I've made new friends

I've seen many sights...

The Burren

Yesterday I headed back to the Burren and Cliffs of Moher. I walked with Miss Tennessee 1999-2000. She was beautiful and lively. She lives in Nashville and her traveling companion lives in Franklin. She pointed out that her jacket said Miss Tennessee, Sr. but I told her that I had not noticed the Sr. part. She dubbed me Miss Knoxville for the rest of the tour. A young woman that lives in London, but was from Japan sat with me for the tour. She was there with her employer, an older gentle man and his handicapped friend. I believe she was their companion, she helped them with lunch, walking and tickets. We discussed Japan's candy, greetings and her teenage sons.
This morning I once again had breakfast with Ann. This was her last day here and she was on her way home. She lives on the edge of Galway Bay. She plans to walk six miles along the shore when she gets home and then to prepare evacuation beds for her family. Galway Bay is expecting the highest tide ever on Friday. Her Sister's home, just down the road, will probably be underwater. Ann's home is somewhere in this picture of Galway Bay.
We spent out last breakfast discussing flowers, US politics, and exercise. She was an instant friend, and I shall miss her. We plan to write.

Murphy

Cork is full of Murphys.....look and see

More of Cork

Cork City Streets

More of lovely Cork

Cork City

Cork City is the second largest city in Ireland. The streets are built on hills and around canals that have been filled in and made into streets. Many of the older streets are cobblestone. Cork is still an active port. Many Irishmen emigrated to Canada, Australia, and American from this port. It is estimated that two million left from Cork during the potato famine of 1848. Oh, it was grand. Their hurling team was playing that day so many of their supporters wore red.

Blarney

What a beautiful day in Ireland

Cork, Ireland

We had a lovely Sunday visiting Blarney Castle and Cork City. We toured with a couple from England, and a mother, daughter team that told off the driver in French. Next to Blarney Castle was a Druid ruin, and Blarney Mansion. The Blarney Stone is at the top of the Castle and it looks a long way down when you are hanging upside down. But , it was grand...

Out of my castle window

Blarney

On Sunday I kidnapped Ireland's International Computer Super Star and took him to Blarney Castle and Cork City, Blarney Castle and grounds were impressisve. Even though it was not needed, I kiss the Blarney Stone and was granted the gift of Gab. Blarney means to eloquently deceive without offending.

Hello?

"Limerick , Ireland calling, collect, will you accept the charges?"

Murphy

Oh the Murphy family is still here, don't ya know....

Green green Ireland

Ireland

She is a rich and rare land,
Oh, she's a fresh and fair land:
She is a dear and rare land,
This native land of mine.

Thomas Davis..1814-1845

Mansion

May you live long,
Die Happy,
And rate a mansion in Heaven

Muckross House Gardens

My golden chariot arrived early and whisked me way to Muckross House. Muckross House was built in 1840 . The owner, invited Queen Victoria to visit. He spent his entire fortune on preparing the house and gardens. Queen Victoria only stayed for two days. After the visit , and a few trips to the pony races, the owner declared bankrupcy and had to sell the estate. Guinnes Beer Company owned the house and used it as a retreat for their customers. After the next owners, the house and it's grounds were given to the people of Ireland.

Oh how they love the place..it is truly grand

The Queen has been away from the Castle

The Queen left early today, after first sitting on her throne.

Out of my window

looking through the night....where is Paul?

