Climb every mountain...

No, it's not the beginning of a Whitney Houston song...rather the topic of this post for many reasons. Unless you have lived under a rock for most of your life, you would know that another song title like this is from one of everyone's favourite all-time movies - Sound of Music. I originally had no intentions of writing with that song in the back of my head but I do remember that when Carlee and I ventured to Westport, Ireland to climb a mountain, the Sound of Music movie did come up a lot...and many melodies were sung.

Carlee was leaving in just a couple weeks before she decided to go and climb Croagh Patrick ('croagh' is Gaelic/Irish for mountain). She was trying to squeeze in as much more 'Irish activities' before she headed back to Canada and even though it was a busy week for me with work and lack of sleep and such, I thought I would join her. So, one early Saturday morning we took the train to Westport, got some snacks at the local Tesco and decided to climb a mountain. When the train was entering Westport we saw many rolling hills and mountains and were trying to guess which one was our 'Everest' and once we pin-pointed it, we took a big gulp and said, 'ok...let's do this.' Now, if anyone back in Canada hasn't seen me on my visits, you may not know that I have succumbed to many of the delicious (and non-nutritious) foods that Ireland has to offer like garlic cheese fries, anything battered, and the lack of veggies and salad. I feel like I'm back in university where I just eat anything that's affordable and unfortunately carbs usually fall into that category often. But what I have forgotten is that the speed of my metabolism is definitely not as great as it was in my early 20's so climbing Croagh Patrick was a definite struggle with the added weight and my lack of being in shape.

The calm before the storm...literally

The timing may have not been the best seeing that Ireland was getting hit with the after-effects of the hurricanes and such going on in the States and easter Canada so any local people we met along the way to Croagh Patrick said we were, quote-en-quote..."insane". Sure enough as soon as we were approaching our challenge, the wind picked up and it started to rain. We didn't let it put a damper on our day and kept truckin' on. We bought some cheap walking sticks from an old man at his tiny vendor stand and they sure did come in handy. We were determined to get one of his shirts when we got back that said 'I Climbed Croagh Patrick'.

So onwards and upwards we went and it was not an easy feat with my poor healthy state, the wind, the rain, the fact that there was no trail rather just slippery rocks and the incline that at some points felt like it was a 90-degree angle. We took our time and stopped for mini-breaks here and there and even a 'banana break' to give us a bit of energy. As we made our way up the mountain the wind got worse and worse and at some points we had to hold onto each other to ensure that we didn't fall all the way back down the mountain like 'Jack n' Jill' or fall off the steep ledge. We met an old man walking up the mountain with his dog and also a stray cat that was following a group of women up the mountain as well. You could tell that it didn't matter how great of shape you were in when you would look over at others climbing the mountain and with heavy breathing try to manage a 'I-can't-believe-I'm-doing-this' smile to each other and a small laugh. I think the hardest part of the climb (other than not dying) was the one area where I think it truly was a 90-degree angle as we had to get on our hands and knees and climb (see below for PROOF).

 'Banana break' 

one of the toughest part of the climb - steep angles

We got to 70% way up to one of the peaks and the wind turned into a massive tornado. People were hanging onto each other, some were lying on the ground to avoid from getting blown away and there was a makeshift hut at the peak where everyone huddled behind to shield themselves from the extreme windy conditions. Unfortunately, Carlee and I had to make the unanimous decision to end our challenge because we knew it was far too dangerous for us to continue on with our weak bodies, the increasingly poor weather conditions and the fact that we weren't experienced climbers. We tried to take some pictures but couldn't get too many due to the wind but I managed to take a video to prove that we just didn't wimp out and how windy it really was. In honest opinion, I believe the wind was moving at 80-90 km/h. Believe me or don't but that's the honest truth.

trying to get a picture at the peak 

the wind was so strong we couldn't even keep our eyes open and the rain felt like ice pellets

The old man we met along the way was slowly approaching the same destination and, unfortunately, he didn't have 'Bose' his dog on a leash and soon enough Bose became airborne and almost flew over the ledge. His owner quickly grabbed him by the collar and tried to get him to come with him over by the hut but he was shaking with fear so I helped him bring him over and tried to reassure the dog that we were infact saving his life. Then the old man said to us 'anyone lose a cat?' as he pointed to his backpack. Sure enough there was the stray cat we met along the way in his backpack as the old man told us he picked it up as it was getting lost in the wind as well. It's not everyday that you see an airborne dog or a cat in a backpack. Apparently when the man tried to let the cat out of the bag (pun inserted here) the cat refused and wanted to stay in his new safe and sheltered home.

