The Rock Lodge B&B is where we're staying in Galway. When the hostess greeted us at the door, she said, "now who do we have here?" Jo Anne introduced us and she said, "well sure." She took us upstairs to show us the room. I think we've only had a ground floor room once on this trip. Whoopee! Another trek upstairs with our bags. At breakfast we met two couples from Oklahoma. They're going many of the same places we are but in the opposite direction.
Our plan today is to drive the Connemara Loop, stopping at the Connemara Marble factory, a Bodhran music store, the Kylemore Abbey and finally Connemara National Park for a short hike.
We plugged in the GPS and hit the road arriving at the marble factory shortly after a bus load of "elderly people." It took awhile for them to clear out enough so we could shop, but it was a fun and interesting stop nonetheless.
,
The drive to the music store is very scenic.
The terrain is so diverse.
On the way to the Abbey
Kylemore Abbey is the most photographed castle in Ireland. It was purchased by a group of benedictine nuns in 1920. It was originally built by Mitchell Henry as a gift to his wife.
one of the many fireplaces in the castle
The view from the Abbey. Jo Anne said it reminded her of the Sound of Music.
Waterfall
The Gothic church is a mini cathedral, in the neo-Gothic style, built by Mitchell Henry in memory of his wife Margaret.
Mitchell and Margaret Henry are both interred in the mausoleum.
The Gothic church
Connemara marble columns inside the chapel. There are several quarries of Connemara marble: green, white, black, and rose. They've used them all in the chapel.
Marble carving
Jo Anne and I had a little worship service in the chapel. The craftsmanship is breathtaking.
Yes, this is Jo Anne playing a wooden xylophone with a stick.
Entrance to the Victorian walled garden.
Even at this time of the year the garden is filled with color.
After touring the abbey and gardens, we stopped in the abbey cafe for bite of lunch, then on to the national park for a hike.
Start of the blue loop up Black Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park.
View from the top of the climb.
Black Diamond Hill
Trying to beat the storm
The rain is coming. We made it to the car just before it hit.
"Light shall shine out of darkness." 2 Corinthians 4:6
We walked to Galway city center for dinner at a local pub. I had salad because I haven't had any in two weeks.
Jo Anne had homemade cottage pie.
We listened to a little live music...
Then walked back across the river.
"Oh Lord our God, the majesty and glory of your name fills all the earth and overflows the heavens. . .When I look up into the night skies and see the work of your hands-the moon and the stars you have made-I cannot understand how you can bother with man, to be mindful of him. Oh Lord our God, the majesty and glory of your name." Psalms 8
Today's stats: 8.4 miles and 20,398 steps
No comments:
Post a Comment