NEW PICTURES AT LAST

if anyone's actually still reading this...here are some pictures from the trip.

I know they're not labeled so just ask if you have any questions about the pictures

Follow the link HERE

Pictures

the back of the garden

a view from the cabin

I'm having a bit of trouble with these pictures...this site is terrible with pictures. so will try to get a link with all of them

Reflections

This may or may not be my final post so thanks for reading everyone!

All in all, I had an amazing trip to Ireland. Our hosts at the Ballymaloe House were truly the best and I just wanted to thank Rory and Hazel Allen, Aidan and Robyn/Darren for being particularly welcoming.

Weirdly, I really only spent time in Cork County, but I loved every minute of being in Ireland (besides being sick). The people were extremely nice, lively in culture, and the country is beautiful. I had delicious food, learned a ton about growing food and even saw some of those infamous leprechauns. Ok, not the last one. But I did meet some great people at Ballymaloe, learned to love the great game of hurling and got to experience a really traditional Irish pub.

Finally, you get to see some pictures! I'll make another post with some pictures and post a link for some more.

I'm leaving on a jet plane..

Yeah, obviously I used a cliche title for this post.

Anyways I boarded the train Sunday for Limerick (a super modern train with high-speed wifi that shames any US train I've ever been on...Amtrak included). I then spent the night in Limerick, boarded an early bus to Shannon Airport and headed off for America.

Not much to report on except that the Shannon Airport impressed me and Delta Airlines impressed me...American Airlines better step up their game.

The Last Day

So finally I get around to a new post.

I'm home across the "pond" now, watching the world cup, trying to recover from illness and preparing for an approaching heavy work schedule.

The last day, Sunday, Eoin and Carol (my neighbor's relatives) were nice enough to take Emily and I to Carol's family farm in Youghal and then out for some lunch in nearby Cobh with their three kids. We then took a tour of the Titanic/Lusitania museum in Cobh (pronounced Cove).

Fun Irish Cocktail Party Fact: the Lusitania (the sunken ship that led to USA's joining in WWI) and the Titanic (I hope you know what this ship was) both left from Cobh Harbor before meeting their demises.

The same harbor was where many Irish boarded "coffin ships" on their way to Ellis Island, NY to get to America during the potato famine.

It's a really great seaside town and if Eoin and Carol are still reading I want to thank them for a fabulous last day in Ireland!

The Final Day in the Garden

So I worked my final day in the garden yesterday. A slow day at that. Certainly bittersweet but not much news to report on.

Went to Midleton Farmer's market today, which rivals Westport's (if not better)...although I was disappointed to see 2 stands with bananas, mangos, and even onions from peru...really? you can grow onions in Ireland. Clearly these stands were not farmers at all but just people selling grocery store food from a stand.

My favorite stand happened to be a woman who makes all her own goat's cheeses--over 15 varieties in all. And she was giving out free samples for every one. She said she did everything from milking and pasteurizing herself...impressive to say the least.

Tonight I watched the U.S. tie England and will head out to Youghal tomorrow before going home to the states

A trip to the pharmacy

Thursday there’s not too much to report. Planted some flowers for a wedding this weekend at Ballymaloe then planted some 100 of the 3000 leeks that will be planted this spring/summer….1/30^th of the way there! Emily planted some cabbage and other stuff and picked lots of arugula—they call it rocket salad here—for the restaurant.

Having been sick practically the entire trip, I finally found time to get some medicine at the local Cloyne Pharmacy. The brilliant thing about it is that it’s nothing like CVS! As soon as I walked in, a woman came to help me, asking my symptoms. After reporting a cough and sore throat she asked even more questions about the type of cough, when I coughed, etc. Hell, she asks more questions than my own doctor. And the place had everything a CVS does (food, sunscreen, shampoo, medicine, etc).

Anyways, she recommended a couple medicines for me and the total came out to 6 Euro (about $7.50) total for two medicines. You can’t get a bottle of Tylenol for that price in America. And better yet, the staff was genuinely nice and actually knew what medicine to give me. I’m really not looking forward to walking into CVS and having a high school dropout who doesn’t bother to say hi and is only counting down the hours until his overnight shift is done and it takes you 3 hours to get your prescription in hand.

That’s what I love about Ireland-- the genuinely helpful people here (or at least this part of Ireland). On the way back, Aidan pointed out that the leprechauns live in the Ballymaloe wheat fields. Good thing to know if you’re ever here!

Oh by the way, it’s time for the 2010 WORLD CUP!!!!!!!!!