 'Air-Bose' the dog

'backpack cat' and 'shaky dog'

It wouldn't be a normal crazy day for me unless I had a bit of bad luck so unfortunately I lost one of my favourite 'Canada' toques due to the wind and as I made my descent down Croagh Patrick, I tried to see if I could see it on the way but no dice. It was quite sad as my cousin Sherrie shipped it from Stratford to Galway last Christmas as she had my name for the Murray Gift Exchange and I absolutely loved it. But instead of seeing it as a loss, I just say to myself, 'well, I truly did leave a piece of myself and Canada in Ireland'. Maybe the wind will blow it all the way back to Harrington, Canada but that would be one amazing miracle.

 making our descent, with a memorable view

'Twin peaks' - 1st peak which finished, 2nd one not so much

So, Carlee and I, holding onto each other for dear life, made our descent back down to the base and with a few falls and stumbles along the way, including one massive bruise on my derriere, we made it. Even though we didn't complete the climb 100% we still thought we deserved the tshirt and it was somewhat fitting since the word 'Climbed' was actually in quotation marks - almost in the sense that 'I (almost) climbed Croagh Patrick'. Still, we did it, we are proud of it and we have the bruises and lack of headwear to prove it.

Bose and I chatting over our near-death experience

We celebrated by going to the pub at the bottom of the mountain, drenched, and sat by the fire and had some typical deep-fried Irish food and of course a Guinness. We knew that we were eating all the calories we just burned off but at that point we just didn't care. Afterwards, we took a taxi back to the train station and caught our train. Unfortunately, the connecting train in Athlone didn't wait for our train to arrive when it was 3 min late (typical Irish behaviour) so we could connect to Galway so we had to wait in the train station for a couple hours for the next one. I was so happy to see my bed when I got home as the last time I saw it was at 630am that morning and when I arrived back it was after 10pm.

 Our reward

bored in Athlone

All in all it was an amazing experience, I had the best climbing partner ever and I have another thing to add to my list of life's accomplishments. Thinking about Julie Andrews climbing her mountain in 'Sound of Music' the lyrics have a whole new meaning after tackling the beast that is Croagh Patrick. For those who don't know the song (and shame on you), here they are:

Climb every mountain,

Search high and low,
Follow every highway,
Every path you know.


Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow,

'Till you find your dream.

A dream that will need

All the love you can give,

Every day of your life 

For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow,

Till you find your dream

A dream that will need 

All the love you can give,

Every day of your life,

For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream, 

Follow every rainbow,

Till you find your dream. 

Yes, they are cheesy (much like the movie) but I'm not ashamed to admit that I still think it's still a pretty awesome song and movie and sometimes I feel like this new path that I have been taking falls right in line with what she's singing all about. I have made so many great friends (from all parts of the world) during my journey and even though I've had to say goodbye to some of them (stay tuned in the next blog) I'll always remember them and the moments we shared, just like Croagh Patrick vs 2 Cdn Gals, forever. 

Canadian Visitors...eh?

Following my last-minute trip back to Ontario I had to get myself back into the work/Galway groove. I have been very blessed in life in the sense that I haven’t had to go through the mourning of losing a friend or family member very often so after Chelsea passed I didn’t really know how to cope. Being my typical self, I just occupied myself with work, friends, etc. but anytime my brain would have a minute to stop she was the first thing on my mind so I have to admit that the first few weeks was pretty tough. It still hasn’t really set in because I left just a few days after she had passed back to Galway and losing someone when you’re abroad extends the mourning period because, I still think she’s around because I don’t come back to Harrington everyday and not see her. Mom and Dad and Joc express how difficult it still is to grasp that she’s gone since she’s been that constant smiling face when you walk into the Landreth homestead. If I make it home for Christmas this year it will likely rush back all those sad feelings and such because Christmas morning was always complete with Chelsea sitting infront of the fire, covered in Christmas ribbons and eating her treats from her stocking.

