Happy 13th Birthday to you Ariel!!
Trip Start
Unknown
1
9
21
Trip End
Ongoing
Doolin, County Clare, Ireland
Friday, March 23, 2012
We took her out to a cafe for breaky, then walked along the Cliffs of Moher, near Doolin, R wanted to walk further along the cliff tops - past the signs saying extreme danager, danger hazard area and do not enter. Everyone else was doing it so Bill and Alo escorted her. Brandi-Chanel refused to go and told us, "You are completely stupid!" Off we trudged, took a couple of photos and then our dear 13 year old says, "I just want to hang over the edge so I can see where they made the part in the Harry Potter movie." (Half blood Prince) It's only a 700 metre sheer drop to the ocean. Yeuch! is this what we're to expect from a teenager? it's a new experience for us and after-all this was our first day.
The best of the day was kept for last, the medieval banquette at Bunratty. We joined the Earl and Ladies for a glorious banquet at this majestic 15th century castle. The entire hall, of over 100 guests, sang Ariel an enchanting happy birthday to harp and violin accompaniment. She felt like a right royal - that she did!
We heard that in olden times the bride and groom drank Mead 'liqueur made from pure honey and fruit of the vine' for one full moon after their wedding, hence the term honeymoon still used today. Mead was believed to have magical powers of fertility and virility!
Bill is annoyed with the time taken up grocery shopping and eating, he believes that if we could just stop these silly practices we'd be seeing so much more. Oh, and just imagine how much more jewellery Alo could afford, not to mention no problem with dish pan hands. As it turns out the Celts mustn't have liked dishes either. If someone damaged their fingernail they had to pay them for the damage under Irish law. A great Irish insult was to call a person 'ragged nails.'
We checked out the Hill of Tara - also known as the Seat of High Kings of Ireland. It was at the height of its power in the early centuries after Christ. Until St Paddy single-handedly converted them and the rest of Ireland to Christianity (they say). He couldn't have stopped to sleep or eat if that was true. There were stunning 360 degree views from the top of the hill. But the weirdest site was the Wishing Tree, an old Pagan ritual was that people would tie something significant to the tree for healing and luck. There were all these bits and pieces of guff tied all over the branches of the tree, including someones nickers - hah?
We also visited the impressive Trim Castle - the largest Anglo/Norman fortification in Ireland. Many of the scenes from the Mel Gibson movie 'Braveheart' were filmed there. Ariel climbed the curtain wall and pretended to fight off the enemy with her imaginary bow and arrow - wicked teen. The whole structure took over 30 years to build - amazing little worker bees they were back then, but also dirty, stinky buggers. Unlike the Celts who had daily baths, these dudes didn't wash themselves or their clothes. It wasn't long before they had creepy crawlies, in particular, fleas and lice running rampant. So to get rid of them they came up with this pungent idea.
1. Remove clothes.
2. Hang them high over cesspit.
3. Leave hanging until all lice and fleas are killed.
The ammonia gasses from human excrement would suffocate the little blighters. Must remember this one, it could be a hand tip for school kids head lice issues.
Comments
great your having a ball in ireland, happy birthday ariel, all our best, glen & julie.
Another birthday wish to you Ariel - Derek and Jo
Don't you love the old castles and scenery and the cobble pathways, there is so much history and beauty there that Aussie doesn't have...
OH and Happy Belated Birthday to the new teen!!! Daniel just turned 15, time fly's!!!