December 2007 Ireland

In the large cavernous plane, I watched graceful flakes outside the window fall upon the tarmac. It was cold out there. The news on the radio, on the way to the airport said it was minus six degrees that night. I was strapped in my cozy and cramped seat, blanket-covered, and new wife at my side. I noticed the white frozen fields beyond the airplane. De-icing complete, it was time to taxi. All the seats were full, babies quiet, and people anticipating the eleven-hour journey to America, the promise land for some, home for others.

It is time to go, clearances given, fuel pouring into the huge engines on the side of us, and the old Airbus slowly rolls down the runway faster and faster. The engines are very loud, I remember, almost deafening. The plane keeps going down the runway, wanting to take flight. It seems like a long time till lift-off. Will it take off? We seem very heavy. Is the runway long enough for this beast? We keep rolling, but we aren’t taking off yet. Come one, come one, I keep thinking. Things are going by very fast. At the end of the long runway, the huge airliner takes flight. We are airborne, finally! My internal clock starts ticking, minus 660 minutes and counting. Flying west, looking out the window, snow continues to fall down on the Dublin skyline. The fields are so white, the stone walls keeping order on personal property, sheep and cows tucked into their barns, and sleep overcomes my head and my stomach.

I was delirious due to an upset tummy, I was tired from getting up before the sun, I didn’t want to go home. Lasagna the previous night was still not sitting well. I wanted to sleep but I couldn’t fall fast asleep. The babies around us were very well behaved. It seemed that everyone had a wee young one. I was impressed that the Irish children are so well behaved compared to American children. I wondered if Lara had the same feelings as me. I wondered what her thoughts were. I dozed off again until the next snack, dinner, breakfast cart arrived in my confinement. What time was it? Did it matter? I couldn’t go anywhere. I was stuck in my little seat surrounded by people I didn’t know. What were they going to do in America, what was the weather like in San Francisco, why do I have to go back to work, why is my stomach committing an act of mutiny?

X numbers of hours into the flight, after nap number four, I was groggy but awake. Was it dinner-time or snack-time? I was daydreaming again, mostly because the movie wasn’t on, the cart wasn’t going by with goodies, and I had finished my book. I needed entertainment, I was fidgety and I needed to escape my seat. I was pondering my immigration status in my newly adopted country. I was ready to become an illegal alien, which was taken away from me because lack of money, responsibility to my county and country, and I needed to become a productive member of society again in America. Our vacation, honeymoon, and wedding had come to a conclusion. Jetlag, stomach flu, sleep, travel, being in the car and plane too long had overcome my senses. I wanted to go back to Ireland.

Needless to say, we had a wonderful time in Ireland. The wedding was even more beautiful and meaningful than we anticipated. Ireland was the perfect place to honeymoon, even in cold, dark December. The weather was lovely - cool, clear, and actually very little rain. As we were leaving, it snowed, and it was amazing to see the fields covered in a thin layer of white between the stone walls. We were able to do lots of hiking and exploring in and around ancient tombs, and dozens of churches and castles. We saw dolomans, cute towns, fun people, and dozens abbeys and cemeteries. With so few tourists around, it was quite romantic, and just wonderful to get away alone together for a while in such an incredibly beautiful, holy place.

We had an amazing experience in Wexford just a few days after our wedding. The patrons in the restaurant of the hotel where our family was staying, found out that we were newlyweds. They sang the song “Boolavogue", (the rebel anthem of Wexford) and danced in a circle around us. We have never been kissed by so many people that we didn't know. The enthusiasm and genuine joy for us was amazing. It truly felt like a blessing. It was one of those unforgettable experiences and was such a gift. This was just one of many we had with the people and spirit of Ireland. Needless to say, we will be going back. Ireland will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Sean at the Cliffs of Moher

Our itinerary for future travelers:

December 19st-26th
County Wexford, (8 nights)
Accommodations: Ferrycarrig Hotel, the Whitford Hotel, and Slaney Manor – Four Stars
Things We Saw: Wicklow, Glendalough, Powerscourt, Waterford, on the way to Kinsale

December 26
Cobh (1 night)
Accommodations: Commodore Hotel – Three Stars
Things We Saw: Cork, Cobh, Kinsale, Charles’s Fort, Cashel

December 27 & 28
Dingle (2 nights)
Accommodations: Greenmont House – Four and a Half Stars
Things We Saw: Dingle Peninsula, Dingle Town, Standing Stones, Beehive huts, Ancient Forts

December 29 & 30
Ennis (2 nights)
Accommodations: Grey Gables B&B - Two Stars
Things We Saw: Cliffs of Moher, Music in Ennis, The Burren, Megalithic tomb in Burren, County Clare

December 31st and Jan 1st
Oughterard (2 nights)
Accommodations: Connemara Gateway Hotel – Two Stars
Things We Saw: Galway, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park, Asleigh Waterfalls, Peat bogs, Famine Road, SHEEP

Jan 2nd
Mullingar (1 night)
Accommodations: Greville Arms Hotel – Half a Star
Things We Saw: Athenry

Jan 3rd
Dublin (1 night)
Accommodations: Comfort Suites near the Airport – Three Stars
Things We Saw: National History Museum, Ha’ Penny Bridge, Butler’s Chocolate Shop