Waterford was wonderful. The signs to get to Waterford Crystal were very good and we only got turned around once downtown and we did the right thing by turning left when we really wanted to turn right and had to go around the block once to fix a small directional error.
While stuck in traffic I kept busy by reading historical signs on buildings. General Richard Malcahy was born on Manor Street and there was a sign about the War of Independence on Henry Street. I am quite sure that I would have enjoyed staying in Waterford, lots of history there too.
We arrived at Waterford Crystal about four in the afternoon. I have never seen so many really gorgeous large crystal chandeliers. Such a sparkling experience. We wanted to go on the tours but found out that the factory had been shut down after the purchase of Waterford crystal by KPS. The store will stay open but all the crystal was now being made in Poland. This made us very sad and we determined to only buy crystal made in Waterford. We browsed for an easy 30 minutes and when we found out that with the purchase of a mere 200 Euros they would pay for the shipping, we got down to some serious shopping. Maureen got some crystal wine glasses and a collection of other treasures for her family. I got two star Christmas ornaments for the kids at Christmas that had been made in Ireland. We bought each other a small crystal vase and had the stars and the vases, engraved by Nick Cody who was a great character. We talked about the dangers of driving on Irish roads and maybe how having something to drink made them braver and so faster on their narrow laneways. Maybe they should not allow drinking and driving? Well Nick said in a most serious way and with a look of true horror” If you take away my drink, I might as well be dead!” It made me wonder how he had such a steady hand for engraving and he said it was, again, his drink that gave
such a steady hand. Amazing stuff this Irish drink, better than all the pharmaceuticals developed to calm the nerves. It made you braver, calmer and according to Nick, happy to go home to your wife of thirty years. Happy with all of our purchases and wondering how long it would take and what mode they would use to ship everything to Maureen’s we departed Waterford and after a small consultation with the map were on our way to Youghall.
The sun had come out and although getting lower in the sky it was beautiful. So we were driving along when we came to a curve in the road and as we started to drive off the road I mentioned this to Maureen immediately who replied
‘I’m just checking what gear I’m in. If I have to drive with my left hand you should have to write with your left hand’. So I did, for a whole half page, which turned out legible, almost, and Maureen’s addition to the end of the page was ’- and Dennie - you’re such a good sport’. Those things that I noted with my left hand : rain, Lemybrien, saw a grocery store first one and a Texaco.
In between Lemybrien and Dungarvan are at least eight traffic circles. Now they were little traffic circles and the signs were good but really, eight? We have traffic circles in Edmonton and they do keep things going so I can only assume that the area has lots of traffic and so lights or stop signs would be prohibitive to smooth moving traffic.
Dungarvan is a beautiful town with the big harbour. Even in the rain. Even in the pouring rain. Could easily have stayed there but we were aiming for Youghal. We came to a very large bay and saw the town of Youghal on the other side. The long bridge across the large Blackwater River was impressive.
We drove through town and ended up staying at the Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel in a room with a view of the bay and park. Parking was a little difficult as there was a slight incline and there was a pole in our parking spot. well not in it but very close to the front of it. Maureen did do a good job considering left handed gearshift and a standard vehicle.
We learned that you pronounce Youghal as yawl not yougal. We had dinner of potato skins and our first 1/2 pint of Murphy's at the almost empty bar in the hotel. There is something to be said for traveling in the off season.
Lots of attention because you are the only tourists. I like Murphy’s better than Guinness. The bar was pleasant although a little slow, but I think that was due to the fact that the bar maid was the cook and check in attendant as well. She wore many hats. After a leisurely dinner and one more 1/2 pint we tidied up the car and organized our souvenirs. I organized my suitcase and wrote out some of my postcards to mail the next day and we hit the bed early.
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