We are settled in Kenmare.
Rosemary Purcell, a retired professor, owns an art gallery on Main Street here. Adjoining the gallery are at least three apartments.
Ever since our friends Vince and Mary gave up the lease on their Rose Garden Bed and Breakfast, we have been staying in Rosemary's apartments.
Bill and I are occupying a different apartment from past years. Willie, Debbie and Annie are probably still snoozing away at the apartment we had last year.
It's a quiet Monday morning. Bill is reading his kindle, while I'm sipping from a cup of coffee next to my computer.
We slept in big time for us who are usually up and around by 4:30 a.m. at home. No dogs to walk.
I think the clock said 6:40 when I awakened this morning. It felt good to sleep almost through the night 'cept for one trip to the john.
This morning did not start out so well for me, with these continuing gut problems. Not fun on a trip, but again not much I can do about it until the possibility of some helpful information coming from the biopsies.
I'm being honest and forthright about this because I think it's important to share that life is not always "a bowl of cherries" or some delicious chocolates, even in the magic of Ireland.
As with anywhere, we take the good with the bad, and as I've reiterated a time or two, my family is VERY patient with me. For that, I am forever grateful.
That aside, it's a beautiful morning here. Pigeons are cooing and chirping and flitting from chimney to chimney outdoors, while a few other birds are singing their morning tunes.
For my friend Dick Creed, we SHALL be driving a portion of the Ring of Kerry today and will be visiting Port Magee.
There's an area on Valencia Island with a 360-degree view where Bill and I stood and grieved the day after our beloved Border Collie Liam had died two years ago while we were here.
It will be bittersweet, indeed, to return to that gorgeous sight, thinking of Liam and once more taking in the view of green fields with little white blobs of sheep, Atlantic ocean waters and an awesome lighthouse.
Once more, these moments represent real life for us, and we'll experience a range of emotions. Ireland tends to do that.
Tonight, Willie will be meeting with his coaching friend John Adams. John appears to be a well-known figure in town.
His name came up in a conversation while I was visiting with Mary and her friends at P.F. McCarthy's where Mary's hubby Vince is now a chef.
Mary's friends immediately noted the name John Adams when I said Willie would be meeting a coach here. One of the ladies is an avid basketball player and athlete, so she knows and respects John.
She had just completed a rigorous 8 K run and was proud to announce that she had finished before her niece, who's also an athlete.
Kenmare was a busy place when we arrived yesterday and many of the establishments were popping with music and spirits.
I had forgotten that Ireland's Mother's Day is in March. It's a big deal here, just like in the States, so we've seen lots of flower bouquets, including one given to me by Bill and another from the kids.
In Ireland, you turn into a "Mum" or even a "Mam." In my situation, there's even the possibility of a "Ma." Whatever the name, it was a fun surprise.
The kids went to Baltimore yesterday on their way to Kenmare. It's a small village on the coast.
I heard that geocaching and food sampling were on their agenda. They said we need to check out the place some time.
It's really nice having two cars and two apartments and to embrace flexibility. All contribute nicely to avoidance of folks getting on each other's nerves.
I guess that's all for today. I'll keep snappng photos and sharing tidbits of our experience.
Enjoy the photos.
Below: the iconic view of the church steeple that tells travelers they have arrived in Kenmare.
Annie's Irish stew last night.
Bill parking our rental car across the street from our apartment.
Neat view out the window of our side door.
We saw these cute kids just down the block last night, playing hide and seek.
Our apartment.
Our friend Mary O'Leary, third from the left, and her friends---all family. Two daughters, and a mum on the right who's twin sister is in blue. Great bunch of ladies.
In Kenmare and many Irish communities, Super Valu and Lidl supply the groceries.
Above: bleeding heart or fuschia, same family, slightly different.
These blossoms adorn the highways virtually everywhere in Ireland.
Above: this yellow shrub (Scottish broom?) is now blooming profusely along the roadways.
Below: one of Rosemary's paintings of the countryside around Kenmare.
No comments:
Post a Comment