There and Back Again

Pondering: Time cools, time clarifies; no mood can be maintained quite unaltered through the course of hours. (Mark Twain)

Another trip over. Another set of pictures to print and put together in a scrapbook in an effort to capture every moment and time in this very wonderful trip. I truly had a fantastic time. It was too short a trip, as usual, so that I am left longing for more. It won’t be the same the next time I go. As my sister said to me at the BART train going home, things never are the same the second time you go see a place.

The best part of this trip for me was Killarney and if I ever get a chance to go back to Ireland, I will base myself there next time. Dublin was exciting but it was too rushed, as a city should be. I like that part of Ireland that is lush, green, quiet and laid back. The Cliffs of Moher was another big highlight. I felt a surge of energy flowing over me while I was up there.

Other memorable moments: drinking a pint of ale at dinner and having banoffee pie for desert on our second-to-the-last night in Dublin; searching for unique postcards and magnets at numerous gift shops in our numerous tour stops; shopping at St. Stephen’s Green; and walking through Merrion Square each morning, home to the colorful statue of Oscar Wilde with his impish smile. And I musn’t forget the Guinness Storehouse where I had my first and last pint of stout as a view of the entire Dublin, Ireland surrounded me. Amazing, amazing indeed.

My dear Ireland, thanks for the memory, the views and the inspiration your wonderful cliffs, mountains, beaches, pubs and people have provided me. With fond memories, until the next time I return!