Love is Connection

Day 4: Cork to Dingle

Just how many times in the span of 24 hours can I possibly plead 'Please God, don't ever let this moment end!'?

Day four brought us from the comfort of Miss Katie's house in Cork City, County Cork, through Tralee, and on into Dingle via Conor Pass - my new favorite place on earth. I could have stayed on those mountains forever, connecting body, mind, and soul to the land that I love. Like a kid in a candy store I bolted from the car and up a rocky face hopping from stone to stone, invincible. Stopping awestruck at the top, I came upon a hidden pool, unseen by those on the road below. Certainly 40* isn't too cold for a swim? Well, perhaps just a quick wade will suffice. Pressing on...

On, on, on into the town of Dingle. Apparently Fungi lives (and has a boyfriend!). We didn't see the infamous dolphin, but continued on, through the town, and down the Slea Head Drive around the coast of the peninsula. Swim number two of the day. I can now say that I've been on (in?) both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Back to town to find a place to lay our heads for the night. We settled on the Rainbow Hostel just outside of the main town, and what a place! The evening was spent (after a run into town for alcohol and provisions) on the front porch drinking with hostel-mates from around the world - several N. Irish, a few French-Canadians, myself and one other American, as well as a few others. Another in a long day of 'don't ever let this end' moments.

Nothing You Could Do Can Bring Me Down

Day 3: Cork City, County Cork

Easy day, easy day.  I woke with a sore throat, possibly because I haven't really been warm since I stepped onto the plane.  The damp doesn't bother me, but breathing the cold air might kill me.  It was a blessing that the day was grim and grey, as it almost forced us to be slow and lazy, which was welcome.  We began the day with a wonderful home cooked breakfast of toast and beans and eggs and black and white puddings.  I'm getting terribly spoiled here by always having tea and breakfast appear before me.  After cleaning up the three of us headed into the city centre of Cork to wander a bit in the rain.  Blech.  With not much open on a Sunday we soon made our way back and spent the remainder of the afternoon in the house.  K & K are making a podcast for a project, so I've had the chance to charge my iPod, check email, and write a bit.  

I'm feeling incredibly dull and dim-witted, but perhaps I haven't shaken the jetlag and it's just my tiredness making me sensitive and cranky.  Not the best time for writing I suppose.  Perhaps after dinner I'll try again. 

Last Night I Nearly Died

Day 2: New Ross to Cork

Where to begin?! After being spoiled by the warmth and serenity of the farm cottage we were hesitant to leave. Ever. Finally though, after a breakfast of cheese and tomatoes on toast, we gathered our possessions, settled our bill (poor Brian, the proprietor had to turn on his credit card machine for the first time since September. Crazy Americans charging everything...) and made off. There was a whole day of adventure ahead that couldn't be missed!

We seem to be managing the roads, the diesel, and the manual transmission fairly well. I say we, but really, I'm doing none of the driving. We managed to get away from the cottage and into the town of New Ross successfully. Even in these small towns there's so much to see. Everything is new and different to me. We poked through a small deli/corner shop, and I did my best to resist the temptation to wipe them out of Club Lemon and Crunchies.

In good Irish style, we meandered our way west. Ultimate destination - Cork City, County Cork. We made a detour to explore Tintern Abbey, which, while lovely, I must admit I enjoyed playing with the sheep in a nearby pasture even more than the abbey itself. Back in the car and onward we go. We rolled into Cork just as it was getting dark, which of course made finding parking a breeze. Ummm... With just moments to spare before the doors opened we made it to Cypress Avenue for the gig.

