So after the family-fun and sightseeing-romp in France, the three of us arrived in Ireland for some relaxation time. And what better way to relax than to get off the plane, rent a car, and drive on the freaking wrong side of the road? Oh yes, that’s some relaxing stuff: sitting on the passenger’s side of the car (which is on the left, typically where I’d be if I was driving) amid a slew of traffic in a four-lane rotary exiting the Dublin airport where everyone is going clockwise! and though Mr. P is a component enough left-hand traffic driver, I’m an extremely nervous left-hand traffic passenger.
But soon enough, we were safely in Bray, a seaside resort town with a famed 7km cliff walk along an incredibly scenic coast with a train. The weather *could* have been better, but since no rain actually fell we were pretty grateful.
Bray Cliffwalk
Bray Cliffwalk
Train on Bray Cliffwalk
We went 3km before Little Boy’s incessant pleadings to “go to the hotel” prompted us to turn around and go to the car (another 3km). Little did Little Boy know that we weren’t staying at a “hotel” like he knows it, like the Paris CDG Hilton with a pool and television and focus-group tested comfort, but an Irish Bed and Breakfast in Glendalough valley in County Wicklow. Having never been to a B&B before, Little Boy was freaked out: we were in someone else’s house?
In the garden of the B&B
For dinner, we headed to a local pub with a restaurant section. I had deer venison sausage, Mr. P had fish and chips, and Little Boy had a simply massive bowl of Irish stew. Which he liked, but oh. Irish cuisine is heavy stuff. My sausage was arguably the lightest fare on the menu. Of course, I did have a pint of:
My favorite beer ever
The next morning, I woke up nice and early (the one-hour time difference from France helped) and tried to run to the trails of Glendalough. The innkeeper had given us vague directions to the trails from the B&B and a map, but I was never quite sure where I was on the map. Eventually, after multiple KMs of rolling hills, I ended up in the heart of the Glendalough trails, not quite sure where to go. We had visited the area very briefly last July, but our tour bus only gave us 90 minutes to explore the area. I found a steep trail along a waterfall and ran it about 5 times before heading back to the bed and breakfast.
After a “typical Irish” breakfast (sausage, ham, an egg, mushrooms, toast, and dear lord black pudding) Mr. P and Little Boy joined me back in Glendalough.
Glendalough
We did an easy walk in the morning and then returned in the afternoon so Mr. P could go for a run while Little Boy and I meandered around the monastic ruins.
Little Boy brought some paper and a pen so he could draw what he saw. This really impressed everyone who saw him — he looked like a serious artist, intently sketching a vision.
Then we went to the walking meditation circle. Of course, we ran instead of walked. Little Boy wanted to take pictures.
Mr. P found the trail that he wanted to hike the following day — the Spinc and Glenealo Valley route, a rugged 9km trail that includes a steep climb. I was most worried about taking Little Boy on the climb, but he seems to do much better on technical and/or steep trails than boring, flat trails. In fast, he was flying up the stairs and putting pressure on the hikers ahead of us.
Climbing to the Spinc
We got above the treeline fairly quickly.
The trail featured these boards, covered in metal netting and nails for those wet and icy Irish days. Thankfully, our weather was nearly perfect.
In the valley
What a great hike! When we made it back to the car, it was time to head back to Dublin for two more nights of vacation. But, we really wanted to stay in Wicklow. There’s not much in Dublin that can compare, though Mr. P came close with his special whiskey-tasting at the Jameson factory tour.
All in all, a pretty good time in Ireland.
