ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Just arrived! Katie's good friend Val went to the airport, too.



Our daughter Katie is HOME from three months in Ireland! Here's what's happened so far:

1. Flight from Chicago arrived on time Tuesday, 9 p.m.
2. Luggage deposited in living room.
3. Laptop brought out to see some photos ... until 1 a.m. Wednesday.
4. Katie went to bed approximately 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
5. Slept
6. and slept
7. and slept.
8. Got out of bed at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday.
9. Ate waffles, followed by pizza and salad 3 hours later.
10. Fell asleep on the couch, 9:20 p.m. Wednesday.
11. Went to bed at 11 p.m. Wednesday.
12. Still sleeping, 8:25 a.m. Thursday.

WELCOME HOME, KATIE!

the last hurrah ... Ireland, day six

How did the week pass so quickly? Great fellowship with the kids and Taylor parents, a different glimpse into Ireland every day, and no cooking!

On this final day in Ireland, we gathered at the 'Y' at 9:00 to join the students for a day in Dublin. Some stayed back, including Bill, who was ready for a little down time.

Tal, Katie and I teamed up and headed for the DART into Dublin with many other parents & students.



A gate leading into Dublin Castle, built in the year 1204.





Inside the amazing Dublin castle...we took a very interesting tour of this castle that continues to serve as a government building. Also fascinating was seeing the underground excavation of the original castle and city walls.




...for you tea lovers, here he is: Sir Earl Grey!




Christ Church Cathedral, just a short walk from the castle. Built in 1030!





Paid a visit to this little shop in Dublin to get some Irish "woollen" yarn for my friend Lynn. The real place for local knitters ... not so much tourists.




Friends! Katie, Norah, Ashley


Katie hugs Bill goodbye after our final dinner.




And so the door closes on our visit to Ireland. It's a land of warm people and breathtaking scenery, yet I felt at home at every turn. A part of my heart remains and I hope to return and explore the incomparable west coast.

It was especially wonderful to see Katie and how she is thriving as she is stretched in travel, discoveries, new friends and the independence of college life. We are proud, PROUD of you, Katie!

by Hook or by Crook ... Ireland, day five

Today was long. Bus-riding long, but fun and fascinating. We left Bray at 6:45 a.m. for the 3-hour journey south to Waterford for a tour of the crystal factory. These guys know their stuff: the top craftsmen spend 10 years in training. Following the factory tour and lunch, it was on to the Hook lighthouse. I'm a sucker for lighthouses, so for me this was the highlight of the day, Monday, Sept. 29.






By now we've figured out that our bus driver, Brian, could offer up endless tales and explanations of all things Irish. Today he told us that the expression, "by hook or by crook" originated in the area of the Hook lighthouse and the nearby village of Crook ... something to do with invaders. Plausible. But memorable to me is that we visited one of the oldest still-in-use lighthouses in the world. We're talking 13th century here.
But our first stop was the Waterford Crystal factory...





This guy is blowing and molding the liquid glass into a vase.



And now they're putting a handle on a pitcher. They make it look so easy.



Now for the etching, done with wheels. Each piece must be perfect. If a craftsman turns out an imperfect one or breaks a piece, he isn't paid for his work on it.





Riding the bus together from early morning until evening, this day cemented the bond between the Taylor parents and staff who accompanied us. From laughing at the funny snack names ("Digestives" is a cookie and "salt sticks" are pretzels) to sudden photo-op stops ... it was a long and hilarious day. Here are some of us by our bus after the Hook lighthouse visit. (and Barbie, NO, the Digestives did NOT contain fiber to equal 10 prunes!)




I love doors. The story goes that England ordered the Irish to paint their doors black in mourning the death of Queen Victoria. Rebelliously, many Irish painted their doors in bright colors and the tradition stuck. Another Brian story...




Solid and silent and strong: the Hook Lighthouse!











A most unique design. Imagine three domed rooms stacked upon each other, accessed by stairs along the outside walls of the lighthouse. Originally, monks occupied it ... later, a lighthouse keeper and his family. Damp and chilly, the lighthouse was heated only by small fireplaces in each room.



Looking east from Hook.




At the top of Hook, at the bottom of Ireland ...



People have been seeing this view for almost 800 years. Well, not the cars. After our tour, we enjoyed scones and tea inside the visitor centre.

We returned to Greystones to have dessert with our students, who then entertained us with skits on Irish history. A long and good day.

a Sunday in Ireland ... day four

On Sunday morning we arrived at the Y to join the students for church: students are encouraged to worship wherever they choose in Greystones and Katie took us to Hillside Church, full of faith and spirit. A young woman spoke on her mission in Kenya, where she ministers to young men who are addicted to glue-sniffing. Powerful testimony.
After church we left for Powerscourt in the nearby Wicklow mountains ...


