IRISH ODYSSEY - DAY 3

IRISH ODYSSEY ... DAY 3 ... JUNE 28 2012...

And the rain continued.  It rained sometime every day, most of the time just a drizzle, or just a lot of moisture in the air.  We wore jackets (it was cool) and raincoats (it was wet) every single day. 

Also it stayed daylight until 11 p.m., and was getting daylight at 4 a.m.  But neither the coolness, the wetness, or the lightness interfered with our trip, and the wonderful sights and the fun we had.  I would not hesitate to do this trip again.

And so, it is day 3 of the odyssey.  Suitcases in the hallway at 6 a.m.  Breakfast at 7 a.m.  On the bus at 8 a.m.  Nancy and I always like the back of the bus, guess we are a little strange.  We had seat rotation, but as the bus had empty seats asked Bob if we would be thrown off the tour if we took the back seats every day.  He said go right ahead.

And so, as Nancy phrased it, we "took up housekeeping " in the back, each of us had an entire seat to ourselves.  Way to go!!!

This was the day we visited the Dunbrody Famine Ship (known as the coffin ships) in New Ross, and Waterford Crystal at the House of Wateford in Waterford.  Waterford was along the River Suir, near the city's Viking Triangle.  Bet you can't begin to guess what town we were in!

First we toured the Dunbrody Famine Ship.  It is an exact replica of the actual Dunbrody.  At the time of the potato famine in Ireland during the 1800's, millions of people starved to death, and thousands more boarded the "famine" ships to set sail to America and Canada.

 
As most of the folks were in poor health to begin with, many perished on the voyage, hence the name "coffin ships".  There were a couple of "first class" cabins on board on the upper part of the ship, and in steerage (just one long room, with double bunks lining the walls of the ship) where the poor class were housed.  Not a pretty picture. If you were unlucky enough to get a lower bunk, and the folks in the upper bunk became sea-sick - well you can use your imagination.

During the tour we had the privilege of hearing "first-hand from one of the steerage passengers" about the conditions in steerage.  She was dressed as a woman would be dressed in the 1800's, with her "baby" in her arms and told us about the conditions, the food, the smell,  and the at-sea burials.

Secondly we had a well dressed, very snooty, upper-class woman who told us about her "hardship" being in a first class cabin, and "how difficult it was" when they opened the hatches to steerage, and she had to put up with the smell.

From there we had lunch, and our odd couple were still unpacking their sandwiches and fruit while the rest of us bought our lunches. 

Next stop was the House of Waterford, where we got the grand tour, watching them heating and blowing the glass, placing it in the molds, the entire process of glass making to the finished product and the showroom.

I was fortunate as about 100 years ago I was employed by Brockway Glass, in their office, in the  training department and while there I learned a lot about glass-making.

We ended our tour in the show-room, and I sure didn't get close to any of the glass.  The prices were way out of my reach.  No, I didn't bring any Waterford Glass home with me.

From there we arrived in Cork City and checked into our hotel, The River Lee.  I had some free time, so went walking, taking pictures.  One of the best places were on the grounds of the local college, and the homes near-by.  What a wonderful, fascinating day.

The above are of the Riverlee Hotel.  The next will be some of the views of Cork.

And finally some taken on the campus of the college.

Nancy went shopping.  She shopped everywhere we stopped.  She did a lot of her Christmas shopping on the trip.  Her suit cases were packed to the gills with shopping.  She had the reputation with our group of being a "Master Shopper".  Whenever she was missing, I was asked if she was shopping again.  The answer was always "YES".

Supper was at 7, the meal usually lasted at least an hour, then we retired.  As we would only be one night at the River Lee, it would be suitcases out at 6 a.m. in the morning, we called it a day.

And so day 3 came to an end - 9 more to go.  Seemed like a lot, but they flew by. 

Now the trip is just a memory.  But a good memory.  I hope you are enjoying travling the odyssey with me, hopefully someday you will have an odyssey of your own and God Bless.

IRISH ODYSSEY - DAY 2

IRISH ODYSSEY...DAY 2...JUNE 27 2012...

We were finding out that we would be up most mornings at 6 a.m., or there-abouts.  Breakfast was always at 7 a.m., but it took us time to get ourselves put together.  The older you get, the longer it takes. 