But back in Galway it was only a couple weeks till Mom and Dad would arrive for their 3-week tour of Ireland. I was surprised that they wanted to come for that long because it’s quite a long time to spend in Ireland so once confirmed, I helped them plan the entire 3 weeks so they weren’t spending their whole time in Galway. Not that I didn’t want to see them but I doubt they would ever be back in Ireland so I wanted to ensure they saw as much as possible so their adventure included a couple days in Dublin, two wknds in Galway (during the Arts Festival and Race Week – two biggest wknds in Galway all year), road trip down to Cork, Kerry, Dingle, Killarney, a few days up at the North coast within Belfast, Bushmills and Giants Causeway and then ending the trip with a weekend together in Edinburgh, Scotland. July/August were likely the most busiest months for me with Mom and Dad visiting, Sam visiting for a few days (same day Mom and Dad arrived in Galway), Rachelle leaving (left the same weekend Mom, Dad and Sam visited) and then a few days after Mom and Dad left, cousin Katey arrived for almost a week after her couple weeks touring around Europe. I won’t go in specific detail of all visits but all in all it was great to have some familiar faces over on my side of the pond. It was great to have Sam visiting from Toronto. I balanced my first few days with Mom, Dad, and Sam visiting by spending time with the parents during the day and then showing Sam the nightlife in Galway. We even experienced our first Silent Disco together under the Big Top near NUIG campus and had an absolute blast. The next sunny day, I took Mom and Dad out to my favourite spot on the Longwalk in Galway and who should be there basking in the sun? Sam. Great minds think alike. J It was definitely great to have Sam there because with her laid-back and super flexible personality I felt that I could play Galway Tour Guide to my parents during the day and then unwind and grab a few casual drinks with Sam during the night. It was a great balance and loved each minute of it. Sam was just visiting for the weekend and even though it was a short visit I was happy she came but sad she had to go.

Neat-o robot/man @ Silent Disco

Sam in bliss @ Silent Disco

Mom and Dad seemed to enjoy their time and seeing that Mom and Dad are somewhat opposites I wanted to find them activities that would suit them each best. My boss at work was kind enough to arrange two rounds of golf for my Dad – one down near Kerry, which is one of Europe’s top 10 courses (top 5 in Ireland) and one small course just outside Galway in Salthill. Mom and I kept busy with ‘fascinator’ (hat) shopping for the Galway Races (very customary for women to get fancied up and go to the races and we had Carlee joining us which made it extra special). Mom and I also had tea for two at a very quaint tea shop in Galway and it was all decked out with doilies, antique tea cups, tea pots, scones, etc. It wouldn’t be a usual visit from Mom unless she cleaned the windows at my apartment either…haha. One special mom…that’s for sure. In Edinburgh we did the typical tourist things with the hop on-hop off bus tour, walked around New and Old town, visited Edinburgh castle, Holyrood Palace, and the Queen’s HM Yacht Britannia on our last day. My journey was complete with sushi at the Edinburgh airport before we flew back to Galway to say our farewells. We managed to squeeze lots of historic tours for Dad, Mother-Daughter time for Mom as I think that was her priority along with see the amazing Irish landscape and towns, and just get some overall quality family time in.

 Girly tea time with Momma

 Carlee and I @ the Galway Races with our 'fascinators'

 My hardworking mom cleaning my windows. Gotta love her!

 Parents walking through Leith Links, Scotland

 View of Edinburgh from top of Edinburgh Castle

 Parents walking through Holyrood Palace Gardens, Edinburgh

 Sad farewells at Dublin Airport

Mints we received @ Smokehouse Restaurant, Edinburgh :) 

A few days after Mom and Dad left, is when Katey arrived so I had a some time to catch up on some sleep and relax as being a tourguide can be very fulfilling but very exhausting. Katey was on the last leg of her European journey as she was in Paris, Amsterdam, and a couple other cities meeting up with old classmates from when she did a semester in Budapest a few years ago. She said it was one of the most chilled-out vacations she’s had in a while just because she was just sort of taking everything one day at a time and didn’t have any set plans. I was going to try and do a roadtrip with her down to the south coast or go up to the north coast but my finances were starting to get low and she said she was ok with just seeing the sights in Galway and maybe doing a couple tours when I’m away at work which sounded great to me. So, during her visit I just walked around the city with her, took her to some of my favourite pubs and made some homemade dinners using ingredients from the farmers market we visited on the weekend.

 Katey's first pint in Galway - Galway Hooker (local beer)

 And she finished her Guiness!

 Cousins @ Spanish Arch, Galway Ireland

 Katey's last night in Galway @ popular traditional Irish pub - Tis Coili

All in all it was a great summer since it was full of visitors and new sights and familiar faces but was also sad since it was full with some goodbyes from the amazing Canadian girls I had met at the beginning of my Irish adventure. I’ll save those stories for the next blog…

Tip #10 - Make every moment count...

