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Kilkenny: a city of Irish charm
Friday July 26, 2024 Jet lag was definitely affecting me on Friday. I was awake before the birds but managed to hang out at the hotel until the sky brightened. I had noticed the evening before something on a map entitled The Canal Walk. It appeared to be an urban walk that encircled the castle…
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Kilkenny
Thursday July 25, 2024 The train trip from Dublin was very pleasant. I had an interesting chat about Ireland with a lovely couple from Dublin who were escaping to the smaller city for a bit of a break. Now that I have been here for several days, I understand why. It is absolutely beautiful, very…
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An Irish Adventure Begins
Dublin Thursday July 25, 2024 For reasons that can only be imagined and because of a life-long desire to visit the Emerald Isle, I decided to enrol in the summer Irish Harp School held every year in Kilkenny at the end of July. I also decided this would be a good moment to return to…
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IN MEMORIAM
JACKSON – March 31, 2024 It is with a broken heart and deep sadness I announce the death of Jackson. We said our final goodbyes at the Faro Animal Hospital where he was being treated for kidney failure. He would have celebrated his 13th birthday this coming summer. I had the joy and honour of…
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Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday
Faro was my destination on Tuesday -I needed to do some grocery shopping – and decided to add in a tour of the old part of the city. I was hoping the Cathedral would be open as well as its museum and garden. What I didn’t realize is that it was a holiday for Carnival.…
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Achieving new heights
Sunday was a literal washout with the rain but Monday Feb 12 was sunny with the mercury hitting 20 degrees Celsius by early afternoon. it was high time for a decent hike, so Jackson and I set off up the hill behind the quinta toward the shrine. Three quarters of the way up, there is…
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From a Birthday Celebration to Shrove Tuesday
Birthdays come but once per year and mine is February 9 – this year a Friday. A huge thank you to Randy and Marc who treated me to lunch at Gunther’s Restaurant. What a great way to start the celebrations! Friday was a mix of rain, wind and sun but there were plans afoot at…
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Paddle your own kayak
Kayaking is an activity I really do enjoy. It must be said, however, that my kayaking experience, until Wednesday February 7, was limited to fresh water inland rivers in southwestern Ontario and western Québec. My Quinta neighbours, Guido and Karine invited me to join their hiking group in a kayaking adventure organized by Kim. Our…
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From the valley, to the mountain…
Revisiting favourite places is how Jackson and I take each other for walks here in Estoi. On Monday Feb 5, we did just that, meandering back forth through some small valleys and up the sides of steep hills. There’s always something to discover particularly if I remember to look down. Half of Cerro De São…
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January melds into February
As February begins, it seems only fitting to mention an up and coming Irish saint, St Brigid. In 2023, Ireland officially declared February 1 as the day to celebrate her life and legacy. Here’s a link to an excellent article in the Guardian by Katy Hesel: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/feb/05/saint-patrick-beer-brewing-brigid-ale-ireland There are several reasons for including Brigid in my…
Five Feet, Nine Inches Above Ground
A personal point of view…
Five Feet, Nine Inches Above Ground 