Breakfasts in Ireland were a hoot.  All were buffet style, the food was really good, lots of it.  But --- we were served BAKED BEANS every single morning, along with grilled tomatoes, in addition to all the buns and rolls and bacon, and eggs, and sliced salami or some such thing, toast, porridge (which was really realy good) juice, tea, coffee, and other stuff that I can't even remember.  But baked Beans?????

We had a wonderful group of folks on the bus, really enjoyed every one of them.  But there is always that one person, or one couple.  We had the couple.

They were an older  couple, lots of fun to talk with, very considerate, and, from our conversations, very well traveled.  Been everywhere, done that, seen this.  You know what I mean.

They carried an endless supply of small plastic zip-lock bags with them.  Every morning after they had eaten their breakfast, he went back through the line, filling his plate with buns, meat, cheese, and fresh fruit (apples, bananas, etc.).  Upon returning to the table he made sandwiches for him and his wife.  Put them in the plastic bags.  Put the bags in his back pack (the tour company had supplied us all with back packs prior to the trip) and away they went.  The first day the rest of us just looked at each other.  What on earth???

Lunch time.  In the small restaurant (lunches were on us, the only meal on the trip that was not paid for by the tour) they sit down, didn't matter which one of our group they sat with, opened their zip-lock bags and removed their lunch.  They did purchase their drinks.  This was an every day occurrence.  One restaurant did confront him indicating that he could not do that, he agreed with them, and kept on
 eating.

Just when you think you have seen everything!

But I am rambling again.  This was the day we visited the Megalithic Tombs in the morning, then in the evening had our dinner at Abbey Tavern.  Here is History Lesson  #?, well whatever number.

Before touring the tombs we visited the Boyne Valley Visitor Center, where we learned the history of the stone age people who created these tombs, along with what many things would have looked like in their time.

Then on to the tombs.  The Great Mound was built over 5000 years ago.  It has 18 smaller satelite mounds around it.  This was in Knowth, in the county of Meath. 

These Stone Age  people were also the first known farmers in Ireland.  When the tombs were discovered, they found the remains of over 200 people.  From the site of these tombs we could see the Boyne River, for which the valley is named.  The Celtic or Old Irish spelling of the Boyne is 'bru na Boinne'.

The afternoon was free, then we re-boarded the bus for our trip to Abbey Tavern.

This is an old world Pub, with original stone walls, flag stone floor, turf (peat) fires in the fireplaces.  Abbey Tavern hosts the original 'Traditional Irish Night' which features trditional Irish music, consisting of song and dance.  Prior to the entertainment we had a typical 4 course Irish dinner, including Irish Coffee.  Nancy got hooked on Irish Coffee, and she does not drink alcoholic beverages.  But she just loved her coffee.

It was late (the entertainment did not end until after 10 p.m.) when we returned to our hotel. 

We had to be up, have out bags outside in the hallway the next morning by 6 a.m.  Breakfast at 7a.m., then back on to the bus for our next adventure, and a new hotel in a different area.

I hope you are enjoying our adventure.  Wish for rain, as we are desperately dry, and God Bless. 

ps:  either I am really dumb, or the computer is really smart.  would not do the pictures as I indicated I wanted them done.  bear with me, please.

IRISH ODDYSEY - DAY 1 .... JUNE 26 2012.....

Well, here we go.  I finished down-loading my pictures, all 4542 of them.  Computer was smokin' away when I finished.  There are tales to tell and pics to share, so be ready, here I come!

DAY 1 - Arrived at Dublin airport 6:30 a.m. (that would be 1:30 a.m. our time), after flying all night.  Our arrival date in Dublin was June 13.  

We were met at the airport by a representive of C-I-E Tours Internatinal (who we were booked with) and walked, what seemed like, miles to the parking area where his shuttle was parked.

We arrived at the at our Hotel, the Davenport, got checked in, and luckily our room was ready that early in the morning.  We would be there 2 nights.  We had free time until 2:00 p.m.  Took a power nap for about an hour.  Were advised not to sleep more than that as it would mess up our internal clocks and when it was actually bed-time we would be up and at it.  With nothing to be 'at it' with.

