In 1996, for our 10th Anniversary, we took a 'Rick Steves' style tour of Ireland. (Are you a PBS fan? You ought to know who he is...) We spent a week hiking and taking buses around the southern half and west coast of Ireland (Northern Ireland was a little too unstable at the time for us...). Since that trip generated more fun memories than can be shared in a week, here's a few of my favorites:
At the Blarney castle, after we waited in the very slow-moving line winding up the castle for nearly half an hour, we finally saw the famous Blarney Stone – and couldn't bring ourselves to kiss its pinkish-red, lipstick smeared surface!
In Killarney, we shared a horse-drawn trap with a young couple from Sweden up through the Gap of Dunloe (and then rode a boat down the lakes back to town). I don't remember the driver's name, but his horse, Rosie, was so old that on the steeper portions of the trip, we all had to get out and walk so she would be able to pull the cart!
To tour the Ring of Kerry we hired a driver instead of taking the 'coach' (big tour buses with plate-glass windows that didn't stop very often, and then only at tourist shops...) – I wanted the flexibility of a car of being able to stop whenever and wherever for a picture, but didn't want to drive us. Vincent was greeted everywhere we stopped by at least one person – usually a relative – who started off with, “Vincent! I haven't seen you in xx years!!” Admittedly, this got us a lot more personal tour, especially when he stopped at a cousin's house and asked her to make us some lunch!
In Tralee, we had plans to stay in Ballyseede Castle (a castle-turned-hotel) for the night, and see the Siamsa Tire (the National Folk Theatre of Ireland) that evening. I had called ahead informing the castle staff that it was our tenth anniversary, we were headed to the theater and were going to have to eat early, but I had a special present for Mary & really wanted to eat in the castle, and asked if we could do a special dinner there. They informed me that they would “take care of it”. They called us to dinner 45 minutes before the rest of the guests, and took us into a small, private dinning room. During the 6-course, very formal meal we saw each wait staff person only once – from the gal who brought the wine to the guy who served us dessert (we figured they were each taking turns while getting the regular dinner ready and served in the other room). It felt much like being the 'lord & lady' of the castle!
While hitchhiking from back from Drumcliff (after visiting Yeats' grave) to Sligo, we got picked up by some tinkers in a pickup/camper. Up front was dad, mom, several kids and mother-in-law, and we were offered to ride in the back – basically their house. Mile after mile mother-in-law was yelling constantly at dad (and we couldn't not hear it), and when we finally got to town and the post office the dad went in and totally forgot about us! Just as we finally got up enough courage to let ourselves out, he returned and was very apologetic – offering to take us to the pub for lunch. We politely decline, practically running away as we hurriedly explained that we really wanted to go see that an old church - that one (or really, anyone) just up the street!
Lastly, we often joke - even to this day - about our return home. We flew home on the 21st – the actual day of our anniversary – and between a whole day of flying (with several layovers) and gaining 8 hours of daylight as we passed east to west, we had ourselves a 32 hour day. Thus our 10th anniversary was the longest day of our lives!
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