The hills are alive

Day 2:

We woke up at 8:15 to get ready to go see Wicklow mountains. We ate MickeyD's breakfast, we just cant stay away! At 9:20 our bus picked us up on O'Connel St and we headed for Wicklow County.

Our tour guide was named Kevin, after Saint Kevin, however he had no relation (what he said). He told us of some hotspots around Dublin and then we drove to Dun Laoghaire (Dun Lerry!), (Just like Gerry said in PS I love you). We stopped at the coast and saw the shore line, took some photos and could see the city Howth. Shawn and I are planning on taking a train there. It is a fisher's village and we want to mingle with the folk.

After leaving Dun Logahire, we drove around and stopped at an Avoca hand weaving shop. We did not see the hand weavers but could buy kicknacks. There was also a little cafe to get coffee. We met another couple, Tessa and Ryan, from Chicago and sat with them outside on the patio. I love the little shops and cafe's, they are so quaint. It was very delightful to sit, feel a cool breeze (the weather has been pretty amazing 60's F) and eat some fruit. The couple we met had been traveling through Europe and Ireland was their last stop. They were younger, sophomores in college. It was fun talking to them.

Then we headed back on the bus to Wicklow. We tugged up the mountain and saw the hills start to come alive. There were cottages with acres of land. We saw some sheep herders and lots of green. I told Shawn, "this makes me want to buy a house in the mountains" and he said, "this makes me want to buy some blue sheep". lol, some of the sheep were tagged blue by owners. As we headed up the mountain and heard some of the history, I just kept thinking how wonderful the scenery was. It was a little piece of heaven. We got to the top and stopped to see the lake. It was an amazing sight. I will never forget it. This is some of the great work God has done. Truly magical.

We also saw the Guinness estate. They own a portion of the land right by the lake and it is gorgeous. Some movies have been filmed along the hills of Wicklow, such as Braveheart, Black Beauty, Excaliber, and PS I Love You (have to admit a fave of mine). The one thing I didn't get to see was all the lavendar. Our guide Kevin said that all along the mountains there is Heath which will turn lavendar, NEXT WEEK! Oh great. Well, that just means Shawn will have to bring me back in late July. :)

We then went down the mountain a little ways, and stopped in a little village to grab a bite to eat. We had lunch in a little cafe with our new friends. I had the Guinness Beef Stew and Shawn had Honey baked ham with potatoes and carrots. My stew was very meaty with celery and carrot bits and a scoop of creamed potatoes right on top. I love Ireland, potatoes with everything! It was delicious. Shawn liked his food this time. The beef stews they have here are so warm and delicous to fill your tummy for all the walking we do.

Then we headed to Glendalough. Here is where Saint Kevin and other monks lived. There was also a celtic cemetary that only has 5 more plots to fill. We walked into the ruins of a church and there was a wishing stone that was over 100 yrs old. We made our wishes and it is said that if you return and make a wish 7 times it is the equivalent to being blessed by the Pope. Hopefully we can return someday.

We walked in the center of the church that was built partly in the 1100's, I can't remember what year they first started (700's or something). This part held tombs of church offical people. They had to be really high up to be buried here. We saw the tombstones of 2 individuals that exceeded the life expectancy of people in the 1700's. People back there were expected to live until 27, if you got past that you were lucky. These two people lived to be 106, and 102. Wow! They were extremely lucky.

We walked through some more of the cemetary and saw the look out tower. We also saw the place where Sait Kevin lived and died. People call it Saint Kevin's Kitchen because the pagons that were converting to Christianity, would see smoke coming from it and would know there was food.

Shawn and I walked up a trail to the lakes named Upper and Lower. (really that is there name). It was 1.4 KM, a long walk! We took lot's of pictures looking at the lake. It was beautiful. Then we headed back to the bus and had some ice cream for the ride back to Dublin.

All in all, the day was beautiful. I am so glad we go to see Wicklow.