If I’m a bit slow to resume the firehose of dubious, hastily executed content that is Flaming Pablum, feel free to blame it on the splendor of the misty, verdant cliffs of Ireland. M’self and the rest of the family had a simply magical time, as unapologetically twee as that sounds, and I cannot recommend a journey there highly enough, should you be looking for a holiday destination. Herewith some observations…
1. If you’re looking to lose weight, Ireland is not the place for you. The Irish diet is rich, hearty and robust, rivaled only by their heroically unslakable thirst.
2. The Irish accent— in all its forms — is a lilting, musical joy for the ear, but sometimes difficult to decipher if you’re not listening attentively. Mercifully, most folks were good-natured enough to repeat themselves when I looked (frequently) flummoxed.
3. Having not secured a driver’s license until 2005, I am not what anyone would credibly consider a seasoned motorist. As such, when traveling between longer distances, we decided to hire a car service. From my vantage point in the shotgun seat, I can happily attest that this was a very sound decision. Not only do the Irish drive on the opposite side of the road – which continues to confuse me – but said roads are almost always wet, and the Irish seem to collectively drive with a cheerfully zealous stealth. That said, they are unfailingly patient on the narrower roads. I don’t think I heard a single car horn during our stay.
4. During the middle of the week, we traveled to Goleen, a thoroughly enchanting, remote town in West Cork on the coast. Immediately upon our arrival, we were treated to a private tour of Mizen Head, the cliffs on the most southwesterly point of Ireland. You’ll see some of the pictures below, but simple, ordinary photography in absolutely no way does the experience justice. While I’ve been lucky enough to see many famous sights in my day, I cannot say I’ve ever witnessed something so awe-inspiring, vast, timeless and humbling as the rocks of Mizen Head. It was truly transformative …. and wet.
Enough of my yacking…please enjoy the pictures.
Incidentally, the bridge my little lad is standing on above is Dublin's Ha'Penny Bridge, which spans the Liffy River right near the Temple Bar neighborhood -- and not too far from where we were staying in the Docklands. If, like me, you remember the depiction of the Docklands from the sepia-toned video for "Pride (in the Name of Love)" by ye olde U2, you'd be amazed as I to learn that it has since been massively built up -- not like parts of our own NYC -- as the new financial hub. Not quite the same cityscape as naively envisioned.
The bridge above, meanwhile, was immortalized -- or to me, anyway -- by the video to this song, which was in my head all week.
Crank it.
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