We just returned from a trip to Ireland. We wanted to visit a place that’s easy to get to and to get around, and is “quieter” than our own country. What a beautiful place it is, and the people are so kind and “lovely” as they say there. Dublin is quaint, yet cosmopolitan, more like Amsterdam than say Paris or Berlin. Here’s Tom in the Temple Bar area of Dublin, a vibrant and historic section of town full of pubs, restaurants, and shopping. We had a lot of fun roaming around this section of town.
Our Dutch friend, Leonie, flew from Hilversum, The Netherlands to visit us in Dublin for a day. She and I have been friends since 1980, and our friendship is as strong as ever. We had fun laughing, catching up, and sharing in life’s heartaches and joys. We had a pint at Slattery’s north of the Liffey, and cocktails and dinner at Sophie’s in the Dean Hotel. She returned home to her three lovely kiddos, and her wonderful husband who owns Bar Boon.
We rented a car, and drove the 3.5 hours west to Killarney to the Lake Hotel. The hotel adjoins the Killarney National Park, and is positioned along Lough Lein, Killarney’s lower lake. Here’s a shot of one of the hotel’s main sitting rooms.
We paid a visit to Muckross House and Gardens, where we learned how the term to “save face” originated. At the time, women wore wax makeup, and the household fires got hot, so they’d protect their faces from the heat – and their makeup from melting – by using a small stand up shield. This would often occur when they would withdraw from the room of men to their own “drawing room,” another term whose meaning we now understand.
A few more images from around the Killarney area:
After a few days of rest and fun in Killarney, we drove back to Dublin before returning home. Having been raised Jewish, I had always been connected to my eastern European roots. It took a trip to Ireland to connect me with the Irish roots of my great grandmother Lula Curran. It somehow made me feel more complete having traveled to the land of my non-Jewish ancestors.
We ate at Pizza Yard in the Ranelagh section of Dublin. Their yard-long pizzas are delicious and are a real feast for the eyes.
We took a pre-departure selfie at our hotel, the Maldron Kevin Street, and took a final walk around Dublin before our departure, knowing that we would be back again.
Brad Mazon 