I know that the title of this post is pretty cliche or generic but it really hit home for me when the news came suddenly that one of the most important people in my life was sick back home. It's every person's nightmare, especially when living abroad. I apologize in advance that this particular blog post is not the most happiest of mine to read...nor it is for me to write.

On Friday, June 24th, I got an email from Mom asking if I could call her or Skype. The message was short and not like Mom so right away I knew that something wasn't right. She had mentioned in the last week or so that Chelsea wasn't eating like she usually does (we all know she had a 'healthy' appetite for any type of food) so I suggested changing her dog food and adding a bit of tastiness to it since sometimes the side effects to her mild medication causes loss of appetite. So, when I called Mom on Friday, I could sense right away something was up with Chelsea. Long story short, Mom took her to the vet as she stopped eating and drinking all together and she was diagnosed with a severe case of diabetes. Mom assured me that the vet said it had nothing to do with the way we raised her or her diet since she was in pretty much perfect health up until a month ago and when I visited home in April, she was acting like her normal bubbly yet carefree self. The vet recommended sending her to London Vet Hospital for the weekend to get tests and monitor her to see the next steps as her health was quickly deteriorating. Mom said she would keep me posted and would visit her each day as Chelsea does not like to be out of her element and away from home and familiar faces.

Saturday, Jonny and I planned to go up to the Connemara Sleepzone hostel for a free getaway and I was reluctant to go given Chelsea's condition but Jonny said it would likely take my mind off of things and would be good for me to get away. Unfortunately the weather was not great so it rained pretty much the whole time and I was pretty much in a gloomy state all weekend checking my phone often for updates from Mom & Dad. Unfortunately her condition wasn't getting any better and the vets started to tell my parents that we would have to make some 'decisions' soon - whether to send her to Guelph University Animal Hospital for testing and try to increase her strength or...the latter.

We only stayed up in Connemara for a night and I pretty much slept the whole time. The only way to and from the hostel as it's in the middle of the Connemara mountains was getting a ride with the Galway Bus Tour. So we got picked up at 1pm and then had to finish the tour with the bus and hang out at Kylemore Abbey while the rest of the tourists roamed around and took pictures. My mood was increasingly getting lower and since there was hardly any mobile network range it was even more frustrating. My sister and bro-in-law met up with my parents at the London Vet Hospital on Sunday to visit Chelsea to see if that would lift her spirits as she had minimal strength left to even get up to see visitors. Jocelyn kept trying to call me but the phone kept cutting out and between me feeling so helpless in the middle nowhere and not being able to get an update from Jocelyn, I was pretty much in tears. I emailed her and said I would be home in a couple of hours and we could talk then.

The bus ride home was not great but thanks to Jonny, being the amazing friend that he is, he kept me calm and reassured me we would be home soon. I called Mom as soon as I got in the door and they were all at the hospital. I knew right away when she passed the phone to Joc that I had to come home because she could barely speak and she's usually the strongest of all the siblings since she has to deal with life and death almost everyday in her career. It was even more obvious that I had to pack a bag and make my way to the airport as Joc's first words on the phone was 'you have to come home...she's not well...she's not herself...you have to come home.' So, in a matter of 45 min, I packed a bag, booked a plane ticket and bus ticket and made my way to Dublin Airport. Thanks to my loving and 'planner' bro-in-law who had already researched cheap plane tickets for me, and Jonny for running to the bus station to buy me a ticket and one for himself as he wasn't going to allow me to sit alone on a bus for 3 hours and in the airport for 6 hours as an emotional wreck. It's funny how in life's most stressful and darkest moments you see how valuable the people in your life really are. As Jonny sat on the bus ride with me and stayed by my side till my flight boarded in Dublin, that was one special moment when I realized he was a very special and cherished friend...for life.

