Connemara, Galway’s Western Beauty.

Connemara Co Galway.

 Connemara in western Galway beyond Oughterard brings the traveler through a journey of adventure worth taking for the scenery alone. Having come this far, an even greater adventure awaits those willing to travel to this land of natural beauty sitting quietly on Ireland’s western shore. 

The majesty of the Connemara Mountains as they appear, lakes by the roadside, sometimes housing small castles themselves.

The difficulty of the journey, to keep going beyond Maam Cross and onto Clifden on the Atlantic coast without stopping multiple times just to take in what unfolds along the way.

When a safe location to stop and take photos appears it’s likely there will be another car stopped also as the natural diversity and beauty of Connemara transfixes the traveler with a need to stop and record this unique journey.

In a former time the phrase “to Hell or Connaught,” attributed to Cromwell espoused a direction of severe discomfort anywhere west of the Shannon. Today this could not be farther from the truth as Connaught unveils something new beyond each turn on the road. Just to clarify, Connemara is in Co Galway and Galway is in the province of Connaught which hugs the western shores of Ireland from Galway bay to Sligo.

Clifden Co Galway

The New Uniform.

New uniform in place.

Heading towards the automatic doors  I noticed two teenage school girls in their uniforms going through the other doors on my left. It was good to get out in the fresh air and remove my new uniform. Just a  little while earlier as I’d headed towards the automatic doors of another large shop close by I stopped suddenly realising I didn’t have my full uniform on!

My new uniform isn’t as distinctive as the two school girl’s but if I didn’t have it on, well people would notice and I might not even be allowed in? It’s not as distinctive as a school uniform and  almost everyone is wearing them now, at least while shopping or on public transport.

It was after I’d gotten out of my car to head into another shop earlier that it hit me. Facemasks are our new uniform.  From medical one’s passed to me at the hairdressers, to traveling on public transport or  in the classrooms as school’s have finally reopened.

This Covid-19 pandemic has levelled the playing field but what appears to be affecting so many is the fear of the unknown.

Keep wearing the masks and washing those hands and uniformly we’ll get through this. Smile also as life is a gift so let’s enjoy it and keep the uniforms as varied as possible and as a friend of mine often reminds me, chill.

A few photos and Lockdown humour.

 

Certain birds fly for long periods of time without touching land.  Sometimes as a writer I’m a bit like that but following an event that occurred recently at home,  it caused me to land  on WordPress, writing about a lighthearted event or multitude of related events that occurred during Lockdown 2020.

A simple instruction was  given, ‘could you put away a few passport photos?’  This wasn’t heeded as instructed. Quietly he’d stood in the corner of the kitchen.

No one suspected a thing until a day or so later as I stood looking at a family photo recently framed and put up on the kitchen wall.

I wondered at first was it my eyesight as it looked a little different today?  Over the family photo were four head shots of myself  across the picture. The passport photos had found their new home just not where they were suppose to be?

They were to find themselves in a few more spots around the house bringing smiles and laughs along the way.  That night heading to bed on the light switch?

And if this wasn’t bad enough, next morning while making coffee in the coffee pot I found myself looking back up at me!

And on the breakfast cereal also!

 

 

 

It’s good to have a laugh sometimes during an otherwise strange time in our land and beyond.

The phone box, some thoughts on the ould phone.

I still remember having to put my index finger in number 4 and rotating the dial all the way to the right, this procedure was repeated five or six times until the desired number was submitted to the big black box we once knew as ‘the phone.’ When it rang eyes darted around to see who would answer it, now it’s who didn’t silence their device before the meeting began. What? Am I talking about the same thing? Well that’s debatable?

Today I  just press someone’s name and we’re in touch. Was that with WhatsApp or my phone? They both do the same job. Whatsapp’s another story for this fellow has families all it’s own, now that’s another story. For now I’ve a  device that can  records voice, takes video and still’s photo and edit on the go.  Sometimes I check my bank balance, measure my steps, listen to music on the go and  if I’ve the time brush up on a new language on Duolingo. This little black box also has a torch and compass so I’ll never get lost or will I? For there’s Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, just three of the social media family at my fingertips bringing  a world of colour images, peoples stories from near or far, news, whatever is happening it’s right there, now.

The times have changed forever. For now when I return from the shops I’m asked by my device/phone how I felt about where I just visited? What is it really? Google or spy in the sky?
Times have moved on since I had to queue outside a phone box to ring home. Today a phone box is what my phone came in not an actual small space I once entered to swing my fingers around the dial to phone home.

Surprised by nature..

Owl in flight.

It caught my eye as this bird appeared to have a wingspan  larger than your average blackbird or thrush.  Back roads require extra concentration, but a short journey I had last weekend was given an extra bit of excitement by a visit from a large feathered friend.  It appeared suddenly and flew gracefully  by the woods as we headed home along the back roads of west Limerick. I was alongside him before I knew it, I’d never seen an adult Owl in flight before in the wild but that short drive became more memorable for the brief intervention of this graceful bird of prey on a quite Sunday afternoon. I’d almost missed him but was delighted to see, even for those few precious moments an adult Owl in flight in its own habitat unhindered and untethered by man.