Powerscourt is one of the most beautiful country estates in Ireland. Situated in the mountains of Wicklow, it was originally an important strategic site for the Anglo-Normans who came to Ireland in the 12th century. By the year 1300 a castle had been built here and was in the possession of the le Poer (Power) family from which it takes its name. [from www.powerscourt.ie]
A fire gutted the house in 1974, leaving it a shell for 20 years. A restoration was begun in 1996, bringing the house back to function and beauty.





Bill, Katie and I lunching at Powerscourt.







Windows and light fascinate me ... here you see the second floor of Powerscourt ... unfurnished and now used for receptions and corporate events.




Stairway to the second floor. Looked like a wedding reception was about to happen...


Heading down to check out Triton Lake ....








Looking back at the mansion from the far side of Triton Lake.. The fountain is based on the one in the Piazza Barberrini in Rome.




There she is again ... Katie doing what she loves to do.



We discovered some monster trees, like this one...



Another biggie: a eucalyptus ... don't they belong in Australia??


for my gardening friends ... take a look. Impressive gardens at Powerscourt!

Back in Greystones, Katie and I walked into town and bought "take-away," the Irish term for take-out ... fish & chips for me and Chinese for Katie and Bill!

Glendalough ... Ireland, day three

Saturday, Sept. 27. The day ahead would take us to a new place in discovering Ireland: Glendalough. (pronounced 'Glenda-lock')

After packing bag lunches at the 'Y' with the students, we boarded buses for a short drive to Wicklow National Park.






Hannah and Chelsea....Katie's 2 roommates for the week she was at Taylor in August. We were so blessed throughout the week to spend time with all these awesome kids!




The monastic site of Glendalough, begun in the 6th century by a fellow named St. Kevin.







The round tower at Glendalough is not unique in Ireland: there are many around the country. There is no definitive reason they were built, but one theory is that they served as a focal point for early pilgrims making their way to worship. This round tower is about 30 meters tall.



Lots of heads! The Taylor contingent intently listens to our tour guide. We are inside the ancient monastic church...









Photographing the photographer ... Katie at Glendalough.



The trail led to this first lake, where we ate our bag lunches...


... hiking another 15 minutes, we came to the upper lake. Spectacular!



Taking a different trail down from the lakes brought us to this postcard-perfect view of the monastery, round tower and beautiful stream.
A great ending to a gorgeous day in the countryside of Ireland, discovering a piece of her history.




This is a typical scene of the week: parents and students waiting around the Y: for each other or a bus ... and using the time to visit.

The day was far from over ... after catching our breath at the hotel, it was off to Dublin for a group dinner ... then to the National Concert Hall for a "showband" concert.

off to Dublin town ... Ireland, day two

We started our day with a relaxed and ample breakfast at the Ramada in Bray: cereals, yogurt, fruits, eggs, meats, and of course scones and coffee & tea. Always scones in Ireland! Then it was back to Greystones where we joined the students for chapel. Completely student-led: worship, music, message. So meaningful.
Following, the parents had a session with the director, Ruth Irvine, where we learned more about what the kids are doing and learning this semester. This hour served to initiate some real bonds between the parents.
From the little church where we met, we walked back to the 'Y' and shared a lunch with the kids: soups, cheese, breads and fruit. Simple, yes. But no complaints ... after all, I was off the hook from cooking!
Gathering our daypacks and each other, we walked to the DART station...





The view out a window of the 'Y.'



After the madness of the Paris metro, the DART into Dublin seemed fairly tame. Here we are, waiting at the station in Greystones .... the sea air is causing my hair to misbehave ...






Here I go again with tech challenges....this photo should be down the page. It's of Temple Bar, one of the oldest areas of Dublin. Shops, restaurants, and cobbled streets. In 1742, Handel's Messiah was first performed here. We found an Italian restaurant, of all things, and ate dinner here.



The DART ride north into Dublin takes about 50 minutes. You catch some spectacular scenery along the coast: beaches along the Irish Sea ... sometimes all you see is water, when the rails hug close to the coast. Unfortunately, the train windows cloud my photographs .... but I tried!






We were tourists for the afternoon with Katie and several of the other students and parents. Sorry, readers. I can't even identify the following photos, but they were taken as we rode atop a "hop on - hop off" bus around the city. Certainly a different feel than Paris. Yes, lots of history ... but on a much smaller scale.













The River Liffey. Katie thinks it's the cutest name. It's the heart of Dublin and many bridges traverse it: some of them foot-only bridges.

Had we caught a slightly later train back to Greystones, I would have had an exciting tale to tell. Apparently, the group behind us had to exit the train and walk to the station. Something on the tracks (a log or tree...this sounds odd...) caused the train to have to stop. Meanwhile, we were at the 'Y' awaiting the train-less group of parents. Late night!