I had a connection in Frankfurt where I had to keep busy for a few hours and wished I could sleep but between emotional stress and not being to able to just sleep anywhere or anytime, I just wandered the airport till my next flight. I arrived in Toronto around 3pm which was unfortunately rush hour traffic. Mike picked me up from the airport as Mom, Dad and Joc were picking up Chelsea from the vet to bring her home so she would be more comfortable and at ease. Mike, being the great guy he is, kept my mind busy with catching up and trying to keep my spirits high. We arrived at his and Joc's house in Kitchener where Joc would then take me onwards to home. At this point I was going on 40 hours of no sleep since the last time I slept was in Connemara on Saturday night and it was now Monday evening. As we pulled into 'Landreth Lane', I could feel the lump in my throat reappear. Once inside, I found Mom was sitting beside Chelsea on the laundry room cement floor where it was cool and one of Chelsea's favourite places. Her tail wagged but she was too weak to get up and see me which I know was frustrating for her since she welcomes everyone at the door, no matter how tired or sore her muscles got with her old age. I tried to not let her see my sadness because for 12 years whenever I was sad, I could sense she felt my pain and would sit by my side till I felt better so it was my turn to do the same for her. Since she couldn't get up I would carry her in and out of the house to go to the bathroom and I could sense she felt embarrassed and ashamed because she's always been a proud soul. She's been that way since the first day I brought her home as a puppy and as she was out of my sight for 1 min, she got curious and fell off the side of the deck clinging to the edge with her tiny paws. That was the first day I felt like a bad mom but knew that everyone has to fall to learn a lesson.

I slept on the couch in the basement for the first night as she lied on her bed beside me. I took her out in the middle of the night and she kept wanting to sleep on the cold cement floor even though she would often shiver. I didn't care how uncomfortable the cement floor was as I slept right beside her for the next two nights. There was a ray of hope as I got her to eat nibbles of treats and bread on the first night I arrived home but after talking to Mom and Dad over dinner on Tuesday night, I knew that even if we could get her back to regular strength and eating again, she would still be on a strict diabetic mealplan and have to have multiple shots of insulin daily and it would always be a day-to-day struggle for her and I didn't want that life for her...not in her final years. I kept telling Mom & Dad that it's not fun being a pet-parent because these are the moments when you feel like you have to play 'God' and make the decision to end their life now or let them keep living in pain. I prayed every night once I arrived in Harrington that she would just pass away in her sleep but unfortunately not.

Wednesday came and we called the vet to reconfirm they would come to the house to put her down. They were so kind and caring and sensitive. I was up somewhat early and I couldn't just sit there and just wait to say goodbye to my best friend of 12 years. I started going around the house and picking up all of Chelsea's toys and such and put them into a bag because I knew how hard it would be for me to do that after she passed. Jocelyn and I sat on the floor with Chelsea in the kitchen and just stayed with her and kept her calm. The vet arrived and prepared everything and told us how the procedure would work. We had to leave the room for a minute and came back for our final goodbyes. I held her head and looked into her eyes and told her how I felt and then she was gone. You never forget those last moments with someone you love so much and everyday I see the last look in her eyes...it never goes away.

Maybe some who are reading this think that a dog is just a dog or sharing a story like this is too personal or spending a lot of money to fly home to say goodbye to a friend or 'just a dog' is insane but to be honest, you must never judge one's relationship with another person or another creature. The bond between two people is just as valuable and important as a bond between a person and an animal - dog, cat, horse, turtle, etc. Chelsea affected my life in so many ways that I can't even begin to explain. She made me feel safe, loved, appreciated, happy, faithful, and so unbelievably blessed. She never judged or talked back, she was just there always whenever I needed her or a snuggle in her soft fur and never expected anything back....well, she did appreciate the odd treat or two or three...haha. She taught me so much about myself, life, love, and she never had to say a single word...although I always laughed when thinking if she could talk. She was and always will be a special part of the Landreth Family. She was in our family portrait, she was the centre of Christmas morning covered in ribbons and bows (which never phased her every year), she was your companion when watching TV or taking a snooze (Dad), or reading in bed or your partner on a walk down the dirt road or to the mailbox (Mom). She would welcome you at the door at any hour of the day or night which is Rimi's favourite memory when she met us at the kitchen door at 3am in the morning one night - very sleepy and not impressed that we woke her up. She would jump around like a baby dear every first snowfall and entertain you by joining in snowball fights and accompany us when we picked out our Christmas Tree every year (Jocelyn) and no matter how long it had been between visits or walks, she would always be happy to see you and it was like life just stood still (Gavin). All in all, she was the best friend, companion, and dog any family or person could ask for and I miss her every minute of everyday and I would honestly give anything just to have her curled up at the end of my bed - even if she was sprawled across the entire bed and you had to sleep uncomfortably around her.

