Day 39 - August 19, 2022 - Dublin - Glendalough

 We were fed, packed and on the coach by 8:30 AM.  I learned the difference between a coach and a bus today.  A bus runs a regular route and picks up and drops off riders.  A coach is a hire for a specific purpose.  Denis, our guide, who has his share of Irish humor and blarney also said the difference between a coach driver and a bus driver was about 10 Euros a day.

Our entertaining trip leader, Denis, who hales from Killarney in south west Ireland.

Our first start today was at Avoca Handweavers Mill in Wicklow.

Manual loom which was in use for production until a few years ago.

One of the modern looms now in use.

Following lunch at the Avoca village, we travelled another hour to the site of Monastery village of Glendalough.

The countryside is stunningly beautiful here.  Glendalough is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin.

The fine tower, built of mica-slate interspersed with granite is about 100 feet high, with an entrance 10 feet from the base. The conical roof was rebuilt in 1876 using the original stones. The tower originally had six timber floors, connected by ladders. The four stories above entrance level are each lit by a small window; while the top story has four windows facing the cardinal compass points. Round towers, landmarks for approaching visitors, were built as bell towers, but also served on occasion as store-houses and as places of refuge in times of attack

The towers are predominatel in Ireland, but the two in Scotland were probably erected by Irish Christians who came to Scotland as missionaries.  This one is in the village it is believed the Abernethy/Abernathy name originated.

St. Kevin's Church

Built in the 12th century, the steep roof, formed of overlapping stones, is supported internally by a semi-circular vault. Access to the croft or roof chamber was through a rectangular opening towards the western end of the vault. The church also had a timber first floor. The belfry with its conical cap and four small windows rises from the west end of the stone roof in the form of a miniature round tower. It is commonly known as St. Kevin's Kitchen as the bell tower resembles a kitchen chimney. 

Leaving Glendalough, it was another hours coach ride to our hotel in Dublin.  Upon arrival, we were pleased with our room and the location.  We are at the Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin.  From our window, which stretches floor to celling across the room, we can see the steeple of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

This, by the way, is not the view of the steeple we see from our room :).

We took a short orientation walk around a few blocks and stopped to pickup some cheese, bread and beer for dinner.  We were not hungry enough for a big meal.  We have had too many of those recently.

We have a tour for a couple of hours tomorrow morning and the remainder of the day is free until our farewell dinner (another big meal) at 6:00 PM.  Tomorrow evening, it is time to do our final packing for our flight from Dublin to Atlanta at 12:00 Noon on Sunday.  We are due to arrive in Atlanta at 3:15 PM.  It has been fun, but it will be nice to not have to pack and change hotels every 2 to 3 days.