A wet day with Kevin

  Glendalough, Ireland
Sunday, May 21, 2006

Last weekend we decided to get out and do something fun. On Saturday we went to a pub right in the city to watch the rugby grand final between Munster (Irish team) and Biarritz (French team). The atmosphere in the pub was fantastic. They were all singing and celebrating the Munster win. We happened to find a spot right next to the only table of Frenchmen in the place which turned out to be a blessing as the Irish were just as passionate and I think we were the barrier between them!
Sunday we hired a car and headed south of Dublin to a beautiful little place called Glendalough. It is a very old religious site where an old monk Kevin went to live alone - except all the other monks thought this was a grand idea and followed him there. There are the ruins of the old chapels and gravestones so old! It is a beautiful spot - right next to some lakes and waterfalls. I can see why St Kevin chose there! Unfortunately it was pouring down rain and by the time we got back to the car we were just soaked. We decided to have lunch and went to a beautiful old pub near Glendalough for a roast and veggies (and also a pint). After we had dried off and warmed up a touch we got in the car and drove a bit further (nothing is too far in Ireland) to a beautiful old 18th century mansion. It was so grand and beautifully kept. It reminded us of the movie Gosford Park and we could picture all the horses and carriages pulling up at the grand front steps and all the men heading of on their hunting trips while the ladies had tea. I told JP I should have worn my bustle today had I known we were going to such a place. After that we headed home as the rain had not stopped. That seems to be a constant