From moment one the evening was amazing. From that first sip of cider (and second, and third, and fifty-seventh) to the opening act, Dan Donnelly, to the great venue itself. There I am, enjoying my cider just in front of the stage when there's a tap on my shoulder. 'Come to the bar. Trust me.' I'm thinking, OK, he needs cash or something, so I'm there, and I look over, and who happens to be standing next to me but the lovely Duke Special himself. Well, I suppose being as he was offstage at the time it was just Pete Wilson, but nonetheless a celebrity in my mind. I stood there dumbstruck and hyperventilating until I was finally introduced. Like a fool I told him that after being shafted twice for NYC gigs, I had come all the way from America to meet him. Really? Really really? I think he couldn't get away fast enough :)

The show continued and was A.MAZ.ING. Afterwards Miss Katie, whom I met on the Duke Special message board forum and who was so kindly putting us up for the night, got us into a conversation with Pete. By this point I was pretty well pissed, so you can imagine my elation. We ended the evening with an unsuccessful late-night booze run to Tesco. All in all - fantastic night. Drive home (just across the way). Crash into bed (errr...couch). And, oh yeah, change the clocks overnight. We're at half three at this point. I think I've beat the jetlag.

Some Things Make Your Soul Feel Clean

Day 1: Dublin to New Ross

First plane ride by myself was a success!  Well, aside from the fact that I wasn't able to sleep, which means I've now been awake for nearly 30 hours straight (apologies for the straightforward, somewhat unexciting post that follows...hopefully you can understand).  I sat next to a real gem on the plane - one of those wise Irish natives who's full of stories and advice.  He bought me alcohol like I was a teenager and he was a dealer.  He even drew maps of where to go and gave names and numbers of new friends to contact.  At 7:25am Dublin time Aer Lingus flight #EI 118 landed successfully, and after nearly a decade, I had returned.

After passing through customs and collecting my bag (not lost, thank the Lord!), I parked myself with a copy of Ripley Bogle in front of Hughes & Hughes bookshop to wait for Kiran.  Our first stop - COFFEE!  We're going to get along juuust fine.  Next, we were directed to the shuttle to pick up our rental car, and lo and behold, what do you think the first thing is that I hear as the driver starts the van?  Duke Special's 'Sweet Sweet Kisses'!  Is that meant to be, or what? :)  We picked up our sweet little diesel VW Golf and headed out of town by way of a pub.  First Guinness - 3/27 @ 11am.   

With a few stops along the way we made our way down to New Ross, about 2 hours south of Dublin where I had booked us a cottage for the first night.  The drive to the cottage alone was like something out of a picture book - one lane roads, sheep, farmhouses dotting the green fields.  When we finally reached our destination we were greeted by the proprietor and shown our home for the night, the MacMurrough Farm Cottage.  

And here we are.  Kiran's gone back into town to collect some sandwich fixings and fruit and I'm sat here on the bed listening to the rooster pecking at our front step.  I don't ever want this to end.  

ETA @ 7:50pm: I'm in the cottage in front of a roaring peat fire.  Kiran is sitting behind me playing the piano.  Please don't ever let this moment end!!

I Never Thought This Day Would Come...

How typical of me to start off with a Duke Special lyric (stay tuned - I end this post with one too)! However, it's apt and probably only one of many you'll read here. I encourage you to bear with me if you can, and be aware that you will learn more about me, my hopes, my dreams, and my loves than you ever wanted to. Keep daily watch on this space to get your maximum fill of sheep, Guinness, my mediocre writing, craggy cliffs, Duke Special, and photographs-a.k.a. Mandy's adventure in Ireland. Let's begin :)

As many of you know, this trip has been a long time coming. It's not been just the six months of waiting since I booked the plane tickets, but the eight and a half years since I last left Ireland, crying, sailing away on the Stena line out of Belfast. So many of you have counted down these days with me, cheered for me, and supported me in this journey. Certainly not least of all my family, who was there from the very first moment I set foot on Irish soil back in the fall of 2000, through all of my crazy ideas and dreams, and who I know will continue to be there in the future. 

Many thanks also to Ryan, Kate, Darren, Aidy, Professor Owens, Dr. Mahony, Soybean, Derek, Pickle, and my DS boardies & girlfriends. Also, my eternal thanks is owed to Kiran for humoring me, guiding me, and for being the one with whom I will embark on this adventure. I love you all!

That being said, I've a plane to catch, so I will leave you with another lyric...

I left you for too long

But I’m coming back again

Won’t drift away

Or lose you in the dark

Believe me love,

I won’t leave you behind

Duke Special - If I Don't Feel It Anymore