The Emerald Isle

Before the days of global warming, it was said that Iceland was named to scare away faint-hearted intruders. Well, this reporter can say the sun does shine in Ireland. But, just like Seattle with its legendary rain, the lush greenery here is a reminder that this is not a desert environment.

We were greeted in Shannon with a gorgeous day and the lovely Ailbhe (pronounced Alva) who made the long drive from Galway to deliver us there. The scenery along the way was picturesque with amazing stone walls neatly defining spaces and serving as a reminder how rocky this lush land is/was. Nevertheless, the sheep and cows looked very contented and the roads didn't seem perilous at all.

Galway (or Gaillimh) is a very cute town. Wiki says the population is about 76,000. It definitely has a cosmopolitan feeling.

Christopher Columbus stopped here before heading west. More recently, it was a host to the 2012 Volvo Ocean racers. And there are Thai, Indian and even a Japanese restaurant!

 But, it retains its own character with amazing flowers and greenery and architecture.

 

My Irish eyes are smiling...

When I was growing up, I was very aware of my secret Irish roots. Every St. Patrick's Day, my mother would make corned beef and cabbage, never mind that it was served with gohan (rice) and ocha (Japanese tea). Whenever anyone talked about my brothers and me, it sounded like the start of a very good joke..."John, Pat and Mike are eating dinner..." (you can add in the punch line).

So, after visiting 36 other countries, it's time to visit my other homeland. And, off I go to check out the reality versus the mythology, the truth versus the blarney, the contemporary, the historic, the magic, the arts and the crafts.

I've braced myself for the rainy weather, the limited culinary selections, traveling on treacherous back roads by car, etc. but am very excited to see the rustic towns, old castles, beautiful scenery and escape the election-year nonsense here in the US.