When all else fails, shop

Paul will be working 14 hours today. What is a girl to do? Shop of course. Limerick downtown is very similiar to old downtown Knoxville, except there are customers. School has started and the sidewalks were full of kids , dressed in their uniforms. The dress uniform for girls is a long-sleeve white shirt, tie, sweater with school emblem and ankle length pleated skirts. Seriously. A taxi driver says that their parents dress them like Nuns to keep them chaste. He is not sure it works. There were also small groups of little white hair ladies wobbling like weebles in the middle of the sidewalk. One asked me the time and I told here that in America it was 7pm so it was either noon or 1pm. Then I said, so , neither one of us really knows what time it is....I decided to buy a purse, just to have a goal for this wandering. I set my eye on one that cost 889 Euro....One Euro equals $1.30. It just wasn't the right color. All the stores have security guards, at the doors, walking in the store, just watching. It must be either very safe, or very dangerous in Limerick. There are two feuding familes in town and they like to run in gangs and murder each other. There is to be a trial soon, and one group is said to be planning to burn down the courthouse. They have so much fun fighting each other , they leave everyone else alone. The last group of sidewalk companions would be the lone staggering old man. They have had too much to drink or have very uncomfortable shoes. They walk, very slow, focused straight ahead, marching to an unheard drunk cadance. Left, right, other right, right?, wrong, wait..right.
I had fish and chips at O'Connells, open since 1910, so it is relatively new. The waitress sat with me and pointed out all the good places to shop. All were out of town. I spent my taxi money on a purse and headed to the bus stop to nervously wait for the 308 Bus. The Bus arrived before I did, but was empty. I friended up a University student and she said the driver was on his break. She volunteered to sit with me and show me my stop. But this plan fell through when the driver returned and declared the Bus dead in it's tracks. I hiked to the Tourist Office, dug in my new purse, and gathered enough change to take a Taxi back to the Castle. One nap later, I await the King to return....

The green , green, grass of Ireland

The fields of Ireland. Don't you know, now laddies, tis a grand thing to see.

From above you can see

The Cliffs of Moher.

Coming in for a landing

The trip back to Ireland , what can I say. It has been grand so far, don't you know.

Happiness

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a songbird will come ...

Chinese proverb

Going to the birds in the burg

Our yard has been taken over by hummingbirds. We have seen five at one time flying, fussing, and swirling around the feeders. I put up a second feeder, hoping the birds would share but that only made them more fun to watch. I have set up two feeders in the sun and two in the shade. I believe they enjoy the ones in the sun because they can perch and see the whole yard. A ruby throated male has taken over the tallest perch.

River Shannon, from King John's Castle, in the town of Limerick, County Limerick...........

Slieve Mish Mts, Dingle , County Kerry. Our super little car.

Clifts of Moher, County Limerick, Ireland. These clifts are 700 ft tall.

Paul hard at work in Ireland.

Maitre d said,"Come sit by the window and have the most beautiful breakfast of your life."

Cottage in Adare with a thached roof.

One of the many castle ruins in Ireland. I shot this picture while on a cruise of Lough Corrib, out of Killarny.

Andrew

Andrew moved out of the house while we were in Ireland. He is renting a house with three other friends. He lives in the livingroom. The first night home, the house was very empty, knowing he wasn't coming home. He decided to leave Ms Cherry here with us, thinking that moving her would not be a good idea. May the Lord Bless and keep him. May the Lord make his face to shine upon him, now and forever more....amen
Mom

Ireland

Oh darlings I have returned from across the sea. Oh the land was a thousand shades of green...yes indeed. Paul worked almost non-stop while I toured the island. Ireland was very warm during the first week we visited, but then returned to the cooler, misty weather that is more typical. Life is so much slower and simplier in Ireland. The TV shows are simplier, with very very few commercials. There were no commercials for medicine, cars, fashions, or food. There were commercials for cleaners! The roads are small, the people friendly and the views beautiful. The air was clear, the souveniers expensive, and everything is made with real yummy Irish butter. yum.....The Irish men have the gift of gab, don't you know. I decided that no Irish man lets the truth get in the way of a good story! Once I realized that, I enjoyed their stories even more. A good and honest Irish man sold me a souvenier to help me remember Ireland. When I got it back to the Hotel I noticed it was made in Denmark. I did a walking tour in the city of Limrick following the story of "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt. The tour guide added to the book, and the conceierge of the Hotel added to the book. The truth , being set aside, did not get in the way of any of the stories or the book's tale as well. We were in Ireland 18 days. Paul's company wanted us to stay two more weeks but Paul refused. He is to return for another two week visit soon. If I recover from the trip home, 18 hours, this wild Irish Rose will go back across the sea.

July July, it ain't spelled with an i...

Mark Twain once said that it was an unimaginative man that spelled a word the same way every time. Sometimes the message is so wonderful, creative, or spontaneous, the words and letters come out all mixed up and out of order. Just remember, I olve all of you, no matter howl I spell it.