Ireland arrival day; overnight travel strategies.

We made it to Dublin from Philadelphia on Sunday morning, June 4th.  Probably 3 hours of sleep between 11PM EDT and 6AM Ireland time (5 hours).  Met by a driver named Paul Farrell, who took us south of Dublin to the Glendalough (say glen-da-lock) attractions in the Wicklow Mountains – Powerscourt Gardens, Sally’s Gap and Glendalough Abbey.

Our plan is to get out in the sun, walk about, see some sights and gather strength to get to our room in the Hotel…this one is Druid’s Glen near Wicklow town on the sea.  So, after lunch at the Abbey of St. Kevin (the 2nd great Irish saint – besides Patrick), we got to do the “nap-in-the-afternoon-and-a-shower” strategy.  Now, we are feeling normal, having eaten dinner at the golf club house here (1798) and will get to bed at around 10:30.

Some beautiful scenery was made more beautiful by unexpected sunshine (aids in vitamin D absorption for our recovery).

 

We love those Celtic Crosses and thought they were rare…not here at the Abbey of St. Kevin at Glendalough.

Tomorrow more of our antidote to jet-lag will be some walks, perhaps a seaside lunch and more trip planning for the days ahead.  Rental car gets dropped of on Wednesday as we will drive past Dublin, go westerly to see our friends (from Sanibel) the McNamaras at their home in Tullamore, Co. Offaly – in the middle of the country.

Wish us luck and God-speed as we do the “drive-on-the-left-from-the-right-hand-seat” through motorways and roundabouts.  Our friends – Blair and Dennis – just survived a week of that kind of motoring in England, so we are bolstered with the “if they can do it…” spirit.