May 9 2016

The reluctant blogger is not so reluctant as she is frustrated because she can not get her picture uploaded on this blog. However I shall not let this occupy to much space in my day. 

The landscapes we encounter each day get more spectacle and reflect for me what I imagined Ireland to look like. How can one not marvel at the coastal regions with their dramatic views of the Atlantic breaking against the mighty cliffs of the island.  Over the past few days we have been awed by such sights. The cliffs of Moher were indeed spectacular leaving me breathless (well the winds had some say in that).  The cliffs rise some 800 feet from the ocean below. Really a description can hardly do justice to the wonder of creation. (Hopefully I will get a picture or two uploaded)

I recall reading John O'Donaghue's writings around the topic of belonging and how life is a journey to belong, a return to our most sacred self, the deepest place of our belonging. He recalled how when growing up amongst the hills as and rocky shores he felt a deep belonging to his surroundings, the rocks breathing the same breath as he, the winds singing though him, his voice echoing back to him as he called to the land. We see how we are such s small part in the great magnificence of creation, but we are a part of it, and we are, according to O'Donague, always in search of that connection; that sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves.

Leaving the cliffs we entered into the strange lunar landscape of the Burren region rich in archaeological remains and rare flora.  The barren Burren was famously condemned by one of Cromwell's 

Generals who said of the Barren that there was 'not enough wood to hand a man, not enough water to drown him, and not enough clay to cover his corpse.'  

Glaciers and hundreds of years of erosion carved out this limestone wonder - miles and miles of horizontal slabs divided by fissures.  It one were to described it one might imagine piles of slabs of rock felled as a result of an earthquake.   But there is a strange a barren beauty too the landscape.  

People often refer to the place as s moonscape if we were to imagine what the moon might look like. It is an area that holds the interest of geologists, botanists and archeologists who explore the many caves in this region.  There landscape is rich with small animals, birds, butterflies and a variety of flowers. The caves reveal that this barren land was the home for people for many centuries.

We ended our day with a medieval dinner in a 14th century castle. The most fun and amazing evening ever.  The music and dance and food and fellowship were sensations.  A great day was had by all.

Bye for now...