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!

Day 11

Saturday June 4

James was worried yesterday that it was really time to think of the returning train tickets to Windsor. So before going to bed last night I got my computer and tried. We found the reasonable tickets again like the ones we had coming. But after trying three different creditcards and were always declained (?) we gave up.

First thing this morning we tried again. No luck. Frustration. Why? We even tried Kate's credit card. Used her email address. Everything we could think of. Then James used his phone and paid with apple card and ... bingo! The only issue is now whether we got the time right. When will we back with the plane from Dublin. The news ever since we started this trip is not good about our return  flight. There had been chaos at the Dublin Airport and we were adviced to arrive 3 to 4 hours (?) early. For a flight at 7:20 am? Anyway, too early to worry about it yet.

Kate wanted to go to the Wicklow Mountains which are a little south of Dublin. They had been before with a group and loved it. We took the M1 which is close to the house. We had to drop 2 Euros into the toll basket. When we changed onto the M50 we had to pay toll too but no booth or basket. The friendly car rental lady had explained that to us (I explain later).

The M50 was quite busy and Kate was happy when we were off it and it was great country roads after that. After a while Kate thought we should stop at a cafe where we could get information. It was a really nice place.

I had a latte. I like it better than the Americano the others had.

Oh oh, David spied donuts. David and Kate shared a jam donut and James had one too. I had one with a custard filling. The others raved about the rasberry jam but the pits would have driven me crazy. We all declared that those donuts were the best. David said laughing that he regretted that he had only had a half.

The young man was very nice and friendly as we found every where, really everybody in Ireland is. People smile at you and go out of their way to help you. Drivers are patient and let you into a queue, things like that. 

Anyway, he suggested we take the first right to take in the beautiful view at Sally Gap but there where not any special trails. 

Wikipedia says: Sally Gap is one of the finest drives in Ireland. It is a mountain pass at an elevation of 500m (1640ft) above the sea level, located in County Wicklow, a region south of Dublin in the east of Ireland.

We had a bit of trouble finding 'the first right' but eventually decided we were on the right way. All the roads in Ireland seem to be quite narrow so we had to look for a safe way to stop to enjoy the view. Several of those little places were full but we finally came to just the perfect one. We walked to the edge of this.

The above walk was great. We had to tread carefully and help each other in spots but the view was so worth it. It was definitely a chilly day but we enjoyed it anyway.

We continued then to Glendalough (pronounced "glen-da-lock") and is said to be founded by St Kevin, a 6th century monk and hermit who settled in these mountains chosen for their remoteness, beauty and serenity. 

Here we are in the Wicklow Mountains National Park Visitor Center. 

We looked at the map and decided which trail to follow. Ah, so much loveliness to see in nature. Here just a few photos which as always don't really can give the true picture. Breath the air. Hear the birds. Hear the water rushing.

There was a lower lake.

And there was an upper lake but we did not walk around it. Too cold. Too far.

At that spot I saw this sign and thought it was hilarious. Swimming not allowed? Who would want to? Brrrrrrr.

The walk way was quite full with people so I was amazed when I detected some deer grazing in the woods. Fun. Hurray for zoom.

Then we took a detour into the Monastic City. 

From the internet: Glendalough is home to one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. This early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and from this developed the “Monastic City”. Most of the buildings that survive today date from the 10th through 12th centuries. Despite attacks by Vikings over the years, Glendalough thrived as one of Ireland’s great ecclesiastical foundations and schools of learning until the Normans destroyed the monastery in 1214 A.D. and the dioceses of Glendalough and Dublin were united.

I took a video in a complete circle around myself. 

VIDEO       (0:38 min)

By now it was 2:30 pm and we decided to make our way home because the drive will take a while. We were not in a hurry so we decided to take regular roads. First in the direction of Naas in the county of Kildare just to get an impression of the town. We thought that Kate and James' grandmother (Daddy's mom) was born there but then David found last night two different accounts of where she was born. We have to do some serious ancestry sleuthing. 

But we stopped at a petrol station to pay the road from this morning on M50. Just like we were told most stations were doing it and yes they did. All you have to do is show your car license plate number. Oh yes, he also asked 'how many?' Just once = EUR3.20. We don't know how long you have until you pay if you accumulate several over several days.

Then we headed towards the town of Trim. Somewhere we saw a supermarket and stopped. James and I went in to do the shopping (milk, bread, apples, David's newspaper etc). The others stayed behind so we didn't have to "officially" park. 

For dinner we still had the 2 fish pies we had bought in Clogherhead. All they needed was 35 minutes in the oven. Rhubarb pie, warmed in the turned-off oven, with cream ... perfect.

More Jubilee celebration. 

The best of the whole celebration was this VIDEO.  

A must see. This is why people love and respect the Queen so much.

Another splendid day. Time to go to bed. Have to get up in good time tomorrow.