Waterford

A to Z Abroad: Waterford

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As fate would have it, the Waterford Crystal factory closed down just weeks before we were supposed to go through the visitor’s center. So, instead of marveling at sparkly glass, I got to walk through the streets of Waterford without a tour group or guide in sight!

I first wandered towards Waterford Marina, where sunset cast beautiful colors across the sky and water alike. I leaned against the railing and just watched the colors change and listened to the water lap against against the embankment.

Waterford Marina
Photo by: c.b.w. 2009

With evening fast approaching, I went in search of side streets with interesting stories to tell. I have a small fascination with curving cobblestone streets and alleyways with hidden doorways. Europe, it seems, is full of these narrow links to adventure.

A street in Waterford, Ireland
Photo by: c.b.w. 2009

Waterford, like many cities in Europe, allows for a peaceful coexistence between past and present. Modern buildings of glass and steel rise up around what remains of stone and mortar from centuries ago.

Old and new collide in Waterford
Photo by: c.b.w. 2009

This dichotomy is what I love about Europe. It isn’t so much “out with the old and in with the new,” but rather let the old be and allow the new to arrive.

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Part of the A to Z Challenge!

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c.b.w. 2013

A Few Moments in Ireland

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With St. Patrick’s Day filling my world with green, I can’t help but remember the  Ireland I visited a few years ago.  It’s a beautiful place filled with kind-hearted people who are very genuine and blunt. My trip was essentially a road trip that made a big circle around the coastline, starting and ending in Dublin.  I took a few pictures along the way that remain among my favorites of all my pictures from abroad.

Lady's View, Ireland, 2009, c.b.w.

I remember standing in this spot in total awe.  The view was so beautiful, it made me feel like I had landed in the middle of a fairy tale.  While everyone mulled around snapping pictures of who knows what, I sat on a large boulder and breathed in the magic of this place.

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Clonmacnoise, Ireland 2009, c.b.w.

I don’t know why, but I have a “thing” for old graveyards in Europe.  I find them fascinating and often spend hours roaming about reading headstones and wandering through the past.  Perhaps, it’s my love of history or my curiosity of the people who came before me, but I’m always able to connect to the humanity of a place with more depth after walking through time-worn cemeteries.

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Cliffs of Moher, Ireland, 2009, c.b.w.

It’s a long climb up ramps and stairs to get this view, but it is totally worth the work.  I love places that make me feel like I’m the size of an ant.  There’s nothing more humbling than to stand on the edge of these cliffs and feel the majesty of the rock and wide open space of the ocean.  The wind that day made sure I got a good whiff of salty air and the “green” smell of grass.  The combination of the two made for an aroma I’ve never experienced before or since.  That sweet smell is among my favorite sensory memories.

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Waterford, Ireland, 2009, c.b.w.

Waterford may be famous for its crystal, but for me it will always be the place where I found some peace with a sunset kissed harbor.  I leaned against the ropes of the dock and listened to the seagulls fly overhead, while the water slapped lightly against the embankment.  The writer in me couldn’t help but wonder where all of these boats have been and where they would go next.

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Pub in Shannonbridge, Ireland, 2009, c.b.w.

I got a kick out of this pub the moment I walked through the door.  The place is cluttered from ceiling to floor with knick-knacks, memorabilia, and business cards from those who come to visit. The soup and sandwich I devoured remains on my list of best meals I’ve ever tasted, (over the course of 15 years of international travel).  If you’re ever in Shannonbridge, be sure to visit the only pub in town.

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  May luck find you when you need it most!

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c.b. 2012