MY WOW MOMENT IN IRELAND

Post tour, Rick Steves Europe (our tour company) sends out a survey that is quite extensive.  They seem to really care what went well and what didn't, asking for feedback on the itinerary, the tour guide, the accommodations, the food, etc etc.  And he asks overall, "What was your WOW moment?"

It's a fun question.  Out of a two-week jam-packed itinerary, is it possible to isolate one standout moment?  I'm sitting here now, back home for a month and a day post tour, having looked at my travel diary once or twice in the last few weeks, looked at photos with Hub a couple of times, but I'm stopping myself from pouring back over it all to come up with my "WOW" moment for Rick's survey.  I'm relying on my brain to bring something to the fore that organically stands out -- with no journal entry or photo reminder to prompt me.

It has to be the Falconry.  Our group was dropped off at the grounds of the Ashford Castle, formerly a real castle and now an elegant hotel and country estate in County Mayo on beautifully manicured grounds.  We walked a gravel path through the forest and gardens for about 15 minutes to arrive at the Falconry where birds of prey are housed, cared for by naturalists who were remarkably devoted to honoring these majestic creatures for what they are -- not for what they might provide a tourist.  The birds are not trained to perform, per se.  They are rewarded for being the birds they are which means they are given dead mouse parts when they fly back to the naturalist.  They like the easy-pickin's of relative captivity so they do learn to come back.  But they could just as easily decide not to.

We were shown several of the birds, with the naturalist explaining their features and habits.  Then we were led to an open area where we each were given the opportunity to don the traditional leather glove, protecting our arm and hand from the deadly talons of the Harris Hawk accompanying us.  The hawk flew free through the trees until we came to the appointed spot on the trail.  Each person who wanted the experience stepped forward one at a time, assuming the position of holding the arm out to the side signaling to the hawk that a little mousie treat was forthcoming should she decide to fly in to grab it.  She always did.  

When it was my turn, I felt perfectly at ease.  I held out my arm and with surprising ease and near total silence, she glided from treetop to just above the ground, then upward to my outstretched arm, where she landed with effortless and nearly weightless grace.  She sat there looking about, sometimes looking right into my eyes, until she was ready to fly away again and off she went.  It was a brief moment, but such a stunning experience.  It was my WOW moment for sure.  

We saw and did so much and there are many things I will joyfully revisit in my memories, but other tour highlights that come mind right now, again without benefit of prompting my memory (photos below): The Library at Trinity College in Dublin, our nurturing and beautiful accommodations in Dingle at the Castlewood House, our spontaneous "just us" bluff trek overlooking the Blasket Islands near Dingle, and the hike at the Giants Causeway on the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland.

I am grateful for our trip. I have mostly fond memories now since the hard parts seem to fade after a bit.  I am recovered from my weariness.  And grateful we came home healthy, having spent our entire Covid-caution budget on being in close proximity to so many people -- mostly in restaurants where masking was not possible.

Here's an admission: we laughed at our son (behind his back, I'm ashamed to say) when before we left he said to us rather wistfully, "I miss Dublin."  We thought it a silly thing to say, he having only visited there once briefly.  But now....well, I sorta see his point.  I had heard so many nearly swoon-worthy reviews of Ireland from so many people that I was skeptical it could ever live up to the hype.  And I'm not sure it really did, hype is hype after all.  And yet.  There is something...something...something about Ireland that seeps in and stays. 

 Slainte, Ireland.  I think I miss you.

At least that's the view from here...©

Photo Credit:  Hub, Official Trip Photographer