While Nancy did her whatever, I took a walk around the hotel area, discovered a really neat little park just a block away, and spent time there.  Also sphotographed the statue of Oscar Wilde.  Returned to the hotel in time for lunch, which was at noon.

At 2:00 p.m. boarded a bus with a city tour guide, and drove around Dublin, getting basic information and history.  We also visited Kilmainham Gaol, one of their oldest prisons, no longer in use.  Returned to hotel in time for 5:00 p.m. meeting with Bob Reid, who would  be our bus driver/tour guide for the remainder of the Odyssey.

During his welcome speech to us (there would be 37 in our group, all from the States)  he went over the basic rules for our tours.  Laughingly he also told us that we really really needed to be on time for all bus boardings, as most of our tours had scheduled tour guides to guide us.  If we missed our tour time, we would be tough out of luck. As all tours were paid, we wanted to be on time.  The company would not like paying for tours we did not take. 

He told us if we were 1 minute late, we had to sing for him.  If we were 2 minutes late we had to dance for him.  If we were 3 minutes late we had to both sing and dance, as long as we wanted to, as he would be gone.  Funny thing, we all laughed, but during the entire 12 days everyone, and I do mean everyone, was on time reboarding the bus.

At 7 p.m. we had dinner in the hotel dining room, and most of us crashed.  We were really really tired.

All of our breakfasts, dinners, and tour admissions were included in the price.  We only had to pay for our lunches, and souveners.

Nedless to say, Nancy and I were asleep the minute our heads hit the pillows.  Had to be up early next morning. 

And sleep we did.  I hope you will enjoy our trip, if not, just skip the blogs.  Otherwise, enjoy and God Bless. 

NO LEPRACHAUNS or POTS OF GOLD....MONDAY JUNE 25 2012....

...but, oh!  the memories.  So much to see and do.  So much history.  So much beauty.  So many pictures - will take me days to edit and organize.

I did see a 'fairy tree' though, where the fairies supposedly live.  And castles - even spent the night in one - and scenery, and sheep  (lots and lots of sheep) and cows and horses.  Saw the cliffs, and the museums, and the cities, both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (they are two seperate countries now), rode 1400 miles on the bus, on and off  a bejillion times. 

As the days go on and I get organized (if that is possible) I will take you along with me.  Twelve days was not nearly enough.  The name of our tour was the IRISH ODYSSY, and an odyssy it was. 

All the folks on our bus were from the states, were a great bunch of folks and we had a wonderful time.  We saw singing and dancing, ate baked beans for breakfast ( that is standard in Ireland, along with grilled tomatoes), learned what it was, and drank, Irish coffee.  Gives you quite a kick. 

The Irish people were wonderful, we shopped, had to carry on  to the plane a lot of stuff  because our suitecases were full. 

None of the folks I was with had a single complaint about the trip, accommodations, the entire nine yards.  If you wanted a perfect vacation this was it.  We did have rain, every day we had rain, usually just a fine mist, or a soft rainfall - we wore our jackets and raincoats every day.  But we also had sunshine,  and more overcast days than actual rain. 

Have to sign off for now - try to get caught up time-wise.  I am still on Irish time (they are 5 hours ahead of us), will take a couple of days to get the old body back in gear. 

I hope you all are well, and I will begin sharing my trip with you sometime in the next couple of days, once I know when it is day and when it is night.  In the meantime, we do need rain, so hopefully some of the Irish rain will decide to come this way.  Enjoy our day and God Bless.

I'M OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD...
MONDAY JUNE 11 2012.....

On the Emerald Isle of Ireland.....that's right - I leave early tomorrow morning.  Can't believe it is time already. 

Just touching base today - lots to do.  Granville Wine and Art Festival good, but very very hot.  I did a short photo shoot on the way there on Friday, and one of my pics was of Ohio's Longest Covered Bridge:

Haven't had time to research it's real name, but it crosses the Mohican River.

Today have to run errands, finish packing, get the house ready for Dave and Linda, as they arrive from Phoenix tomorrow for the remainder of the month.  It is a good thing - they can keep bossman on the right track while I am gone.  Luckily when I return I will have a little over a week to visit with them before they leave in July.

I also found some more quilt barns to photograph.

After today I will be off line until the end of the month.  Hopefully when I return I will have stories to tell and pictures to share.  In the meantime, enjoy your days of sunshine, hope for a little rain along the way, and God Bless. 

