Today has to be my favorite day of this trip so far!
We had beautiful weather, with a cool breeze, extraordinary clouds, and gorgeous landscape.
Our first stop was Hill of Tara, with its thousands of years history, steeped in mystery from earlier ages and their rituals and myths. It truly is a magical place!
Photographs don't capture the grand, sweeping views. From this "hill", you can see several counties and the mountains that delineate Northern Ireland from the Republic.
From here, we wound around pastures and small towns to reach Lough (pronounced "low") Crew (http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/Heritage/HeritageSites/LoughcrewCairns/). This 5,000 year old site required a steep path to the top, where "cairns" -- enclosed, human-built caves -- were constructed at the top of the hill. No one really knows how or why it was built, but the precision of its structure is incredible.
My favorite quote from our guide Keith: "Mind your step. The grass can be a bit slippy."
More breath-taking views!
Even the panoramic photos don't do them justice... The was a lightness to the place and I feel rejuvenated from being outside, in nature.
We had lunch at a cafe, then made our way to Trim Castle. The roads were even more narrow, winding and lurching with potholes as well as the rise and fall of a road in the hills. I know several had to take Dramamine!
The castle was where the movie Braveheart was filmed. Built in the 1200's it still holds the splendor and impressiveness of the original structure.
Tomorrow we have presentations, starting with mine on Complementary, Alternative & Integrative Therapies. I've got some additions to make this evening.
Loving Ireland,
Suzan
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