Ireland- Day 8

Today was our last day. We were packed pretty much the night before so we could get an early start for the airport. We knew it wasn’t that far of a distance. The commute ended up taking us about 25 minutes. Debbie dropped me at the airport while she drove across the parking lot to drop off the car rental. We later met inside after I had checked in and saw her looking for her check-in area. She was at a different counter as she was on her way to Italy. After we settled we headed for some last minute shopping at the duty free shop. I picked up a few small souvenirs. I especially liked the curved glass-front pins with shamrocks inside. They were about 1 ¼ “ diameter and were interesting  reminders of Ireland.
             We then found our way around the airport to where Customs was and sat down to wait for our flights to be called out. It was very official looking since 9/11. Each passport was scanned individually and a sense of anonymity appeared impossible. I felt a sense of safeness as I later walked through the gates towards my flight. However, who really knows if the world is any safer than it was? I think Americans are mostly naïve in comparison to terrorist activity experienced across the globe.
             My thoughts regarding the rigid customs inspectors quickly changed as I focused on a large group of American soldiers [maybe 30] with their uniforms on their way to the Middle East walk through the terminal. I thought they were on their way because their faces seemed like faces of weary travelers, not like the faces of those who had left a war torn area. I remember thinking that the people in the terminal were very quiet as the soldiers passed through. I did smile as they passed through. I remember being very aware that we were not back home in America because the soldiers passing through would have received some recognition along their journey. However, as I noticed throughout our trip, we were not welcome in some places, maybe because we were Americans. I believe we were good tourists, not loud, or demanding. We were gracious and provided nice tips for service provided and tried to blend in the best we could. Anyhow, I was proud to see our soldiers in this foreign land. There is a poignant video on YouTube which was recently featured on Fox News. It was done by a 15 year old girl. I even checked it on Snopes to see if it was a hoax. It is not. Go to YouTube and search for Lizzie Palmer and her video “Remember Me” I tried to include the link but it failed. 
             My flight was called first. Debbie and I said our goodbyes as we were not sure when we would meet again. I was glad to have a nice coffee before I departed the terminal. I sat on the plane with a woman and we shared a few laughs as well as a couple glasses of wine.  I then asked our male steward for a coffee. He smiled and reached beneath his cart to give me another small bottle of wine, compliments of him and he also gave me a coffee. As I departed the plane, he was near the door and reached over to squeeze me with a big hug. It really caught me off guard but I laughed and told him that he had made my flight. He had a nice personality and talked a great deal with the passengers. The woman I sat with told me she had the same experiences of feeling singled out as an American , that she had never experienced before. She said she was glad I mentioned it because she said she thought it was all in her mind. Anyhow other than a few bad experiences ,we both had nice trips. I will include a few pictures from the trip that you may enjoy. Thanks for reading!


Giant's Causeway                                                   A Day in The Bog-pile of peat drying outside

 
Headford-Donaghpatrick Cemetery                                      Ferry in Tarbert crossing the Shannon

     
West Galway- Connemara Region-Oyster Beds

     
Killarney national Forest-Jaunting Cart ride              

                        
Interesting cemetery on peninsula in Co Kerry                     Forgotten tombs Co Kerry