Wordsworth not I but again I rely on Pics

With due deference to above mother nature put own a fantastic display today?, maybe Wordsworth was the First Greenie!! Anyway I won't even attempt to go further but so pleased for the innumerable coach operators we met in Dingle the other day who could relax and let the tourists absorb the natural beauty. Why can't we do similar in WA.?

A Picture tells a thousand words

Unfortunately havn't learnt as yet how to download pics to blog. Thanks to kindness of Paddy and Carla here in Laurach, midst the mountains encasing the local bay. Still coming to grips with the stillness and peace.
Today Ger brought me over to Dingle and a chap in Killarney so kind to fix SIMM card, on to Daingean Ui Chuis and what a buzz instig San Ostan"An Dreoilin Beag" thosnaig fear an ti caint as Gaeilge (chap started speaking to me as Gaeilge and surprise surprise to me I was able to respond, it was a buzz. Ironically the chap wasn't Irish and the pair of us conversing as Gaeilge (10/10), the lady in the bookshop was French and to cap off a wonderful morning the lady in thePrint shop was German and creating books on Irish themes.
Yes, airways are flooded with theEconomic woes of the country and it was such as breadth of fresh air to experience the richness of multicultural Ireland.
Our original plan was to get a boat out to Sceillig Mor but alas the weather didn't permit. For all you virtual travellers, a Google is a must whereas your truly has not yet given up hope of visiting...
Plans are in motion for the Siul Mor, beginning Sat 2nd June

Black Porter and Blackpuddin!

What strange bed fellows, one would think but our local football club is sponsored by a prize winning Black Pudding company. So as a prelim to Cork Cities home match on Friday night a customary few pints prior to the match was in order and what did we get as accompaniment was a basket of black and white puddin!

How Many times have we been told don't ask questions and in the instance of the ingredients of black puddin I would suggest it is a most appropriate comment in this regard, nevertheless it makes for a great feed.

Down to Cobh on my Rothar (pushie)

Nothing better than Cobh on a fine day and Cork Harbour puts on a magnificent show. You can imagine the Pride of the White Star Line,anchored in the Harbour, preparing to take on board a further 123 passengers before it embarked on its fateful journey. Today Cobh is not only basking in the sun but also the boost in tourism that centenary celebrations are providing.
THe original name Cove was changed to Queenstown to honor the visit of Queen Victoria in 1849 and in 1921 reverted back to Cobh when Ireland achieve independence.
Today it was a bike ride to Passage and then the ferry and up on the bike again to Cobh. To cap off a great day the Bosun served up a great sea food chowder on the cycle home.
The boat fare on the Titanic from Queenstown to New York was six pounds and ten shillings in 1912 and the Ferry ride in 2012 from Passage cost me one Euro and fifty cents!!- chalk it down on your itinerary.

On the train again.....

This time it is Dublin to Cork. Rang Ger in Cork this morn and reckoned all looking for me. Dublin has been very good to me, Peter the perfect host, showed me his school and his great grandfather had gone to the same school so it was special for us. Went to Trinity and it was literally a melting pot of students, visitors and a hive of activity, yet so relaxed and little wonder it is renowned worldwide apart from it being the home of the Book of Kellsthe guys were playing cricket all in the heart of a bustling city. Took a walk up Grafton street and it was like Freo on a Sunday with a hundred times more buskers. We got Chicken wings at the Elephant and Castle, a must eat in Dublin, apparently!! (not sure about all the Balsamic)
Yesterday was a cracker, we took ourselves off to Loughcrew, a cairn that is dated back to 3500bc and we had the key!! In we went and some of our pics tell the story far better than I could.
Cairn T, One of the largest tombs in the complex is positioned so as to be at the highest point of the whole complex. similar in design to Newgrange). Orientated to the Spring Equinox, it possesses a total of 19 decorated orthostats, 2 decorated sill-stones, 8 decorated roof-stones and 1 decorated kerbstone (Shee Twohig 1981, 214).
The wind and cold made for a most enjoyable and challenging walk up to the Cairn. An interesting remark from a lad we met, you could see 13 counties from this spot.
And where did we end up but in a pub in the back of Co Meath and witness Man City's dramatic winning of the premiership.
A huge thanks to Carla and Paddy, Tilly and Peter and all the animals and birds for making it such a wonderful and tranquil stay.

