Inis Mor!

Monday March 24
Ahhh… time to go to Inis Mor! We woke up, got ready and ate breakfast at the hostel. We made it to the bus with time to spare. I was so excited. The weather was only overcast. No downpours like last time. I am optimistic that the weather will cooperate on the island, though I did plan for the worst. On the drive out we saw some nice running paths in Galway. We both made plans to run there when we return when we have several hours in Galway.
We arrived to the ferry. I was REALLY missing the kids now. So many memories of this part of the trip. Dragging the wheeled suitcase full of books and snacks onto the ferry. The kids excited to go. Being thoroughly wet. I looked at James and was thrilled he and I were going. I have wanted to share this place with him since we left.

The water is choppy but there are clearings in the sky closer to the island. I am really hopeful for sun. We arrive and step off the boat. It’s warmer. I can almost remove one layer of sweater/sweatshirt. I had been wearing two sweaters, a sweatshirt and my raincoat and been cold. The weather should be nice. I see sun. Let’s rent bikes! It’s a beautiful and WARM walk to the hostel. We get to the hostel and leave our bags. It is the same as before. The same owner, Joel who reminds me so much of Belize on Angels in America. He remembers me when I tell him about the children. He remembered Liam well. “he loved to show me his car” and he remembered the little girl with the glasses and that I was on my own with them while James was in Eastern Europe. I was thrilled to be back. James and I rented a private room. It was beautiful with an amazing view. We were thrilled to have our own room after spending a few nights in 8-10 people rooms in separate beds.

We went down to town and rented bikes. I had no idea that the walk to the hostel was entirely uphill. I saw people walking their bikes and struggling uphill. But that certainly would not be us. We are triathletes. Ha! Humbling those hills were. We rode out to Dun Aengus. This place is near and dear to my heart. The children and I were amazed at this place and will always remember it. This is what I really wanted to share with James. It’s a 2000 year old fort at the cliffs. The cliffs are awe inspiring. I was so excited to be there. I immediately went for the edge of the cliff to look down at the ocean. It is steep and tall with no guard rails. It is an adrenaline rush just being there. I found a nice spot and sat with my legs dangling off the edge. What an incredible feeling. James approaches gingerly. “C’mon, look over more to get the full effect.” He’s cautious, afraid of dropping his glasses into the ocean. We move to the next part of the fort to another place on the cliff. This is great place to lay on my belly and just let my head hang down. I lay there for a long while almost meditating watching the ocean waves over the rocks. There is so much power here. So much life force. I am so small here. I am connected. I lost myself completely and came back to reality realizing James had gone elsewhere. He was sitting against a rock wall eating some of the picnic lunch. I hope he wasn’t sad. He was hungry, that’s it. He was fascinated by the ruins. I was the cliffs. This island is my favorite place on earth.

We see clouds moving in and decide to go back to the hostel. We take the longer but flat way along the coast to the hostel. This place is so beautiful full of stone walls, green hills and ocean. We ride in to the driveway of the hostel and the rain starts. Just in time. We lay down and nap. I wake up thrilled to be here. The rain has passed and the sky is pink. I go outside while J is still napping and take pictures. I am looking forward to Joel’s dinner. I want to find him to reserve a place. Last time Byron ate and I wasn’t expecting anything vegan. I checked in on him and almost everything was vegan and gourmet. So I asked to stay. It was divine. So I make the reservation. I forgot to remind him we were vegan but think it is fine. I meet some of the other people staying here. One man is from Dublin and very familiar with the island. He is a teacher of some sot in need of the internet. The hostel internet is down but somehow I get wifi on mine. I lend him my laptop and go up to wake James for dinner. There are 7 of us at dinner. J and I have our won table. The room is cozy and we are enjoying their conversation. We participate and have a fabulous time. The Dublin man teaches at university. There are three young German men traveling and a beautiful older Dutch woman who frequently visits the island. The food is not at all vegan and we are given a bowl of soup that looks like it has cream. Awkward. We eat it. The rest of the food was mostly vegan. Then dessert. Oh please please have those cooked pears like last time. It’s home made ice cream with Bailey’s. We eat it and it isn’t going down well. But I am happy to be having a great conversation with everyone. The Dublin man is playing music later. All of us invite ourselves to watch him play. He decided to meet us at Joe Watty’s pub later. Joe Watty’s is supposed to be the best pub in Inis Mor. Though one of the German men thought it smelled like the dentist’s office. Classical music was playing in the background and there was discussion on who the composer was turning into almost a bet. We wait and wait for the announcer and the man from Dublin knows that the playlist is in the local paper. he gets it and was close on his prediction.

James and I rest a bit upstairs and put our pictures into the computer. It’s time to head down to the pub. It’s dark and about 11:30pm. The pub is beautiful. Very clean and has the best aesthetic. The bartender has a great heavy accent. No one form the hostel is there but we are enjoying the pub the same. I have another Jameson. Love this stuff. James has a Guinness. I like it after a few drinks of Jameson. Dublin man arrives as we are leaving. We need ot call the children. We find a pay phone and talk with them. It was so great to hear their voices. We didn’t get to talk with Byron as he was at a friend’s. The kids were happy with their friends and didn’t want to talk long. We walk to the hostel and forgo going back to Joe Watty’s. It’s quiet in there and no music. We are exhausted.