FINALE.....THURSDAY JUNE 07 2012.......

Troy has come and gone.  The Art and Wine Festival in Granville, Ohio, begins Saturday.  Will be leaving early Friday morning, as set-up is on Friday, and hopefully do a photo shoot on the way.

Finished vegetable garden work, and some flower bed work last night, as I will not be doing any more of this kind of stuff until the end of the month.

Will be gone Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week, return Sunday night, do necessary things on Monday (hopefully like going to the bank), and leave early Tuesday morning to meet Nancy and head for the airport.

Seems as if we were just talking about this trip, now it is happening.  Where has the time gone?

Going to grandson Coleman's H.S. graduation tonight, then graduation dinner at Angelos immediately following.  Come fall Rebecca will have three of her children in college.  WOW!

Granddaughter Shelby will graduate next spring (2013) and she intends to go to college also.  Her children and Andy's daughter Jennifer, and step-son Kurtis are the VERY FIRST OF MY  IMMEDIATE FAMILY to ever attend college.  What does that say?

Better get crackin' here as I have a lot to do before tomorrow.  Will be off-line until Monday morning (sometime Monday) so will 'see' you all then.  Have a great weekend.  The weather forecast, right now, is good.  Hopefully it will hold.  Don't get sunburned and God Bless.

AND NOW FOR......

AND NOW FOR.....WEDNESDAY JUNE 06 2012......

The rest of the story (Thank you Paul Harvey).

Saturday sunny, cool, and beautiful.  Crowds were humongous.  It was as if a dam had burst and all the people just kept coming and coming and coming.  Made your head spin.

Booth full almost the entire day, folks browsing, asking questions, wanting to hear the story behind the picture, and buying (the best part). 

The town square's fountain had PINK water flowing the two days of the festival (it was a strawberry festival after all), really looked neat.

We never made it back to the hotel until after 9 p.m.  We were really tired.  Russ and Kay had to change rooms, as their room had no hot water for their showers.  I was lucky, I had hot.

During the festival on Saturday one customer told me about a nice covered bridge not too far from Troy, and gave me directions.

Sunday morning I skipped breakfast with Russ and Kay and Headed out to find said covered bridge.  Which I did, photographed it, and returned to Troy for the day's festivities.

Sunday was a repeat performance.  People people everywhere.  It was a chore just getting to the restroom.  Seemed as if it didn't matter which direction you went you were going against the flow. 

Russ and I both have decided that we would like to apply again for next year's festival. 

Got pack up and hit the road about 7:30 p.m. and arrived home at 11 p.m., tired, really tired.  It has taken me two days to get completely rested.

Printed pictures yesterday, have to get them matted and/or framed for this coming weekend at Granville, Ohio.  then grandson Coleman graduates from high school tomorrow evening, will be there, and we are all going to dinner afterwards.  All the grandkids are getting grown up.  What does that make me?

Well, better sign off and get busy.  Have a great day, hopefully it will warm up a little, and God Bless.

NOW FOR MORE DETAIL....JUNE 05 2012......

I am still trying to recover from the weekend.  Talk about busy.......but one thing at a time.

Did a "photo shoot" on Thursday all the way to Troy.  Found an old mill and several quilt barns.







For you folks not familiar with quilt barns, it is a tourism thing in Ohio, Kentucky, and several other states.  Each county locates property with neat barns, or other structures on the property, then approach the owners about painting a large quilt pattern on their building.  Then you can take a driving tour and see said quilt barns.

Brings in the tourists.  Anyhoo found several on my way to Troy.

Met Russ and Kay at our hotel, and we had supper together.  First time we had seen each other since last November.  We keep in touch by e-mail and phone, but not the same.  Had a lot of catching up to do.  Then off to bed as Friday would be a busy day - putting up our tents, unloading our vans, and setting up our displays.  Of course it started raining during the night.

We met for breakfast, but postponed our arrival at the festival site, hoping the rain would let up.  Finally, about 9 a.m. it dropped to a drizzle, and by the time we arrived at our location, it had stopped.  Nothing worse than setting up, or tearing down, in the rain.

