Day 12

Sunday June 5

Before I forget: I added something to yesterday's blog at the very bottom. You might want to take a look in case you read it before I did that.

Today> Normally we take our time getting up in the morning. Everybody takes care of their own breakfast whenever. Today we were a bit in a hurry. I have written in previous blogs how difficult it was to secure those tickets needed to visit Brú na Bóinne or Boyne valley tombs which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tickets were for 9:15 am, not our prefered time, to be at the Newgrange Visitor Center. 

You also have to walk quite a way from parking to the entrance. A lovely way.

There was a little queue but quickly all was sorted out. There were different kind of tours, some more and some less intensive. We had wanted to see all. We got wrist bands and were told to be at a certain place for a 10 o'clock bus. 

Until then we could enjoy the museum which was very good and informative. Almost the first thing we saw was a wall with 10 different important ancient buildings. James and I could not believe that we had been in person to all 10. Newgrange Stone Age Passage Tomb here in the Boyne Valley was one we didn't even know about until a few days ago.

The museum was rather small but they had some excellent videos projected lifesize on the walls. People of all ages were reenacting how life might have been 5200 years ago.

Few minutes before 10 o'clock we walked over the bridge to the place were the bus was waiting.

Yes, this was exactly where we had walked to between the canal and the river up to the bridge and then back.

Passed the bridge was a waiting area and there was already a blue bus. On the dot at 10 o'clock he took 20 of us to Knowth.  There was a young woman waiting for us. She was a great guide, telling about the significants about this place in an easy to understand and funny way.

It started to drizzle rain but she marched us up the path. Ha-ha, she was the only one prepared with an umbrella but James and I, Kate and Dave had raincoats on.

This is the entrance of the main one easily seen by the tall stone in front. There are two entrances to two passage tombs which are totally separated, do not meet in the middle. Nobody can go in because these mounds are not stable and very dangerous.

Many of the kerbs, those big stones on the outside, are decorated with carvings. Here in Knowth they were all exposed but a lintel had been placed above to preserve them as much as possible. Considering that it was all done about 5000 years ago, when there were no metal tools, it was amazing. Everything done with stone on stone.

You have to admire the whole structure when you concider that horses were not used at that time and of course the wheel was not invented. 

There was also a little museum and a movie. Very interesting.

Back to the blue bus at the alloted time. 

A short drive to Newgrange. There are actually three of these sites in this area where the river Boyne makes a bend. Please don't miss clicking on THIS.  It is very interesting and there is also a very interesting video by National Geographic.

At Newgrange we got a new guide, an older lady. She was also very good. 

This passage tomb mound looked different. The archeologist who lead the excavation decided that all the white stones must have come from the Wicklow Mountains. They were found around the mound and were laying in a way that they must have been used like this. It must have been a very impressive sight when the sun shone on it which means that the place must have been very important.

Only one entrance, one tomb.

Because it is so very small inside the toom we were devided into 2 groups of 10. We where in the first group. You could not take any bags or such in which could have scraped the stones inside.Also no photography allowed inside. But to be honest, without special cameras one could not have taken a photo which explained anything. 

The guide had pointed out the hole above the entry. Inside she made sure everybody stood at a certain place (or not obstruct a certain way) and turned the light out. Then she turned on a light which had been placed to simulate the winter solice sunbeam and it was amazing. Yes, amazing the knowledge people had even more than 5000 years ago.

When the second group went in we could do the walking around.

Back to the Visitor Center. By now it was afternoon. Of course there was a cafeteria. Each of us chose what they wanted. 

I had a fish cake Kate said she usually likes. It was dry and a bit disappointing but with the beets and salad it was nice. 

I think James had a steak and guiness pie.

The weather was not that favorable today for being outside. And, of course, at 2:30 pm we had to watch the Queen's Jubilee parade. Could it be that Kate and David missed the beginning?

The Jubilee really was a lot of fun. All of it, when we were in Windsor before seeing people hanging bunting and what was shown on TV. 

I could have taken a lot of photos but refrained. This one with all the stuffed corgis on wheels was just too funny. My friends at home with corgis might enjoy this. 

Yes, the Queen is a trooper. I wish I had her humor and energy when I am 96. Working on it!