Altitude 10'000 Feet

No I'm not about to go Bungy jumping but its pretty neat here on Norwegian Airlines and en route to Dublin- up in the clouds so to speak. Left Copenhagen after a wonderful few days, great city, something for every one but it's the friends and friendliness that makers the place and Copenhagen was so kind on both counts but keep right on your bike- right Coogan!!

Christiania vi got standing en forsaken

A Cork lad living in Christiania invited us over for the avo. For me it was bewildering but we had a mighty craic sitting back and chatting and Coogan telling jokes. However we had to have a beer, so we parked our bikes and into the "Local" - Enough to say never before and probably never again will I see the likes of it- do a google search to find out more. There are no cameras allowed in Christianias, no weapons and no hard drugs. This place is unique many, many artists, artisans and woodworkers have their home there.

The Train(s) Journey North

having left Tolouse at 10.30am arrived Copenhagen at 11.00am the morning after. I was originally booked on one train which was delayed and oI explained I would miss my connection, so I was kindly put on a faster train. However the crux was I had to navigate through Paris from
Nemtfaurnasse train station to Gare-de-Nord via metro and RERB and had one hour, otherwise No ride to Cologne. Again thro' people's kindness I overcame the rush hour and piling on to metros with my back pack must. Have looked comical but I was going at "ninety" -
a huge Merci Beaucoup to all Parisians.
Got on train to Cologne and ready to relax- In Brussels there was a huge change in passengers, motoring away grand and at the German border a group of German police boarded. They appeared to target the lad next to me- I minded my own "bees wax" when one copper in raised voice addressed me. My un intended irreverence was not received very well when I said I didn't have a clue what he was on about. The copper appeared to get more agitated, however his colleague requested my passport and after close study of my travels docs they moved on- it was surprise at the nature of their approach that threw me and unfortunately I didn't respond appropriately. All. I can say is Thank Goodness for an Irish Passport.
Moving on into the night got to Cologne and made Connection to Copenhagen.I t was incredible as carriages from Amsterdam, Warsaw andSouthern Europe joined our train for our northward journey and us snuggled up in the night-train!
Yes arrived spot on time and there was Coogan on the platform and got the best welcome to Copenhagen anyone could wish for.
It was a long haul and would I recommend, you must do it once!!

Maurice

Maurice is the very kind gentleman who gave me the Travel advice for Spain. Everything he suggested was spot on and even more. He had me staying in a hotel that was an ex monastery literally 1 minute from Las Ramblas in Barcelona - what an incredible opportunity to experience complete contrasts on the way we live. Maurice is also recognized as the King of the Pyrenees and again his travel advice spot on in the mountains. His kindness will be a lasting memory of my visit to Spain and it is the people more than places that make travel such a wonderful experience.

However the purpose of this blog is once again to highlight my deficiencies with that P word "Phone". We all recognize the developments and perhaps lucky enough to visit the Telegraph station in Alice or drove by the Old Telegraph Station in Eucla driving across the Nullabor. More of us may have visited Valentia Island to where the first Trans Atlantic link was established. Yet Maurice is the only person that I have ever met that visited both Newfoundland site where the cable was submerged and then travelled to Kerry to capture the other end of it.
But back to the present and me recognizing the urgency to get up to speed on present possibilities. trying to book a flight and when they confirmed, requested photographic evidence of passport and credit card. My response are they off their tree!!. Yet the solution is right in front of me - if only I cottoned on(Jessie, my IT advisor would certainly been on the ball). Well the lesson I learned, continue to improve my IT skills and get ready for a 24 hour train ride!!, all because I couldn't comply with online booking instructions and use inbuilt camera and forward evidence. Yes, it has been a hard lesson to learn

