Tuesday, July 15 at 10am
It’s a lovely day here in Falcarragh - by 9:30 am the sun is out once again. Yesterday, just by chance, Kelly and I met up with Kate’s group at Glenveagh National Park (click here for photos). As we were walking the Lough walk which is 4 km to the castle, we said hello to everyone we met and about four paces beyond a pretty girl calls out to us “you’re Kate’s family”. After introductions we now knew Nuala and Cormac, Kate’s boss and one of her walking companions. The Lough was beautiful and large. Kelly and I enjoyed the flowers and the walk and I was looking forward to the tea shop at the castle. Ireland has the most amazing desserts, approximately 20 cakes and crumbles to choose from, all made fresh in the castle bakery that day. I got the black currant crumble with cream -- it was heaven. Driving here is so much fun once you get used to it. Any one who likes rally driving would love it here especially the back road.
Last night by mistake, we went to the wrong venue and we were greatly disappointed after driving over an hour to Ballybofey to see a violinist. The manager of the theatre was wonderful. He charged us the difference between the show we intended to see and the one at the Ballybofey Arts Center and we stayed to watch a very funny English comic. I can’t tell you the last time I laughed so hard. Every day is something new and exciting; on the agenda today is shopping in Letterkenny and horseback riding on the beach in Dunfanaghy.
-Mom
Talk about serendipity. Three people from my program recognized Kelly and therefore my family. One gentleman saw Nuala and Kelly talking and actually thought it was me and as he got closer, realized the difference. Considering neither of us had disclosed our plans for the day, it was quite interesting to be passing in the bus and say, “there’s so and so, there’s so and so, that’s my family!!!” Even those on the bus with me immediately saw the resemblance in the passing moment.
Tried Irish bacon today; very much like ham. Our bacon is called “streaky bacon” out here. I think I prefer my chicken and tuna sandwiches. The comedian, Jeff Green, was absolutely stellar – I recommend him if he ever makes it to NYC. In other news, Jonathan spoke with the astronauts (in space) for work. I’m so proud!
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Tuesday, July 15 at 5:20pm
Today was quite productive. Went to Letterkenny for some shopping. We spent 100 at one store and picked up all sorts of cute tops, jewelry, and sweaters. We also went to Tesco to pick up some provisions. Lunch was great; I had a chicken, tomato, onion, and pesto toastie. By the way, toasties are my favorite new lunchtime meal. You pick what you like from a list of meats, accessories, and sauces and its grilled like a Panini only on brown bread. Fantastic.
Afterward lunch we drove to Dunfanaghy for horse-back riding. We walked across the beach and over the dunes. It was blustery and from the water’s edge, we could see the sand blowing toward us in white wisps along the ground and the Atlantic Ocean in the bay, varying from deep blue, to teal, to aquamarine, to sea-foam green, to clear against the sand. It was fantastic except for the wind and my horse, Neptune. Mine was the moody horse that liked to whip the reins about, rip off my legs against cars and bushes, walk me into trees, stop at random, and walk outside the line of horses (I was passed by two). I’m so thankful for Katie’s lesson because the horse responded to my commands half of the time. It was Kelly’s first time riding and she had a much more amenable horse, Hannah. “It was really, really fun,” states Kelly, beside me at the dining room table.
It’s a lovely day here in Falcarragh - by 9:30 am the sun is out once again. Yesterday, just by chance, Kelly and I met up with Kate’s group at Glenveagh National Park (click here for photos). As we were walking the Lough walk which is 4 km to the castle, we said hello to everyone we met and about four paces beyond a pretty girl calls out to us “you’re Kate’s family”. After introductions we now knew Nuala and Cormac, Kate’s boss and one of her walking companions. The Lough was beautiful and large. Kelly and I enjoyed the flowers and the walk and I was looking forward to the tea shop at the castle. Ireland has the most amazing desserts, approximately 20 cakes and crumbles to choose from, all made fresh in the castle bakery that day. I got the black currant crumble with cream -- it was heaven. Driving here is so much fun once you get used to it. Any one who likes rally driving would love it here especially the back road.
Last night by mistake, we went to the wrong venue and we were greatly disappointed after driving over an hour to Ballybofey to see a violinist. The manager of the theatre was wonderful. He charged us the difference between the show we intended to see and the one at the Ballybofey Arts Center and we stayed to watch a very funny English comic. I can’t tell you the last time I laughed so hard. Every day is something new and exciting; on the agenda today is shopping in Letterkenny and horseback riding on the beach in Dunfanaghy.
-Mom
Talk about serendipity. Three people from my program recognized Kelly and therefore my family. One gentleman saw Nuala and Kelly talking and actually thought it was me and as he got closer, realized the difference. Considering neither of us had disclosed our plans for the day, it was quite interesting to be passing in the bus and say, “there’s so and so, there’s so and so, that’s my family!!!” Even those on the bus with me immediately saw the resemblance in the passing moment.
Tried Irish bacon today; very much like ham. Our bacon is called “streaky bacon” out here. I think I prefer my chicken and tuna sandwiches. The comedian, Jeff Green, was absolutely stellar – I recommend him if he ever makes it to NYC. In other news, Jonathan spoke with the astronauts (in space) for work. I’m so proud!
--------------------------------------
Tuesday, July 15 at 5:20pm
Today was quite productive. Went to Letterkenny for some shopping. We spent 100 at one store and picked up all sorts of cute tops, jewelry, and sweaters. We also went to Tesco to pick up some provisions. Lunch was great; I had a chicken, tomato, onion, and pesto toastie. By the way, toasties are my favorite new lunchtime meal. You pick what you like from a list of meats, accessories, and sauces and its grilled like a Panini only on brown bread. Fantastic.
Afterward lunch we drove to Dunfanaghy for horse-back riding. We walked across the beach and over the dunes. It was blustery and from the water’s edge, we could see the sand blowing toward us in white wisps along the ground and the Atlantic Ocean in the bay, varying from deep blue, to teal, to aquamarine, to sea-foam green, to clear against the sand. It was fantastic except for the wind and my horse, Neptune. Mine was the moody horse that liked to whip the reins about, rip off my legs against cars and bushes, walk me into trees, stop at random, and walk outside the line of horses (I was passed by two). I’m so thankful for Katie’s lesson because the horse responded to my commands half of the time. It was Kelly’s first time riding and she had a much more amenable horse, Hannah. “It was really, really fun,” states Kelly, beside me at the dining room table.
Tonight we’ll eat dinner and then watch the Blair Witch Project at the Ards Forest Drive-in, another great part of the Earagail.
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