The weather has been so beautiful that we want to be out all the time. 65 to 70 degrees for the last 3 days. Everyone is telling us it is very unusual. Pat and I have done a little shopping in Dingle and then we discovered a treasure. Has anyone ever heard of Harry Clarke stained glass windows? Run do not walk to your nearest library and get a book showing his work which now belongs to the Irish nation. It is truly amazing and so different,. It is a religious experience to go into the convent house at St. Mary's Church in Dingle abd walk into the chapel. It is a small chapel with Spanish Oak made into benches along the outer walls and Italian Marble for the altar. There are 6 stained glass windows depicting the major events in the new testament about Jesus. The baptism, little children come to me, sermon on the Mount, etc. When I asked the young guide who showed us the room how often he peeks in when no one is there, he said as often as I can. I think anyone would want to do that. I will go back with Bill before we leave.
We took a day trip to Killarney which is the site of the national park. There are hundreds of stately B&bs and homes in the area. Very nice but not the charm of Dingle. We toured the Muckross estate, late 19th century furnishings. It was used as a hunting lodge and displays many dozens of red deerskulls with attached antlers. Each hunter had his name, weight of annimal and date carved on the skull. They took their hunting seriously. Louise Heuber(?) one of the owners was a wonderful watercolorist. Many of her pieces are in the British Museum they said. And many are in this house. I thought they were wonderful depicting the surrounding lakes and forest. Pat and I went exploring the grounds before the guided tour and mentioned this during the presentation when asked. We said we really liked the rock garden and were immediately scolded for going to the Rockery--that is for young people we were lucky we diidn't fall climbing up the steps. No one over 20 should do that climb--we informed her that we felt like we were 20. Mary McCarthy was our guide and Pat told her we drink at her family's pub almost every night. Mary liked that and didn't yell at us again. However, we drink at Murphy's not McCarthy's. Oh well, we feel 20 but our minds have aged.
Pat could not resist asking if we wanted to go on a jaunty ride around the gardens and down to the waterfall. Of course we all said yes and after our tour of the house we punished the horse--Suzy. Our driver Robert got in the cart first, then me, Pat, Bill and Monte. As we all sat down Suzy was almost lifted off the ground,
Robert immediately made some adjustments and we were off for an hours ride, We needed to walk up to the falls, and found the rocks and trees along the path were completly covered in moss,. Not like our moss, it was dry and grew on all sides of the tree and limbs.
We got some great photo ops but Robert would only stop at the preferred favoriate stops that the horse knew. It was fun. The hour drive back to Dingle was just right-- Dinnertime and we were hungry. We ate at John Benny's and everyone had a good meal. The area where we were sitting was filled and we all started talking and met a newly married couple from Adilade Australia -if I could only spell. They were a retired couple and then a 6 month married couple from R.I. and two women from Seattle and another family of 3 celebrating mom's 70th birthday. We think it was her son and daughter or her son-in-law and daughter--doesn't matter. Then us. We stayed until the music started at 10 and left. On the way to the car we heard the local pipe band practicing outside. Doesn't that seem late?
The day before leaving, the Meyers wanted to go over Conner Pass. Remember that Mike and Rob? It was a wonderful day with a lot of photo ops. I had never been to Brandon's Point--closest area to Canada on this Penisula--Newfoundland to be exact. It was a very narrow road with sheep to spare and great vistas. And it was also the most heavily traveled. We could not believe all of the cars. There was a couple from the Netherlands and they did not speak English and of couse we could not communicate in their native language so sign language it was. Not too bad if I do say so. We found, can you believe, Murphy's Bar on our way back. Mr. Murphy used to work in Boston and his son lives there now. When Murphy SR.'s father died, he moved back to keep the family business going. The establishment and home are made of such old brick that it looks like stone from the weathering. Been in business since mid 1800's. The view was incredible. The business mostly confinded to summer visitors. The connor pass takes hardy travelers only since some portions are only single car width and it is difficult to see what cars may be coming the other way, Castle Gregory was the next town we visited, another summer tourist area. Nothing was open at all except one pub that did not sell food.
Last meal, thanks Monte and Pat, was at the Bemmer Hotel. More high class than some pubs. Wonderful lamb shank, reduced sauce and mash, pork chops and chicken were eaten in silence. It was good and we were hungry. Then we went to the opening of the new bar in town. We actually recognized the owners. When we walked in the couple from RI had the cat bird seat and they were the official photographers of the event. It is really easy to fit in in Dingle. Bill, unfortunately, had an asthma attack from the varnish and other newly finished bits at the pub. He had a horrible night. When Pat and I were walking around town earlier, we peeked in and thought it might be a HGTV show. Nothings was finished, at 4 but by 8 p.m. it was opened and filled. I suspect that some people are still there trying to release themselves from the newly varnished seats.
We left at 6 a.m. to take the Meyers to Shannon to catch their plane back to Pittsburgh. It was a great week--thanks for sharing our adventure, We got there with plenty of time, we dropped them off and had our breakfast before heading home to Dingle. Now naps will begin. We will have a lazy weekend as we are going to Dublin on Monday and must catch the 7:15 am bus to Tralee to get the train. The train was 22 Euros for both of us. What a bargain.
Pray that this fine spring weather continues.
No comments:
Post a Comment