Pan-pipes on the river bank.

While out running yesterday I nearly fell over as I passed Athlunkard boat club, beautiful flowers caught my eye so today I returned with my camera.

My journey was to bring me beyond the boat club along an old, not much used path. I’d ventured into a field across the river to photograph some wild daisies; then I noticed an old path.

Sure why not take it and see where it leads to?

Cautious voices might say, “Be careful, that could be dangerous,” At times they might be right, but  it was  good to have pressed on to see what might be ahead. These more ‘hidden places,’ can and do throw up their own surprises and today’s little journey was no different. It took me along the banks of the Abbey river in Limerick from Athlunkard street up to the bottom of the Mill road opposite Thomas’s Island. It’s crossed by the Ennis railway line and a train kindly came along to let me know it’s still alive and active.

Sometime in the distant past people walked this way on a more regular basis and seats were placed along it, but for some reason they all faced away from the river. Some of these rusty seats  were disappearing now into the undergrowth. Yes, there’s a seat in there;

There’s a narrow wall to keep the river at bay but I wouldn’t trust it in a flood. A few years ago there was bad flooding in St Mary’s park in Limerick. Heavy metal girders were sunk into the river bank to strengthen it but they’re certainly not the most pleasing things to be looking at? They appear almost like pan-pipes on the river bank!

The river is a restful place and where better to relax than in a small boat with no one to bother you? This man certainly had the right idea;

My journey changed course on coming out at the bottom of the Mill road, Limerick once had many Mills but they’re all gone now. Here the river flows briskly and adds it’s own vibrancy to the day.

 

It never stopped, why should I?

Not for one minute, not for twenty seconds. When it rains in Ireland it has a tendency not to stop until everything is good and wet and today that included me. But I have to admit it was completely my own doing.

I decided to go for a run regardless of the weather, as I ran along the canal a cyclist slowed beside me, “you must be very dedicated to be out in this weather?”

Having an eastern European accent he said he was heading home from work. He appeared happy to cycle alone next to me as I pulled my body along, giving the appearance of running but in reality happy to be able to just keep moving  at a steady pace.

I made a comment on my new companion’s bike, as it was a fine mountain bike he was gliding along on. “In 18 seconds they’d the wheels gone!” he’d had to change the nuts on the wheel as quick release are not always a good idea when parking a bike in town, especially if you want everything there on your return?

“I’m from Latvia, Russian is my native tongue.” That quickly told me where my new found friend was from, “So you’re from the part of Latvia close to Russia?” he was delighted that someone knew their history or could at least put structure to his comment. “You’re very welcome here,” I commented. All this probably took five minutes as I headed out towards UL  on a wet September morning glad of the company as we traveled along together.

“I’m coming from work, I used to have a car but insurance too expensive,” just then a younger runner who clearly was not on her first run sailed past us. Ah, I’m not the only mad one out today I thought to myself. “You’re a good man,” he said as he cycled off to he’s bed after his night shift and  I continued alone over the fallen leaves of Autumn or Fall.  It’s always good to be out and today was no exception.

Through the mist I saw a man walking towards me with a big dog. Staying relaxed I pass on over fallen branches from Storm Ali which left its mark yesterday on the country. Another runner passes me, there are fit people out this morning not deterred by wet weather or as we say locally ‘a soft morning.’  I’m happy just to be out and see others enjoying the morning as they travel along this well-trodden path today. Swinging by the two new bridges on the way to UL I’m at the boat club before I know it.

I’d decided to keep thing’s short today so it’s turn around time as I’m happy just to be out. I notice the Black Bridge by the old mill at Plassey, it’s been blocked off now almost ten years since in the winter of 2009 after another winter storm. Sad to see it still not in use nine years later. I head back home and return wet but refreshed and glad to have made the effort on a wet September morning in Limerick.

Enjoy the winter.

 

The waiting game.

I thought I’d be clever this time arriving for 9am, just as the owner himself turned the corner, but still there were three others who thought along  similar lines and were actually there before me.  Apparently today men like being personally pampered and are seriously conscious of their appearance.  So much so that waiting to have your head shaved or cut to your specific liking causes them to wait for well over an hour without any major complaint.

Instinctively everyone knows who comes in after them, so it becomes a waiting game to get to that chair.  The time passed that bit quicker because of twitter, Instagram, facebook and a few other little thing’s to check on the phone.  As I looked around everyone seemed to have one in their hands reducing the general chat, as it does till they’re put away and people once again exercise the lost social skills of conversation .

When my time finally arrived to sit on the chair my friendly barber apologized for the delay,  he’s on he’s own here today. Had I come in last Saturday morning I’d have had to wait  longer as there were nine people waiting for him to open at 9am.  Is this vanity or the new culture in modern Ireland?

The twenty minutes to half an hour he worked his magic on me passed quickly enough as the lad’s waiting after me got to know one another a little bit better. Having a beard which needed sculpting in a way I can’t do delayed proceedings but I was glad to have waited. Oh the vanity of a haircut!

Tenerife, just four hours south.