Things went very smoothly, were finished by early afternoon, so I was going on another photo shoot.  Russ and Kay came along.  We had a ball.  Found 2 castles, and several quilt barns. 

One quilt barn was a drive thru beer barn - you drove through, ordered beer by the case, paid for it and drove out.  Of course, we stopped so I could get a picture of the building, and we decided to walk in to look around.  Talked to the manager a little, we left, then Russ (since I was driving) decided he would like a beer.  They sell by the case.  I guess the manager took pity on him, as he sold him a cold bottle.  He had just returned to the van and we were starting to pull out when the manager flagged us down, came to the car and gave us three insulated can holders.  I guess we made a great impression on him.  Must have been good, or he would not have given us the holders.

Russ and Kay, on the left, talking to one of the employees in the beer quilt barn.

NOW THIS PART IS FOR BOBBIE AND TAMMIE------

Remember our castle experience in January - the police and all?  Well, how about this.

After leaving the beer quilt barn, heading back to our home-base (hotel) we found several other quilt barns.  I had pulled off the side of the road (Route 36), put on my 4-way flashers, and walked in front of the van to take my pictures.  Oblivious to everything but getting the perfect picture.  Heard a tapping on my windshield, Kay trying to get my attention.

Behind my van was an Ohio State Patrolman, blue lights flashing.  He walked up to me and asked if there was a problem.  Told him no, that I wanted to photograph the barn and did not want to stop in the middle of the highway.

This was the barn.  See what I mean.  Just had to have a picture of this one.

He just smiled, touched the brim of his hat (a salute in my way of thinking) told me to be careful and have a good day.  At least we didn't have to leave the state to go to a restaurant to eat, in case the police were still on our tail.

We arrived at our hotel, freshened up, and went to supper.  Called it an early evening, as the festival opened Saturday morning ... had to be ready.

I wonder what my next experience with local police will be.  Hopefully not too stressful.  Russ and Kay decided that going on photo shoots with me were either lots of fun, or lots of stress, or both. 

Take care, watch out for those pesky law enforcement people and God Bless.

WOW!!!...MONDAY JUNE 04 2012......

I have no other word to describe this past weekend.   I am just going to outline the goings on here, will get in to more detail when I get the pics downloaded, and my thoughts in some kind of order.  Good luck with that part.

The Strawberry Festival in Troy, Ohio was one of the best organized outside street festival, with the most helpful folks. 

I left home Thursday morning and did a photo shoot on the way to my hotel in Troy, where I met up with Russ and Kay.  Set-up for the festival began at 8 a.m. on Friday morning.  When we got up it was pouring down rain.  We had breakfast, still raining.  About 9:30 the rain finally let up to just a drizzle.  We arrived at the festival site, were shown our spot, there was a gentleman (young guy) there to help us unload and get our tents up.  By that time the rain had stopped.

By early afternoon we were all set up and ready to go.  The festival would open at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.  So Russ, Kay and I went on another photo-shoot.  Had a great day.

Saturday was sunny, but very cool.  Also had wind, which we don't particularly like with tents, but we both had our tents weighted down and had no problem.

There were 5 blocks of Main Street with nothing but vendors lining both sides of the street.  At last count, about 300 vendors.

Russ and I had one of the best spots, in our opinion.  We were under a big beautiful tree, had shade all day long, no sitting in the sun.  How did we get so lucky?

Saturday the hours were 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.  We were zombies when we returned to our hotel.  The crowds were HUGE, all day long, made you dizzy just watching the folks go by.  Sales were very good, tent full of folks browsing the entire day. 

Sunday hours were from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., we were  loaded and starting home at 7:30 p.m.  Pulled into the garage at 11 p.m.  Needless to say I was NOT up at the crack of dawn today.

We saw strawberry everything - turnovers, cheesecake, shortcake, dipping donuts with strawberry sauce, strawberry donuts, just strawberries, strawberry iced tea and lemonade, you name it there was a strawberry something.  Even the beautiful fountain in the town square had strawberry colored water.  There were huge strawberries painted up and down the streets, strawberry signs everywhere.

Well, have to sign off now, got a bejillion things to do, as I will be leaving again Friday morning for the Wine and Art Festival in Granville, Ohio.  Whew!!!!

I hope everyone out there had a great weekend, didn't over-do or over in-indulge, and God Bless.