11. Ireland Day 8, Finale...

It was time, I had my things all packed and ready to load up the mini. I brought my things down and sat them next to the door and then I wandered around the house to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. When I returned I found that what once had been a joyous welcoming committe had now turned into the "So...You think you're going somewhere do you?" committe! These fellas, I have been told miss me and wandered around the house for days looking for me. That is Lokii on the lower left and Spotty on the upper right. Though I have said that I am a dog person and I just don't seem to speak cat, these guys and I really got along. I miss you, you crazy lovey kitties!

After the mini was packed we were on our way. The agenda was to travel to New Grange then off to the town of Trim to spend the night with the lovely Olga and Bill! More on them later, I promise. This picture illustrates how you can be driving along and then BANG, there's a castle right there.

And I mean RIGHT THERE!

Here's a picture for you relatives back home! I just couldn't pass up this picture op. I mean Faulkner's? How cool!

You gotta love a construction sign where someone took the time to make their point. DON'T just wait for the green, wait HERE for the green!!!! I love this!

After a few hours of driving, getting lost, driving down roads that even a mini shouldn't have fit, stopping and asking for directions, watching as the GPS unit lost all roads and our digital car seemed to be flying off into space, we finally arrived at our destination of New Grange with literally only 4 minutes to spare before the last tour bus left the visitor's center! Phew, that was really really close.

This is the walk way up to the visitor's center from the parking lot. Again, me taking pictures of doorways, gateways or entryways! I know, I know.

After running to the tour bus and making it on board we took a seat and relaxed on the short drive up to New Grange.

Here is New Grange. The tour bus driver was kind enough to stop and let us take a picture from the open bus door. Perks from being the only three people on the bus! Private tour anyone?

As we were the only ones around the lovely tour guide was able to give us a wonderful private tour. Erynne and David had both been there before and said that was a great tour. Usually you are in a group of 20 people at a time. Now, as you are not permitted to take pictures inside I can not illustrate just how small it is inside so you'll just have to trust me that we were very lucky to only be 4 people in there. It was quite and experience. Standing inside the oldest man made structure on the planet. This is older than The Great Pyramids in Egypt! Standing inside seeing the carvings, imagining what it must have been like then was utterly mind blowing. It's something you just can't put into words.

After New Grange, we got back into the mini and headed off to Trim, destination Bill and Olga's house. They were so wonderful to put us up for the night so that we would be able to get to the Dublin Airport early in the morning.

And here are the lovely, wonderful Bill and Olga!! We all went out to dinner together and had a wonderful meal.

David took this photo of me during dinner. I did not realize until after my trip was over and I was back home going through the pictures David gave me that I had been sitting under this sign! The restaurant was decorated for the upcoming Valentines holiday.

After dinner we walked through town. I know I have been talking about castles but this one really truly took my breath away. This is what we walked by on the way to the pub.

This is just a picture of the sign that was out front.

This is Trim Castle. Interesting side note that no one told me at the time, they used this castle in the film Braveheart! Anyways, I digress. As we walked around Trim Castle, in the dark lit up it all seemed so magical. This castle's curtain wall is HUGE. Imagine, people live here and walk/drive by this every day on their way to work! How utterly unspeakably cool is that?

Really, I just can't capture this well enough to give you even the slightest twinge of how it felt to be standing there.

That would be us (minus David) walking from dinner on our way to the pub NEXT TO A CASTLE! Yeah, A CASTLE!

Again, how cool is this photo? Thank you David for this photo. I take back all those comments I made about you lagging behind us! :) No hard feelings I hope!

How could the night get any better you ask? Oh it can my friend, it can! We all went to Bill and Olga's favorite pub. We settled in for a wonderful time of great friends, great drinks and GREAT music!

Again, me with a "glass" and Erynne with a "pint"!
For those of you Moleskiner's out there here is proof that, yes I took it with me on my trip and yes I did write in it! See, there's the moleskine with pages open and pen in hand. Barb, do you notice what pen that is?

Here I am when we first arrived at the pub, and here is the musical group behind me. There is one guys you can't see, he's behind my head.

This is where the night gets magical and teary. Sadly as the night went on there were moments when I sat back in my seat quietly observing my friends, and the full weight of my trip and being with my best friend in the whole world would wash over me. I became very aware in those quiet moments that my time here was coming to an end in only a few short hours. As the music played and people were singing Olga, Erynne and I gathered by the bar infront of the musicians and were swept away by the beauty of it all.

Then the tears came. As us girls stood together it started. I got a lump in my throat, and my vision blurred and I became unable to hold it back. All it took was one look from Erynne and I let loose. The tears streamed down my face and there was no hiding it. I regret that I do not know the man's name that was singing that night but when he noticed my tears he inquired as to what the occasion was. Erynne explained my situation and that I was to leave for home the very next morning. He took one look at us and began to sing. They played the song No Woman No Cry to me. As they sang they changed the lyrics to "No Lassie Go Home". Olga leaned over and grabbed my hand and held it as Erynne hugged and held on to me. I tell you dear readers that I truly have NEVER felt so loved in my entire life. I sit here and type this blog entry with tears in my eyes again from the memory of that all enveloping love of that evening. I wish that each and every one of you feel that kind of love atleast once in your life.

I was so moved that before the evening was over I sat and wrote a note of thanks to the man who serenaded me letting him know in a few words as best I could just how special he helped to make my last night in Ireland. He hugged me and said that was the best compliment he had ever been paid. Please, if someone moves you in your life, never miss the opportunity to say thank you.

Sadly I do not have a video of that special No Woman No Cry song they sang me ( I was too busy crying) but I did take a short video of him singing another song. I didn't catch the very beginning but I hope you'll enjoy it as a brief look into that magical evening. Hopefully it will in some small way help to show you what magical adventures you can have if you just take the time to say yes and step out your door. Please take a moment to go and watch the video My YouTube Video

With a final hug and eyes full of tears, I was on my way home. My trip was over. A thousand pictures and a journal full of memories. Erynne, there are no words, just no words at all.