Last week it was snowing across Ireland, so it is to be expected that temperatures this week are cooler than normal. Today in the Abbey, we didn't need incense to visualize our prayers rising to God- sometimes we could see our breath! We had arrived earlier than scheduled, so the under-pew radiators did not have much chance to be effective. But I'm not complaining (as our Abbey guide Mary clarified, 'tourists complain, pilgrims don't)!!
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Our flights were smooth, if crowded, and we were met at the Dublin airport by our most wonderful guide Aine (an-ya) and driver John. Before taking the trek west to Galway, we had to head a bit north, and far back in time.
The photos above and below were taken at that Neolithic passage tomb Knowth (quite near the more famous Newgrange), and helped us see that our pre-Christian ancestors were very in touch with nature, the seasons, and symbolism. It has been a cold day and windy, but with brilliantly blue skies. The chill helped keep us awake after that overnight flight!
After we left the passage tombs along the River Boyne, John expertly manuevered the bus along small roads and lanes to Monasterboice. Here we discovered the ruins of a small monastery and pilgrimage site (and still used cemetery) dating from at least the 10th century. Prominent is a round tower, partially destroyed by invaders, and two of the 'best' high crosses in Ireland. The high crosses served a catechetical function,, much like stained glass windows, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments for the mostly illiterate population.
Hours later, our group of pilgrims have settled into our hotel in Galway, enjoyed our first real meal together (for a tired bunch of people, it was an animated dining room!), and are settling in (I assume) for a well-deserved night's rest.
In your carry-on (NOT in your checked luggage)....
The 10-day forecast on weather.com for Galway and Killarney has temperatures forecasted to be in the high 40's (46-48), with a low of 32. And for now (knock wood), rain is unlikely next Wednesday through Sunday. Still - I'm heading out to pick up a couple of really cheap plastic ponchos (I'm talking the $1 sort of cheap!) A scarf is a small, lightweight item that can make you feel a lot warmer - and if you are a hat person, that helps, too! I will see you at the US Airways gate at RDU (or in Philly, for those we meet there). When you check in (this is in the new terminal, please also be on the lookout for a Catholic Travel Centre rep, so that he/she knows you have arrived. Also- please put those pretty green luggage tags on your bag (one on the checked bag, one on carryon), and check the bag through to Dublin. A few of you have asked about the lack of a seat assignment on your ticket, in terms of what you need to do. I've checked with Catholic Travel, and they take care of being sure we have actual places to sit on the plane!
Next Tuesday when you arrive (2 hours early, or by 4pm) at RDU, please check in at the USAirways desks, checking your bag through to Dublin. (Put that pretty green luggage tag on that bag, please!) Please also be on the lookout for a Catholic Travel Centre rep, and give your name to him/her. They want to be certain that we are all there! Cobh ('cove'), County Cork I've got lots to tell you today! MEETING Please remember that we are having a group meeting on Sunday, March 17 (Feast of St Patrick!), in the Meeting Room after the 11:30 Mass- so, about 12:45-1:30pm. There will be soda bread, scones and tea. I will also have your travel bags, luggage tags, and e-tickets. MONEY Many of us already have some Euro to get started in Ireland. For the rest of you, please do arrange to have at least a day or two's worth ($50-75 Euro?) BEFORE you leave the US... we don't want to waste time at an exchange booth in the Dublin Airport or searching for an ATM. Please consult one of the earlier "get ready" category posts about currency exchange. Here is one new piece of information: if you are a Wells Fargo customer, you CAN get Euro from the tellers at the RTP branch, rather than having to pay for them to be shipped to you. Before you leave for Ireland, please be sure to contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know your will be out of the country. Otherwise, they might see attempted spending coming from a place they know you don't live and suspend or cancel your account! That's generally a good thing, a safety measure to guard against someone running up huge bills on your card without your knowledge. But if it happens while you are away, and you don't have alternate options for money, well.... that could get tricky! So please, sometime BEFORE April 2, call the customer service number for your ATM and Credit Cards, and tell them when and where you will be away. (Don't bother bringing your DISCOVER Card, that's hardly accepted at all in Europe). AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION Have you thought about how you are getting to and from RDU yet?
If you are considering one of those last two options, I'll make a couple suggestions here, but would also like to hear from you, if you know of better ways to do this economically. Now- by mentioning specific companies, I am not necessarily endorsing those companies - they are simply options I am familiar with, to get you thinking on your own! Drive and park yourself.
Use a taxi/limo service. Admittedly, I have little experience with this, but when I went to Italy 7 years ago, 6 or 7 of us parked at one couple's house and we all rode one van to and from the airport together. We used White Horse limo company and my foggy memory has it costing each person about $15, roundtrip. Their website has a place to punch in details and get a price quote. Of course, there are other taxi companies and rates vary depending on distance. I got an email from Bill this week: If you are looking for some Irish History before the trip here are two books: The Princes of Ireland (Book 1) and The Rebels of Ireland (book 2) by Edward Rutherfurd. The books are novels so the families are not real but by all reports the history in the novels are said to be accurate. The books were great. Which got me thinking about other books about Ireland. There is one called "Ireland" by Frank Delaney that relays many legends and historical tales in the midst of a novel. In our own parish library, we have a copy of "How the Irish Saved Civilization" by Thomas Cahill, that gives perspective how Irish monks and scholars preserved Western culture in challenging times. And one of our Year of Faith Book Club selections for March is "Seven Secrets of the Celtic Spirit" by William John Fitzgerald. It has become difficult to purchase, but I have copies available in my office for $12. Do you have a title to suggest? Please add your comment! You know how in our itinerary, upon our arrival in Dublin, our first stop was a tour of Newgrange? And then it read (subject to confirmation). Well, the bad news is that a very limited number of people can tour this ancient site daily, and our group isn't in that number. The GOOD news is that we WILL be touring the nearby Knowth Megalithic Passage Tomb! |
St. Andrew the Apostle
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