Ancient Sites

The student group left Dublin today, and us with them. We headed north to three truly ancient sites: Newgrange, Knowth, and Tara.  It's hard to know exactly how they were used or what the geometric carvings in the stone signify, but it's clear that they were important sacred sites and burial mounds. They were all built at least 5,000 years ago (they're older than Stonehenge in England or the pyramids in Egypt).  They were constructed during the "New Stone Age," when stone, wood, and human strength were their only tools (no wheel, no horse, no metal). They likely used the river to transport the giant "kerbstones" that form the perimeter 50 miles from their source, but then had to get them to the top of the hill.  The group went all the way inside Newgrange, which is still water tight, and was built with such precision that the rising sun around the winter solstice still shines down the passageway. I would have liked more time at each site to bask in the ancient power of the places.

Finally out of the city today, we saw various breeds of cows, hundreds of fluffy sheep, miniature and full-size horses, free-roaming dogs, goats, and probably more creatures.

Another thing we noticed: signs at "petrol" stations along the way tell us that one litre of gasoline costs something in the vicinity of 1 euro and 53 cents to €1.61. There are 4 liters per gallon. Converting to US dollars at today's exchange rate, that's $8.32 per gallon on the low end. So quit yer belly-achin', as my dad would say. Or, depending on your view of things, thank the US government for subsidizing the cost of your fuel.

We're now on the outskirts of Spiddal, County Galway, at Park Lodge Hotel, home of the CSB/SJU study abroad program. Even with a 13-year hiatus, it feels very familiar and like a homecoming to be back here. John Paul was kind enough to set us up with a big room in the closed-for-the-season hotel on site. We had dinner in Cottage 7 with Anna, Rick, and the girls. The PLH now has (apparently spotty) access to the internet, a significant upgrade since 13 years ago, so I got a chance to post now before climbing into what may be the only queen-size bed of the trip. Many of our rooms will have two twins, something we just don't see in the US.

Tomorrow will be a day trip with Anna and the girls in a car--likely the only chance for a leisurely car ride on the trip too, discounting taxis.