Friday, June 25, 2004

Taking our Leave

We left Ireland as we entered, in the rainbow making rain, on the Blue Coach.  We left Blooms Hotel and made the short journey to the bus stops in front of Trinity College.  As we were waiting, a bloke approached us and asked if we were headed to the airport.  We nodded and answered in the affirmative. "Well, not at this stop ye won't!" he informed us. Once again we were saved by the kindness and affable nature of the Irish.

We were given typical Irish directions, "Walk down the street until you come to the green shop with the pretty flowers sitting next to the Paddy parlor , turn right and continue about a half block and there you should be!"

Off we went again.  It was actually very close  Unfortuntely, the Blue Coach was rounding the corner in front of O'Neills Pub heading away from us.  Not to worry, a new one arrives every 15 minutes. Our tiny group of two grew as the time went by.  We were engaged in a nice conversation with a young man who was going on a holiday to Spain.  We watched the people walk in that swift determined and no nonsense style that made me understand why there are so very few over weight people in Ireland.

I missed it already and I had yet to leave.

It began to rain with fat drops plopping on my upturned face as I looked skyward. I backed up against the high rock wall that bordered the sidewalk.  The ivy growing on the opposite side spilt over the top making a natural unbrella.

I took this last picture of Joe on the streets of Dublin in the soft Irish rain, the lad going to Spain behind him, and across the street, O'Neills Pub.

The rain mixed with the tears running down my face. 

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

ah Mary, sure an' i've been readin' your trip journal, travelin' with ya from the old country!  okay, enuf of that.  but you can't help getting a brogue just reading about your trip - eh?  how long did it take you to stop thinking in an Irish brogue after you got back?  i'm glad to see that you did justice by the pubs - it sounds like you had a fabulous time.  i love your pictures, especially the one of the rock barrens.  it's so evocative, lonely, mysterious, beautiful.  as i said before you left, it's been a lifetime ago since i've been to Ireland - but i remember the scenery and the pubs, the music, most of all.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Mary, for sharing your trip in such a beautiful way, I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Anonymous said...

Once again I had to back up and catch up on the missed entries.  Your leaving! I want to say and hear MORE!!!

Monica (who knows in reality you have been home ~ can you start from day one in Ireland again?)

Anonymous said...

Loved your travelogue, Mary.  We'll all have to pitch in and send you somewhere nice every so often just so you can write about it when you get back (LOL!)  Good job!  Lisa  :-]

Anonymous said...

Mary, the journey was wonderful! [ I`m sure you have more Pics you can share!]
V

Anonymous said...

"The rain mixed with the tears running down my face." Awwww....

Hopefully, you can go back again soon. What a great pic of Joe! It has that old world look about it. :-) ---Robbie

Anonymous said...

Wow it really looks like you had a great time.  I went baCK SEVERAL ENTRIES TO CATCH UP ON WHAT ALL i HAD MISSED.  John

Anonymous said...

What an incredible trip. You left me wanting to hear more.

Anonymous said...

I loved reading about your travels in Ireland! Not to mention the fantastic pictures! Today's entry in my own journal is simply a link to yours! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Kelly

Anonymous said...

Your Travellog has been a real pleasure to read. Thank you for your descriptions and pictures of a place I have never visited. Hey, did you by any chance get a really good old family recipe for soda bread while you were there? I sometimes wish I could go to Ireland and just "pub hop" for a few weeks. Thanks again for some really great entries. My Regards,  Bill.

Anonymous said...

But...but...I'm not ready to go yet either!  :(

Seriously, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the Irish Files. You have a very real gift for travel writing.  I have no idea how these things are usually done, but I wonder if you could submit a sample to your local paper's travel editor...?

BTW, Joe is looking quite the hunky Irish lad there!  :)

Anonymous said...

Others have mentioned how great your travel writing is, but I'd also like to mention the terrific pictures, especially the montages.  You have an excellent eye for composition!

I've definitely got to get to Ireland in my lifetime, and not just because I'm a quarter Irish.  One of our (Episcopal) priests is going in late July and I'm jealous already.  - Karen

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful, memorable series of entries, Alpha.  

I was with you in spirit through all of them:  Fleadh Nua, the cliffs, Dolmen, your Mickie Finn which sounded delicious, the Spanish Arch Hotel and the Temple Bar and everywhere in between.  The pictures you've taken were all beautiful, the descriptions breathtaking.

Thank you for sharing this once in a lifetime magical trip with us!

Anonymous said...

I have been catching up on your entries about your trip to Ireland.  What a fun trip!  You may have convinced me to try going there one of these days.  I am especially impressed that you went without a tour group.  Now that is adventurous!  I am going to continue reading your journal now that I am hooked.
Thanks for stopping by my Journey to China.  
http://journals.aol.com/mom23nca/JourneytoChina/