So, in conclusion, maybe this is a very sad and personal blog post and I had hoped I wouldn't have to write about the passing of Chelsea for many years ahead but like I always say - people come in and out of your life for a reason - whether it be a short time or long but it what's you learn from them is the most important. Even after Chelsea passed, she truly has taught me one more valuable lesson: make every moment count...even up till your last breath. During her sudden passing there was an old poem by E.E. Cummings that I read that will always remind me of Chelsea and going through this difficult time. I posted it below to share with you all:

[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]

BY E. E. CUMMINGS

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

---

I love you Chelsea Lucinda-Ann Landreth....I carry your heart with me...now and forever. xo

Pop goes the Cork...with familiar faces.

Aside from the fact that this post comes almost 6 months late, I still wanted to post not only for my own sake but also to share with those whom didn't hear about our venture down to Cork to see some more of Ireland and also visit with some familiar faces - Amy and Marc. Marc was overseas 'staging' (french spelling?) which means he was interning in a couple upscale restaurants to add to his career experience as a new chef. If those reading don't know, Amy and Marc, they are two really great friends Jonny and I know from back in Ontario (Stratford specifically). They spent the first few months of their trip in Marseilles, France and then, ironically, the last couple of months in Cork, Ireland so what better reason to visit Cork, other than to see more of Ireland and visit the county in which my Great-Grandfather Calvert grew up?

Instead of renting a car like we did on our last trip, we decided to take the direct and inexpensive route via bus which was about 3 hours to the city centre from Galway. Unfortunately, with my small bladder, I was a bit nervous seeing Citylink didn't choose to provide washroom facilities on the bus and no stops along the way so I had to hydrate myself only in case of an emergency. The trip flew by and before we knew it, we were at our B&B just steps away from UCC (University of Cork) and reuniting with our friends, Marc and Amy. (Side note: they both actually came up to Galway a few weeks before we headed down to Cork to see what Galway was all about and had a grand ol' time - we showed Galway how the Stratfordites party)

Since we arrived around 930pm we settled in at the B&B and then headed over to Marc/Amy's shared flat where we met their flatmates and other new acquaintances. It was a mild night so had some good craic in their backyard and then ventured into the city centre for some pints and dancing at The Crane Lane pub which reminded me a cross between a Burlesque bar and a rock bar. We had some really great fun with our Stratfordites and their flatmate Marty which we nicknamed him 'Party-Marty' (he didn't like that one too much) and 'Marti-Gras'. :) The DJ was 'savage' as the Irish say with his cross between indie-rock remixes and beats and all in all we had a great time.

 backyard Stratford reunions

Party-Marty aka Marti-Gras got a bit crazy

Thankfully, we had great weather all weekend (sunny and 26 degrees - rare for Ireland in June) so Saturday, while Marc was working, Amy took us on a walking tour of Cork to see some of the sights. We ventured through the popular English Market where it's practically an extra-large version of a Farmers market and then some. Amy and Marc were treating us to a homemade supper that night so as Amy ventured around the market picking up ingredients for dinner, Jonny and I played tourist and took lots of pics and saw what each fresh food stand had to offer. Afterwards we kept walking around town and literally stumbled-upon a gospel choir singing in a small park just off a popular patio bar so many locals sat in the park and listened to them as the daytime drinkers enjoyed the live entertainment. We decided to take a break and sit on the grass and listen to the talent. Shortly later, a very generous man was walking around offering everyone large freezies to keep cool as we basked in the hot sun...couldn't get any better other than a friendly dog sat down next to me and kept me company.

 too much food...must get out @ English Market, Cork

stumbling-upon some great live entertainment in sunny downtown Cork

After much walking, Jonny and I decided to go back to the B&B for a short rest while Amy and Marc started to prepare dinner. We had roasted chicken with vegetables, potatoes and a fresh green salad and wine to accompany the delicious meal. Following dinner we decided to pass the time with a 'friendly' game of Euchre as our bellies digested. One game turned into 5 or 6 and before we knew it, it was after midnight. Since we pretty much polished off the refreshments, we decided to go to a pub for last call. Ironically on a Saturday night, it seemed like everything had closed down after 1am but we again stumbled-upon a pub that brought back memories to us fellow Stratfordites as it was called 'Classics'. Luckily, the atmosphere and decor was not exactly like the 'Classics' we knew in Stratford, ON but to be nostalgic, we decided to have a couple pints for last call on the small patio they had.