The winter was long, so when the opportunity to go to Tenerife for a week in March came our way, we grabbed it with both hands. The thud on the runway  as our Ryanair 737 touched down  woke everyone to the pleasant reality of having arrived safely after a four hour flight south to Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands off the North African coast.  For Irish people it’s good to get away as we don’t see too much sun in mid-March (or for much of the rest of the year).

Early morning in El Médano Tenerife.

We were headed to El Médano in the south east of the island where many kite-surfers and windsurfers are attracted to because of the strong winds.

Kite surfers in El Médano Tenerife.

Our host has been spending his winters here for the last ten years and we were delighted to be joining him and his mates for a few days. The winds had slacked off before our arrival which proved to be a distinct advantage as we got to see quite a lot of this amazing Island in such a short time.

El Médano is a small Spanish town just a few miles south of the airport. It’s a horseshoe shaped bay with accommodation to the south and two volcanic hills Montana Roja (red Mountain) and Montaña Bocinegro, the smaller hill on the north shore. Both windsurfers and kite-surfers are well catered for here with many kite and wind-surfing schools on the waterfront and the camaraderie of those who take part in these sports is very obvious. The bare volcanic hills attract walkers by day and late evening, as we saw light’s coming down Montana Roja (red Mountain) on at least one evening while we were there.

Sunday’s were busy in El Médano as many locals head there so it was suggested we go for a drive across to the Masca Gorge on the south west of the island,  an amazing place.

Masa Gorge Tenerife.

I’ve seen a few twisty roads in my time but nothing prepared me for the decent down to Masca.  It was off the charts as regards views. Well know films have been made here, both “Planet of the Apes”  in 1968 and “Clash of the Titans” in 2010 were both filmed  here as the landscape is so unique.

He’s in there! Lizard…Masca Gorge Las Tenerife.

There is a trek down the gorge, which can take about four hours on foot.  Good walking boots are advised, but the day we were there it was closed as boats couldn’t take people off due to  storm damage to the pier at the end of the gorge. People sometimes leave their cars in Los Gigantos and get a taxi or bus to Masca, walk the Gorge and get the boat back to Los Gigantos.  We’ll be back here again next time to do the trek to the sea, properly equipped of course.

Masa Gorge Tenerife.

The winds rose a bit on Monday so our host headed off kitesurfing and we took ourselves for a stroll across the bay. This was a chance to take a few interesting photos of the vibrant colour displayed across the bay as the kite-surfers and windsurfers took to the water.

In La Laguna Tenerife where it rained.

Another day we travelled north towards the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz, but turned inland towards the old majestic town of La Laguna. This was the only time we saw rain during our time in Tenerife. It rains more on the north of the island as the elevation is generally higher, and as a result it’s much greener on the north of Tenerife. La Laguna was once the capital of the island and many of the spectacular buildings go back hundreds of years.

Above the clouds at Teide Tenerife March.

Undoubtedly the highlight of our short visit to this amazing island was the same day as we headed up above the clouds to Teide national park, truly a wonder to behold.  I’d never been at this altitude before where you could feel the intensity of the sun yet see nature in all it’s glory firsthand. Volcanic structures are a sight to behold. There is a cable-car to take would be viewers higher but we didn’t avail of it. Seeing the uniqueness of this place was enough on the day.

Dormant creater of Teide Tenerife.

We also paid a visit to the seaside town of Candelaria which has an old very Spanish Catherial,the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Candelaria.

Candelaria, Tenerife.

This beautiful town has an amazing square in front of the Cathedral with nine amazing bronze statues of the Guanche, a series of statues celebrating some of the early rulers of Tenerife. It’s certainly worth a visit.

Statue of the Guanche, Candelaria Tenerife March.

There are many beautiful restraunts in every town in Tenerife, many  specializing in fish. Our last evening we travelled the short distance to San Miguel de Tajao where we dined in the beautiful fish restaurant Agua y Sal.  I’d highly recommend this great  restaurant where you can select your own fish. Tenerife left lasting memories and I’m looking forward to my next visit to this unique location just four hours south of our own little Island.

Unique landscape in spectacular location…Teide National Park Tenerife.

The tide is out.

Lahinch beach Co Clare with the tide out, Liscanor in the background.

Twice a day the sea retreats, revealing an expanse of sand and coastline. For no extra charge a small obscure stretch of coastline grows for a few hours allowing our footprints where but a few hours later waves will crash and fish will swim feeling it’s their home once again.

How much  we take for granted the wonder of the tides, their regular frequency and the order they bring to an otherwise unchanging coastal landscape.

Mother and daughter walking on the beach . Lahinch Co Clare Ireland.

A mother and daughter have an extra and more exciting walk to travel on.

Nearby, moving at a much faster speed two young men move over the same beach pulled  by the horse as he carries them along.  One  checks his smartphone, even here on the sand that the tide has allowed them travel on.

On the phone, on the Sulky, on the beach in Lahinch Co Clare Ireland.

Soon enough the waters will turn and the surfers return to this ever changing playground.

Lone surfer returns on Lahinch beach Co Clare.