Chasing Shiny Pennies

Ok folks, lighten up. Check out Six Feet Under on Netflix. Or Dead to Me. Or Weeds. I’m not sure where the last two are streaming. Do a search. Check out hdtoday.tv. They haven’t disappointed yet. You just need to mirror you phone or computer to your tv.

The 9th

After arriving in Ballyliffin, we were greeted by our Airbnb host who lived next door. Actually, she was still cleaning when we got there. I’m not sure what (everything appeared spotless to my eye), but she kept mopping while talking a mile a minute. I was hoping Liz was catching the bulk of it because I was eager to sit and decompress. Just for a bit. Thirty minutes later we had our stuff hauled in and had been given a run down on operating instructions for the place. Then the co-host shows up with a pan of soup and a chunk of bread. I said “Soda bread!”, she said “You’re Irish.”. A touch, but I make it (the bread). Not like this though. She had added caraway and I’m telling you, that’s a loaf. I’m stealing that idea just like I stole Nicole’s nicoise salad idea. You’ll all get a taste at some point, I’m sure. The first day we did little or nothing. Took a short drive to the castle ruins you see above and kinda sorta recovered from the trip. Liz said she felt like she had cotton in her head all day. I was a touch foggy.

The 10th

The second day in Ballyliffin we kinda shook off the travel blues and got ambitious. We headed north to Malin Head. The northern most point in Ireland. It should have been a relatively short trip but Apple maps (LIz) got us lost. We ended up at the Wild Alpaca Way. it was nice, but we had other plans. We did get to experience a road that is built as a driveway but intended to be a two lane road. it wouldn’t be our last. It is really quite spectacular (Malin Head, I can’t speak to the Wild Alpaca Way) and I would recommend a visit. The telegraph was tested here (ask Liz for additional details). The views are wonderful anywhere here, really (except while driving, just keep focused). The day was excellent and we closed it out with a nice meal in Malin Head. On the drive back the sun set and it was dark (that’s how you know the sun has set….no sun and dark). I was really excited at this turn of events!! We’d been delayed in the restaurant by the simple fact that we don’t know the protocol here. We’re used to food establishments wanting to turn their tables (“…eat your food and get out.”). Here, not so much. I was antsing around looking for someone (they avoid direct gazes) until finally I went up to the bar and when someone appeared like a magical leprechaun I asked for my check and she said “Oh, sure” (in an Irish accent!!!). I paid and we sprinted to the car. It was a futile waste of energy. The sun set. But calories were burned and many, many more would be burned on the drive home in stress related muscle tensing and worrying. But we made it.

The 11th

Today, we got really motivated. We hit St. Columba’s church ruins in Staid, Glenevin waterfall, and Mamore Gap. It’s amazing how close everything is here. When I was booking our Airbnb’s, I spread them out figuring on the nearness, that we could stay for a few days in one place and then head out on day trips over that time, then leapfrog over covered territory and repeat the process. It’s worked well but we have missed stuff. You can’t see everything. So today we visited the ruins of St. Columba’s Church in Staid (there are other St. Columba churches). I like ruins, architectures, the design of structures. All the churches here have graveyards on the grounds, this one had all large flat stone markers. I felt the need to walk around the markers. The newer churches have more recent above ground markers surrounding them. I’ll try to remember to get a picture. Just up the road was the Glenevin Waterfall. This was my favorite on the day. A nice walk up with faerie houses and bird houses (no pictures) and a gnome house (also no picture). I asked Liz after we’d seen a few of the faerie houses what she thought they were. She confidently said that they were faerie houses (my spelling because….Ireland). We walked a while further and saw a larger house. I said that’s a lot bigger. She said it’s where a gnome lives. Then she paused and looked over at me and in all seriousness said “They live together in peace.”. How great is that?

I mean what’s bad about a waterfall? They never disappoint. Mamore Gap was a spectacular vista but a scary drive,a large part was a road (?) that was about the width of a long (as in several miles) farm driveway (but paved). I’ve developed a strategy when I encounter these roads (this wasn’t the first and it won’t be the last). When I have a clear view of the road ahead (a rarity), I hit the accelerator…hard. At the next blind hill or corner, I back off. It’s like learning to drive all over again.

I’d seen a fence post sign on the way back from Mamore Gap advertising a gastropub. I made a comment that we shoud try that. We drove, well I did, a ways further and I asked Liz what she wanted to do for dinner. She thought we were headed to the gastropub. So I pulled over and we got directions (how did we all survive without cell service and the internet?). I used to travel a lot. Every town I drove in, I would stop at a convenience store and buy a city map. If I flew in and was renting a car, I’d do the same thing. Sometimes I think we’re all a lot dumber than we used to be. Anyway, we got caught out after sunset again.

Go figure. Arrived at the gastropub, sat at the bar, asked about food, were informed that they didn’t start taking orders until 5. We ordered wine and beer and visited. If you choose to visit here, leave your sense of hurry, urgency behind. Or bring blood pressure medication with you. Me, I plan to come back. We finished our meal, cod for Liz, gammon for me (I need to figure out how to make that). We still hadn’t figured out that it’s best to just go ask for the check (or walk the check {Liz would not be into that though}). Another drive home in the dark. But we survived. Yay!

Then we left for Puffin Lodge on the 13th.

Plus I figured out how to add a comment section. If I can only remember how next time