 last-call pints @ Classics, Cork not Stratford, ON

5-star meal made by Chef Marc, sous-chef Amy

Since Marc's vegetarian restaurant was closed on Sundays, we took advantage and did a new tourist adventure together and took the train out to Fota Island where there is a large zoo. All the animals pretty much roam wild which I was much in favour since the Toronto Zoo always depressed me with caged up animals. The layout of Fota Island was much like African Wild Safari back in Ontario and the non-threatening animals (kangeroos, birds, rabbits, etc.) were roaming the same paths as we were. Monkeys had their own private island with a large 'monkey gym' to keep them busy, giraffes, ostriches, zebras and antelope shared a big open field, cheetahs and the not-so-friendly species were behind fences but had acres of land to roam, and even the wide range of birds (flamingos, ducks, penguins, puffins, pelicans) were conversing with the guests or had their own private island to keep to themselves. All in all it was a great tourist location, even for the adults.

 up close & personal with Roo

 co-habitants - giraffe, zebra, & antelope

 Marc & Amy feed the birds...tuppence a bag

 Mr Pelican

Jonny speaks 'pelican'

Since it was a bank holiday weekend and Jonny and I both had Monday off, we decided to stay one more night and visit with our friends. We regrouped later that night and went for some late-night pints at another local pub in town. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the pub but I felt like I was drinking amongst the hipster-indie-poet-biochemist crowd. All in all, it was a great end to a great weekend and really neat to visit with some familiar faces.

taking advantage of 'last call'...we can do it Aimster!

Weekending in Southern Ireland

Hi All,
Instead of apologizing for the lack of updates lately, I'm just gonna skip forward and get to what I've been up to lately.

My goal with my new job was to take one weekend per month to go on a roadtrip to see more of Ireland and thus far, I've stuck to my goal. Luckily, Jonny gets one long weekend off per month so he has been able to join me which is great for good company.

The first weekend was a multi-city weekend down in the Southeast tip of Ireland. We rented a car and headed on the road. Now let's just say that it's not as easy to brush up on your skills on how to drive standard in Ireland as everything is opposite: all the gears are on the left and you're driving on the opposite side of the road but with a few stalls here and there, my courageous roomie Jonny (I didn't want to break the car so I played the navigator) got us from point A to point B (and C, D, etc.) safely and efficiently. Lucky for us we opted for the collision insurance as, poor Cleo (the car), we believe we got a bit too close a stone wall lining a road we were driving on and got a wee scratch on the bumper...oops....beware of VERY narrow roads here in Ireland.

Our first stop was for dinner at a great steakhouse we discovered walking the streets of Limerick. We first stopped off at Shannon River, as well, it's pretty self-explanatory. With the sunset just coming down, she sure did look breathtaking. :) We had a really amazing meal at the Texas Steakhouse and it made our tummies warm and full for the next couple hours towards Killarney for the night.

With a few glitches in our GPS, we finally made it to our hotel in Killarney and headed out for some of the Killarney nightlife. It was a quaint city and the pub that my boss recommended to us, Mc Soroley's, was pretty neat. At first we thought it was just ok and the live band was pretty good, minus the karaoke efforts made by the lead singer, but then we went to find the toilets and discovered the other side of the bar and it was pretty neat. It was an open-concept outdoor smoking area that reminded me of the high wood ceiling back at the Landreth homestead, complete with another bar, pool tables and high-top tables and a projector screen playing old-school music videos...pretty neat. Since we didn't arrive to Killarney till after midnight, we just stayed for a few pints and headed back to the hotel as we didn't want to be wrecked for the next couple of days as playing tourists. So, we got a small snack after witnessing the typical Irish drama (drunken disorderly sightings) and got a taxi back to our hotel as it was a bit of a stretch and it started to downpour on us and we had to save our food from melting in the rain...ha.

The next day, we got up and headed out for a quick lunch and walked around the downtown core and then found the tourism office to find out what were the things to do while in the Killarney area. We decided to go to Killarney National Park and if we had time, go to another spot before we headed to Dingle. The weather was off and on so we played our chances and headed towards the park. We parked the car near a horse and buggy drop-off area and then got our gear and started our venture. It was a long walk through the park but the scenery was breathtaking and the weather held up somewhat. We had to hide under a few trees here and there due to some rain but that's the life in Ireland, I guess. Here's a few of the views we saw.

