Ireland #1of2

An Irish man we met in an English tourist office said that the towns in Ireland are rather drab. When we visit some countries (Spain and Portugal for example), from a distance the towns look charming, but when we get there, buildings often look dilapidated. In Ireland, while the town as a whole may not look interesting, many individual buildings are excellent, from a distance or even close up. Some of the houses and motels are as nice as any we have seen anywhere in Europe.

We visited the Waterford Crystal Factory and took the tour. The room with the glass cutters is large and noisy, but there are no “seconds” at Waterford, if the object is not perfect, they break it and melt it over again. After six or eight years, an apprentice glass cutter at Waterford Crystal may be good enough to “cut” an “apprentice bowl,” a bowl of a very difficult design. If he cuts everything perfectly, they now cut a special star in the bowl, and he is promoted to Master Craftsman.

We have seen many horse-drawn covered wagons, perhaps the Irish version of a camper. Don’t know what equipment they have, or how many people may be in there, but they go slowly down the road with someone leading the horse.

Cork was a nice town, and a downtown street had a wonderful name, “Grand Parade.” Emmy saw, but didn’t buy, a 1797 berry spoon for only $175, but she liked a clock in one antique store. I said now is not the time to spend $500.

We stopped a policeman to ask directions. He looked a little puzzled as he came over to us, and he was surprised to hear us speak English. He had seen our German license plate, and expected we would speak German. He was an Irish policeman right out of the movies. His accent, and his syntax were perfect.

At the Blarney Castle, near Cork, we didn’t bother to kiss the Blarney Stone. Two men would take the arms of people who wanted to kiss the stone, and helped them lay on their back and stick their head into the hole under the Blarney Stone. One lady had a problem fitting into the hole, so they pushed her a couple of times, then gave up and stood her up and sent her on her way. She never got anywhere but close, but we’re sure she’ll tell everyone she kissed the Blarney Stone.

From Cork we went to Bandon and on to Glandore, then to Skibbereen, the tiny town of Ballineen, then on to Bantry.