May, 2008

The highlight of May was Barbara's short visit. She arrived at the Dublin airport on Saturday, May 24. I had spent Thursday getting to Newbridge to meet with the Kildare Down Syndrome Group about recruiting. The train drivers in Kerry and Cork went on strike while I stood in line for the train in Tralee, so they bussed us to Limerick. I was lucky enough to get a train that stopped in Newbridge, so that worked out. Friday morning I rode the train to Dublin and attended a workshop. The most impressive part was the location at the Royal College of Surgeons - a gorgeous venue with domed ceilings, stained glass, and numerous marble busts. I spent that night at a motel near Dublin airport and met Barbara at 7:30 Saturday morning. We were very lucky! Because of the strike there were only 2 trains - 9 am and 3 pm. The later one meant we had to kill the whole day in Dublin with her luggage and her jet lag. I didn't think we could make the 9 am, but the angels were on our side - we walked on the train, got settled, and took off! We made it to Tralee in time for lunch, after being bussed (no train again) from Mallow. We drove to town centre and she saw Dana's store. We enjoyed a glass of wine in a street-side cafe while waiting for him to get off. The next day (Sunday) Dana was off, so we all 3 drove to Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen and Valentia Island, which, as you'll know by now, is our favorite tour. Barbara loved it, too. In the top picture, she is at the "lunch spot" between Glenbeigh and Cahersiveen. Here we are at Ballycarbery Castle and in front of the pretty Knightstown Cafe on Valentia.




On subsequent days she and I rested, talked, and made trips to Ballybunion (traditional picture at Virgin Rock and a picture to show you the beautiful flowers and view from the Ballybunion Cliffs) and Killarney (pictured at Torc Falls and Muckross House Gardens.)



















On Thursday we took a quick trip to Blennerville, had a pub lunch in Tralee, and put her on the bus to Cork for a plane to Dublin and then US. It was a great visit, but too short! These pictures are all by MFE.