Once we got to Muckross House (historic landmark in pic above) we decided to spend a few shackles and take a horse and buggy ride around the rest of the park to make it a bit more quicker and it also took us up to the Killarney Falls. Our guide/driver was a old man from Killarney area and he was the owner of the carriage ride business. He told us the history of how long he had been doing the carriage rides and how he treats his horses like children. We also suspected he has quite the Irish green thumb as he knew about every tree in that park...pretty fascinating and it reminded me of all my aunts and cousins in the family as they are quite the gardeners...except for me, of course. I can't even seem to keep a pot of herbs alive longer than a couple days....oh well. Here is a few pics of the falls and our carriage ride with our friendly transportation, Suzy.

After we departed Killarney we headed to Dingle which is the most eastern tip of Ireland and very amazing. My boss, being a 'Kerry' man (Dingle is situated within Kerry county), said it claims to be one of the most beautiful towns in all of Ireland and well, from what I've seen thus far of Ireland, it definitely lives up to its reputation. We did lots of walking around the downtown area, the harbour and we stayed in a very nice B&B up on Slea Head drive. The couple who owned it was very kind, provided a personal map for tourists including Dingle and Slea Head Drive (i'll get to that shortly) and the breakfast was remarkable. I felt like a queen with everything they provided and it was all fresh, right down to the hand-squeezed juices and homemade brown & white bread. Even though I was stuffed by the end, I had to have a couple spoonfuls of the homemade rhubarb stew as I haven't had it since Gramma M passed away and it was just like hers. Luckily for Mom & Dad, I booked them two nights at the same B&B when they come to visit and I'm sure they will enjoy it just as much as we did.

After we checked into our B&B we got ready and headed back into town. We heard a lot of great things about a seafood restaurant called Doyles so I made sure to pop over to make a reservation and glad I did because we got the last one for the evening...and it was worth it. Jonny treated me to a belated birthday dinner as I was in Canada when my actual birthday was celebrated. We had the most delicious risotto I've ever had - prawn and scallops in a tomato and basil sauce with asiago cheese...yum. Then we had the fresh lobster dinner. I've never had lobster in a restaurant before and it was such a treat. We got the last two and they were both the biggest they had in the tank. Some of the green stuff grossed me out but Jonny was a pro and showed me how to make sure I got every last bite. It was served, melted butter (naturally) with roasted rosemary potatoes, green salad and steamed veggies. Of course we had to have some wine to make it extra special and all in all, likely the best Irish meal I've had yet.

After the meal, we headed out to see what the nightlife is about. Likely, one of my favourite things about Dingle was the quirkiness about some of the local pubs. There are about 3 or 4 pubs in town that during the day they are a retail-type business and then by night, they turn into a pub....no lie. The ones we went by were Foxy John's (Hardware store by day), J. Curran's (men's clothing store by day) and the one we spent having a few pints at, Dick Mack's (shoe cobbler by day). I loved this pub because it felt like I was just at someone's house having a few beers because it was almost like an old house turned into a business/pub because the rooms still had furniture, stoves, fireplaces, etc. in them. We sat out back where there was a firepit and picnic tables for a bit and then went in and sat in a room by ourself infront of the fire and it was great. After the pub, we walked down by the harbour as the moon was full and then headed back to the B&B in a taxi. Here's a couple pics of the pubs and Dick Mack's.

 Foxy John's - hardware store

 J Currans men's fashions

Dick Macks - cobbler by day

 Dick Macks

After our very delicious breakfast, we headed out onto Slea Head Drive which is pretty much a long drive along the Atlantic coast with many great views along the way including a few historic monuments. It does pretty much a full circle where you end back at Dingle and then it would be easy for us to jump onto the road again to head back to Galway. We stopped at a Fort that was around 500 BC, saw a couple of 'beehives' which are old stone houses that people long ago stayed in, saw some great views of the ocean, stopped at Coumeenoole Beach and had some beach fun (see pic below), saw the 'Sleeping Giant' which is a really cool rock formation you can see from land and many other great views.

 mysterious Irish fog with 500 BC Fort behind me

Coumeenoole Beach

 Personalized postcard

'Sleeping Giant'

After a quick pitstop in Dingle we headed back to Galway with a quick stop in Tralee for lunch. All in all, it was a really fun first roadtrip and the car came in handy as we picked up some groceries along the way and I even got a ride to work from Jonny the next morning before he returned the rental so no queasy busride for me...at least in the morning.

Next stop....Cork with some fellow Stratfordites!