12.07.2007

We packed up our bags and braved the traffic to head out of Dublin headed for County Cork to visit my cousins Jim & Ita in Youghal in Ireland’s south. After looking at the distance on the map I had told Ita that she could expect us late morning. She later informed me that she knew that I was being hopelessly optimistic. We left the city for the tangle of the roads that lead to the M50, which Jim refers to as the biggest parking lot in Europe. Once we reached the main road to the south we found Irelands tax dollars at work with roadworks on every second stretch of road. Apart from proving my initial ETA very wrong, the beauty of the countryside and the various towns along the way made the slow journey quite entertaining. There are so many horses everywhere on the green fields, and all the fields are separated either by stone walls or hedges, just stunning. We stopped briefly in Kilkenny and went for a short walkabout an old castle by a river, and bought some local berries, including raspberries, gooseberries and redcurrants. We passed through Waterford, and eventually made it to Youghal at 5pm. Luckily Ita had dinner prepared since 5 hours earlier. We had a great time catching up before heading out to see their daughter Catherine were we also met her daughter Melanie. Catherine and John live on a farm on a hill with a view over the town of Cloyne and their many horses. All of Catherine’s daughters are accomplished equestrian riders. The views are stunning everywhere you look, including from our bedroom at Jim and Ita’s. The weather today was also really good in the afternoon, 22 degrees and sunshine.