Geez – I was reviewing my blog posts from a few months ago and realize I never finished recapping the extraordinary events of our WOW! Travel Club journey to Ireland in April! After publishing four consecutive blog posts, I took a detour and never wrote the final chapter about one of my favorite parts of our journey!
So – better late than never!
I last published Part 4 of my 5-part series (the May 6 post), about the southeast of Ireland, near Kilkenny, where we were staying at the lovely Mount Juliet Estate. After an amazing three nights there, we headed north – to one of the most magnificent parts of the Emerald Isle.
On our drive north, we stopped into Dublin for a quick look around Trinity College and to see the world-famous Book of Kells. Everyone had free time for lunch on their own and a quick dose of “urban” life: shopping, people-watching, etc. (If you can guess, Dublin is not my favorite European city – hence the quickie visit. There was someplace better just a bit farther to the north!)
The magnificent Long Room (213 ft) of the Old Library at Trinity College, built in the early 1700s, had a flat ceiling, shelving for books on the lower level and an open gallery. By the 1850s the Library had been given permission to obtain a free copy of every book that had been published in Ireland and Britain, so the roof was raised to accommodate an upper gallery. It houses 200,000 of the library’s oldest books.
From Dublin, it was an easy two-hour drive to Belfast, where we checked into our hippest digs of the trip, the Ten Square Hotel. Just around the block was the magnificent City Hall, beautifully illuminated for the evening!
Belfast City Hall
There were many days of this journey for which I prayed we’d have good weather. So far, the weather gods had been kind to us. Today was the last of the critical weather-dependent days. Of course, nobody would have blamed me had the weather been lousy (at least I hope not!) … but the entire experience was more wondrous because of the magnificent blue skies we enjoyed at the Antrim Coast and at Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. And every place we stopped in between (including Bushmill’s Distillery!).
I’ll let the pictures tell the story . . .
Colorful yellow Gorse, growing profusely throughout the countryside, emphasized the raw beauty of the Antrim coastline on Ireland’s northern shores.
Just look at that blue sky! (NOTE: This photo was time-stamped 11:25am)
Scott playing with his drone (before he was politely asked to stop by a guard who, I think, had never seen one before), and me – hamming it up on Finn McCool’s shoe (another fun Irish legend!).
The WOWees proudly unfurl the banner at the Giant’s Causeway.
Each photo stop was more magnificent than the last!
Tasting time at Bushmills – except for the two at the lower right: our driver, Joe, and the non-drinker, Scott … both a bit bored and ready to leave!
THIS is one of the reasons I had prayed to the weather god for a perfect day: the famous experience of Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge! And she didn’t disappoint!
Yes, I’m still in Ireland! NOTE: The time-stamp on this photo is exactly 60 minutes after the picture up above!
The wintry coastal scene through the front window of our bus. (Tank goodness Joe didn’t drink back at Bushmill’s!)
Fourteen minutes later, it’s looking like this!
We stopped in this pretty little town for ice cream (I know, I know … but we gotta have treats along the way!), where we witnessed paramedics assisting a biker who was suffering from hypothermia after riding through the blizzard. Yes – this is Ireland!
Our final day was spent exploring Belfast – a fascinating city which has seen its share of Troubles (with a capital T). Thankfully, most of those who spewed violence and hatred between Protestant and Catholic (or, more accurately: between those loyal to Britain and those who prefer to unite with the Republic of Ireland) are dying off and the next generations are living harmoniously for the most part. It’s a pleasant city to visit, for lots of reasons:
The famous murals in Belfast. Top left: The battle of the Boyne – in 1690 – was won by the Protestant King of England – over the Catholic King of England (huh?) – about which some people are STILL fighting. Our Black Taxi tour guides – one was Catholic and one was Protestant – though we couldn’t tell which was which.
The excellent Titanic Museum, with award-winning architecture, fascinating interactive displays and yummy fish chowder in a ship-shape bowl!
Toasting to a perfect trip at the historic Crown Bar – they don’t make ’em like this anymore!
If you know me, you know how much I love surprises. I was saving one of the best for last on this journey! Even though, technically, Northern Ireland has no tradition of wearing kilts, we were in the U.K. – and we could see Scotland from one of our coastal vantage points! So I used that as an excuse to pull a fast one on the gentlemen in the group. I found a kilt-for-hire company with a great website – featuring pictures of various jacket styles and tartan choices. The ladies were willing accomplices as I solicited sizes and styles to enable me to pre-order kilts to be shipped over from Glasgow.
When my husband saw all the shipping boxes stacked in our hotel room when we checked in, it didn’t take him long to figure out what I had plotted. (He knows me well.) He put his foot down: “I’m not wearing a kilt!” he insisted. (Yeah, right!)
Returning after the day’s touring, the gentlemen found their ‘outfit” for the farewell dinner neatly laid out on the bed. After a bit of grumbling, they all got into the spirit and had a great time (especially after their first cocktail) – and they looked so handsome!
We enjoyed a spectacular nine-course meal – the same menu served on the Titanic – at a local manor house, where we were welcomed with a bagpiper!
And that was the conclusion of one of my favorite WOW! Travel Club journeys ever! A collaboration with my favorite supplier partner in all the world (thanks, Pat & Catherine). A fantastic group of WOWees. The greatest driver-guide we could have hoped for (thanks Joe!). Magnificent weather. And great Irish craic (thanks to all the Irish, everywhere!)!!
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5 Comments
connie sullivan September 9, 2016 at 4:30pm
I have to go bacK!
Jill Stoliker September 9, 2016 at 6:58pm
I am still enjoying all the fantastic memories of Ireland. The infinite shades of green still dance in my visions and meditations. I especially enjoy the memories of the people we visited: ancient music in front of a fire place in the main room of a thatched cottage, learning to play the harp in a solarium; observing a working sheep dog on a farm while puppies watched their master carefully, watching mares and foals playing in the pasture while eating breakfast, formal dinner with locals in a manor house, new friends serving home-made scones with Irish tea in their charming cottages. I could go on and on, but I would rather go again!
Marilyn September 9, 2016 at 7:03pm
Aaahhh, Jill – such sweet memories! Thanks for reminding me of all the special moments we shared!
Felice September 10, 2016 at 6:28am
So glad I’m on this list, so I can get a good idea of what the WOWZA trips are all about!
Julie Franz September 11, 2016 at 3:09am
So glad you finished up your account of our wonderful trip! It brought back so many se special memories, along with The ones Jill mentioned! And of course there were so many, many more!!! Thanks again for making it such a great trip, Marilyn! And that includes finding the very best guides and hosts, too!