trails" of roads for over half an hour when we showed up at a "Vaughn's" but NOT the one our hostess suggested (which we had passed on our way in to the B&B just an hour or so before).

In an effort to correct the error we headed back to the hotel and began recognizing land marks - thus enabling us to make our way to the real Vaughn's.

Stephen ordered a lamb dish that was amazingly delicious. I had a surprisingly disappointing fish and chips with my first pint of Guinness. Ireland - I am not impressed by your idea of beer (IMHO: watery with a good initial bouquet but sours on the aftertaste. I equate it to licking roofing tiles.)

After settling the bill, we headed "home" for a semi-restful night (strange bed+cool temps=semi-restful).