Clearly, our flight is cancelled
Just after getting dropped off in the middle of nowehere, Ireland
Fastnet Rock, most southern point of Ireland, 8 km off the coast
Maggs and I at the Beacon outlook point
On our 2nd night in Cork City, we hear that there has been a volcanic eruption in Iceland and that flights are beginning to be cancelled. We shortly find out that our flight is one of them. At first, we didn't realize that it was such a serious problem, and figured that everything would be sorted out and we would be in Amsterdam just a day late. Definitely not.
Panic ensued. What were we going to do if we're stuck here?
Then Maggie, my roommate at the time and travel buddy, decided to look up her distant relatives who were living about a 3 hour bus ride away. Best phone call she made in her life.
Maggie: "Hi, you don't know me, but my name is Margaret and my grandmother was your husband's cousin."
Sweetest Old Irish Lady: "Oh my, you're stuck because of the volcano! Why haven't you called us sooner! Take the 11:05am bus tomorrow morning and I will pick you up!"
Simple as that. And this is how we ended up living on an Irish Cow Farm in Skibbereen for 7 days. (In our own house on the property, might I add).
What was initially a very frustrating experience turned very quickly into the most memorable trip I have had since being in France. We saw so many beautiful things thanks to Pat, Mary and their 2 sons and daughter who drove us all the around the area for a week.
We learned how to Irish folk dance, ran in a field with the cows, drank fresh milk in our tea, took a boat ride to fastnet rock, drank real Guinness and saw so many amazing views that the pictures cannot do them justice.
After 7 days with this wonderful family, we took 3 busses to get across to the east coast of Ireland, then a 19 hour long ferry ride followed by two trains from northwestern France all the way back to Lyon...only 38 hours after leaving Skibbereen.
And I am now writing this while alone in my apartment since Maggie has now moved back to California. I will be here for another 3 weeks and then it's homeward bound for me as well :) Althought I will be sad to leave, I am certainly looking forward to seeing everyone at home.
See you soon!
