Cynthia ingeniously positions our luggage and all 6 of us (plus herself) into her
roomy vehicle and drives us to our rental car where EuropeCar double charges us
for insurance coverage (AmEx doesn't cover Ireland or Italy we discover). In
return they offer an upgrade to an automatic rather than the manual drive we
have reserved. Considering the learning curve that will be “left side of the
road driving from the right side of the vehicle” we make the deal.
We brunch at the Avoca cafeteria on the
grounds of Malahide castle. Gorgeous food in beautiful surroundings. It’s here
that we part ways with Cynthia and say au revoir to Gael. (Sniff)
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| Leaving Deepwell |
And the road trip begins.
On Nick’s recommendation we take the
Sally Gap through the Wicklow Mountains heading south towards Glendalough. The
road narrows from freeway to two-lane to narrow winding blacktop. The
centerline disappears and the road winds and twists and gains elevation. The
views are stunning. We are the only car save for a moto that comes and goes
quickly. Even the sheep, which were everywhere, disappear. The landscape is
treeless, and damp. A stream dances along beside the road then suddenly
vanishes momentarily to re-emerge as the Glenmacnass Waterfall. The water throws itself wantonly over the valley
edge as it splits into fingers that seek the path of least resistance for 600
feet or so and then pulls itself together, becomes a stream again and primly
wanders off. We follow the water down into the valley where the sheep are once
again assembled, many with lambs in this springtime season. (Even one baa baa
black sheep)
We
encounter groups of hikers as we descend, one burly group of three dressed all
in camo.
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| The Sally Gap |
Glendalough, the valley of
two lakes is home to an ancient (Medieval) monastic settlement founded by St
Kevin. So ancient that Vikings once raided here.
The visitor’s center runs a
video to give us background and history. A model of what the village looked
like, circa 6th century is on display. There’s also a photo of
Michelle Obama and her girls who visited in 2013.
We walk through what remains
of a grand gateway and follow the path that wanders through the site and marvel
at the construction of stone. The round tower stands 30 meters high. How did
they do that...really? The empty tower windows, at various heights, are being
used today by busy birds with beaks brimful of nesting materials. There must be
a condo complex of nests inside based on the steady stream of avian activity.
(Tis spring!)
Sentinel grave markers atilt
after years of standing tall dominate the churchyard. St Kevin’s church, again
built entirely of stone, looks like it took tedious work to construct with only
a small interior space to compensate for what must have been months (and
months) of toil.
The beautiful valley is
striking in its natural beauty. We take time to reflect on what transpired here
and the people who called it home so many centuries ago.
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| The Grand Gateway |
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| The Round Tower |
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| Walking the Labyrinth at Glendalough |
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| Bo and Friend |
KC and the kids look for an ice cream shop for
dessert and Jim and I take a stroll in the dark along the river Nore beneath
the castle walls.
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