Beginning Adventures of Bandit the Black

Saturday, the 26th of September, 2015. We woke up and got all of our stuff together and walked through out hotel room for the last time. It was our last night in Dublin. Or should I say, Publin. We had to find where exactly our Airlink bus stop for the airport was going to be. The receptionist in the hotel lobby said it was near Trinity College. Lisa had her doubts and was able to lead us to one that was closer. I'm telling you, she's really good at this stuff. We got to the stop and about 2 maybe 3 minutes later the bus shows up and we board. 

We were some of the first people on board. About 45 minutes later after the bus made all of its stops, we were on our way to Dublin Airport to pick up our rental. Terminal 1 first to check in our reservation and then catch a shuttle bus to terminal 2 to finalize all of the paperwork and get the car. As we finished signing papers I really started to get some nerves about driving. It was both exciting and intimidating. Lisa kept reassuring me that if I wreck that we are fully insured. Just don't lose the key. That'll cost. I love you too, dear. We walked across the parking lot looking for parking space 161. Yup, there it is, a little beep beep of a car. A black Skoda Citigo (we later nicknamed Bandit) Automatic? Yes. *sigh*

You see, things like reserving an automatic aren't really guaranteed in Europe. People mainly drive a stick, which I can do and have done many times before but I really don't want to try in figure out how to navigate in such foreign circumstances with the added stress of driving stick. You get the idea.

So, here goes.

The first thing I notice was that the car seemed to take more effort to actually propel itself forward. Meaning that when I press the gas pedal, it kinda starts moving forward at its own pace. It really reminded me of driving with a clutch. It felt like it. But there wasn't a clutch. As I proceeded towards the first stop sign the RPMs sounded like they were running on the high side just like it was still in first gear. You know what? I learned at that moment that I still had to tap the stick forward to put it into second. Then the same for third and so on. Oh damn it. So, that is how it's going to be now.

After Lisa was able to navigate me out of the airport and onto M50, a motorway that is like our Interstates, I was able to concentrate on getting used to it all. It's still harrowing to me at this point. Just be cool and just do it. Right? 

We were on our way to Powerscourt Home and Gardens which is about 45 minutes south of Dublin in County Wicklow. We drove into the Wicklow mountains near a small town called Enisskerry. The beauty of Ireland was finally ours to behold. So, so beautiful. 

As we neared the estate, the roads became super narrow as they are well-known to be. Serious. There is either solid shrubbery or an even more solid rock wall inches from the 6-8 inch shoulder on your passenger side and maybe that much on your side for oncoming traffic to pass by you.

Anyways, the next thing I know I am in a car park, putting the car into neutral and pulling the parking brake (no Park position with this car). First journey---check. Time to forget about all of this driving stuff and relax again. 

 The first thing Lisa and I decide to do is to eat. There wasn't time for that back in Dublin and we banked on this place having a cafe or something. Indeed it did and it was delicious. I had, first and foremost, black coffee. Then I got some kind of spicy chicken pasta that was heated to about 1000K with some other kind of cold pasta. it was all tasty and hearty and much needed. Especially that coffee. Lisa had a Guinness stew and some other kind of pasta and of course, coffee as well.

With are bellies full and the caffeine finally kicking in it was time to check the place out. We get through admissions and walk through the nearest doors which let us out into the rear of the estate.

 As you can see the building is large. This place started out as a castle in the 1200's and then was reconstructed from 1731-1741. There are tightly manicured lawns which were lined with many statues or large vases containing various colorful flowers. Then we turned around to view the landscape.

I was just floored. I still am just looking at these photos. This photo is facing east. There was so much to see here, but it was also so hard to tear myself away from this view. After Lisa and I finally did tear ourselves away we walked towards the the north which leads to the many gardens that lie behind and around that pond you see in the distance here.

We started on a dirt path and quickly lead us to Pepperpot Tower

After another short walk we came upon a Japanese style garden

 

Following the trails some more we found a Pet Cemetery.

Here is a view back to the estate from the other side of the Dolphin Pond

From this view, almost everything on the left is nearly all flower gardens behind gated rock walls. When we made it to that area we were simply overcome by the smell of countless aromatic flowers and all the color one can imagine. The air was cool and light with the temperature being in the low to mid 60s. What other sense could possibly be pleased in this moment (besides taste, don't be a smarty).

 

And for those of you who know, I tend to take selfies with butt cheeks in the background...

So that was Powerscourt summed up very quickly, believe it or not.

 The next stop is the Glendalough ruins, an old monastery that was founded in the 6th century. Freaking old, man. We drove about another 45 minutes through even narrower roads. Very intense for a first timer. I know that Lisa was keeping it together as well. Hey, she did amazing because she calmly navigated me to our next destination. 

When we arrived, we circled through a roundabout and into a rinky-dink car park. It was basically four tiny parks no lots stitched together by a tiny lane. And there were about ten-thousand cars parked in every spot and every nook and cranny. I drove around that sucker for about 15-20 minutes waiting for anyone to leave. Finally, a lady walks to her car, a red Ford, and after mucking around on the right side of the car walks around to the left side of the car. She gets in and sits down. I'm thinking that it may be a moment because maybe she is waiting on someone else to get in on the driver's side and drive of. Just as I am about to consider moving on the reverse lights come on and she backs out. Holy shit, and hell yeah!

We park and rejoice. We walk to the welcome center and show them our passes. As we walk out to see the ruins we cross an old wooden bridge and to our right we see this.

Then we walk a trail that leads into the monastic city.

Inside the cathedral.

The bell tower.

There is obviously a boatload of history that happened here and it was just amazing being here. Unfortunately at this time, it is 11:45 pm here in Kilkenny and we need to be awake early in the morning to drive to Cork, so I apologize. I still want to write about Kilkenny, which was the next leg of the adventure after these ruins. So...at least from me, to be continued...