"Excusez Moi Sil Vous Plait, j'ai parlez de petit peu de Francis"

: Ireckon if I got a dollar for exert time I repeated above I'd have my fare paid to Paris. Here in Toulouse and even tho' it is a transport hub having probs getting out-had an airline ticket but cancelled when I was unable to supply copies of Passport/Credit Card-online, so I have decided to see the country and train it all the way to
Copenhagen with stops in Paris andCologne. Otis certainly helping me improve my French and even tho' I realize people don't have a clue what I'm saying ( sounds familiar!) there is one universal word Guess? yes it's that time again Beer oClock and I'll toast the nouveau Presidente, whoever that maybe - Salute!!

"Excusez Moi Sil Vous Plait, j'ai parlez de petit peu de Francis"

My Blog: EKxcusez moi, sol boys plaid, j 'aI parley de pett...: Ireckon if I got a dollar for exert time I repeated above I'd have my fare paid to Paris. Here in Toulouse andoronicallyeven tho' it is a tr...

Vielha

Headed back into mountains again today and away for 6 hours, I was away with the birds so to speak, the mountains are so peaceful and may have more in common with the ocean than I thought, respect for both goes without saying-I did make the snow line again today and have the pics to show.
Language, is a drawback, very very little English, mostly Catalan, some Spanish and less French but one Aussie word has managed to infiltrate... Have a guess? Here's a clue.. Footwear, you got it, the dreaded Ugg Boot has no Fashion Predator here and there they sitting proudly in the shop window, they may become the McDonalds of the footwear industry but at a slightly higher price(in both senses of the word)
Hit the road tomorrow and it will be adios to Catalunya and Bonjour to France - I think the run off in Presidential Election is taking place this week-end. TV show huge celebration in Madrid for Real but little coverage here..I can't manage to stay away from politics

In the mountains

In Vielha, and here in room on 5th floor sitting on you know what and had window open and staring me in the face were the snow covered mountains. I had to grab the camera and capture a wonderful moment and what I need now is a caption- sitting on the dunny and....
Today
My pics were more hard to come by and got up to the snow line after a 3 hour walk, there was a snow slip and it took everything in its wake. I rather foolishly decided to proceed further and it was akin to walking on a meringue pie. The scenery, the beauty and peace was heavenly and a leisurely walk back completed a most amazing 5 hour walk. Collingwood won't be the only high flyers with this high altitude training.

More
Hard

Cooking class

No, it's not a typing, but if someone had said to me a few weeks ago that I would be doing cooking class in Barcelona, my reply would have been more chance of me appearing in Faulty Towers. We prepared tapas, paella and naturally the sangria was an ongoing side dish-it was great fun and got everyone mixing and laughing.

Barcelona certainly has the "Mañana manana" feel and maybe this is what inspires all the artisans that find home here. There are art pieces everywhere even at the Olympic Stadium but the greatest art for your truly is to be found at the Nou Camp

Today it was a four hour bus ride into the Pyrenees and it is from a little town called Vielha that I make this post. Snow is almost gone and so is the busyness of the town. The beauty coming through the mountains was breath taking, one tunnel was 5.4 Kim's long.
So still in Catalunya and enjoying the warmth and friendship of it's people. IF you get the chance do a quick Google on Antonio Gaudi - possibly the most famous and inventive of the region's past inhabitants but also the most colorful - check him out

Mes que un club.

Walking Tour Barcelona's gothic old city

It was like home a church on every corner each giving a wonderful glimpse of times past. The Romans also thought it was a good place to stay and their temple is a whole 19 meters above sea level (highest point). Piscasso's haunts were also pointed out which led us to some of the Spanish Civil War Sites. The only evidence of Spanish flags are only to be found on Official buildings. Catalans with their own language see themselves as separate to the rest of Spain and Barcelona is catalunya's largest and most controversial city and here in the ramble is a city that never goes to sleep.
Food for the mind but now food for the body! Tonight cooking lesson for a Spanish meal, make and drink paella,sangria and tapas. I will head out and work up appetite