“May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you’re going and the insight to know when you’re going too far.” Irish Proverb
Tuesday the 26th, Lexi had to work at the newspaper, so the four of us (Amanda, Kenzie, Karen Ann and I) piled into our beat up rental car and headed to Waterford. I checked the rubber edging on the wheel well and, although loose, it seemed secure enough. Didn’t want to be flying down the thoroughfare and have a chunk of car fly off and smack someone else’s car!
So off we went. After a few stressful left turns and trying to figure out whether the red light or green arrow on the traffic lights were ours, we were almost out of city centre and onto the thoroughfare, when Amanda yelled, “Oh my God – the rubber thingy is about to come off!” I look out the left side view mirror and see a 3 foot chunk of 2 1/2” wide rubber edging flapping STRAIGHT OUT PERPENDICULAR to the car. I yell, “I have to stop!” and pull over to the nearest open space to the left near some houses. “We need some duct tape!” Just then we realize there are 4 young Irish gentlemen doing some kind of construction on the house right next to us. It’s like a gift from the Irish Gods! I say, “Maybe they have duct tape?” Karen Ann says, “Kenzie, get your pretty little self out there and ask them!” Kenzie responds, “No! I’m not getting out,”. Karen Ann then looks in the back and says, “Amanda- go ask them if they have duct tape!” “Oh, no, I’m not doing it!” So Karen Ann says, “Oh for Gods sake!” And reluctantly climbs out of the car and goes over to one of them and says, very sweetly, “Do you guys have any duct tape?” They look at each other and at us sitting in the car and he says, “Duct tape?” She explains that the rubber piece is coming off and flapping out from the side of the car (like 3 feet out – almost another car width for a typical Irish car.). He says, “Yeah, I might.” And proceeds to walk to a car about 3 cars away and comes back with — that’s right! Feckin’ DUCT TAPE!!! AND, he actually came over to the car and duct taped the rubber thing back onto the car. Amanda was hanging out and he was saying something about he might be taping the back door shut and she might have to crawl to the other side to get in and out. We thanked him profusely and we could see his friends in the background pointing and laughing at us. When he left, I had to get way over to get into the lane to the thoroughfare. Karen Ann and Kenzie were saying “When the light changes, floor it, because you have to beat this guy next to us!” Then, remembering that the car we rented is a hybrid and basically shuts off every time we stop, Kenzie yells, “Nanny, start the car!” The light changes and I floor it only to go no where. You can’t floor a hybrid – it needs a second to start up. Fortunately, the gentleman in the car next to me waved me into the lane and we were back on the road to Waterford. The whole experience was ridiculously hilarious and we all laughed so hard, we couldn’t breathe and we had tears in our eyes.
The rest of the trip to Waterford was pretty uneventful. It was another long drive – about 2 hours. We found the Waterford Crystal Factory and when we got in a tour was just beginning! We joined the tour and learned all about the way Waterford Crystal is made. Each piece is literally blown and cut and smoothed by individual artists. It takes 8 years of apprenticeship to become a master artist. There are no such things as seconds. It a piece does not meet the high standards, it is destroyed and melted back down to start over again. After the tour we went to the showroom and bought some crystal pieces and I got a beautiful necklace that I can’t wait to wear.
By now it was lunch time and we wanted something other than Pub food. We were looking for a pizza place that we googled, but on the way there, Kenzie found another restaurant — Italian! It was really cute and we had pizza and garlic pizza (basically like pizza sticks only round). It was so delicious!
We headed back to Dublin (another 2 hour drive), but we were so relieved to see that the excellent duct tape job that our Irish friend did for us held up for the entire trip, that there we’re no complaints. We arrived in Dublin just as Lexi was getting off work, so we drove by and picked her up then drove her to her apartment. I went up with her and met two of her roommates. Her little bedroom and bathroom reminded me of a cruise cabin, but the common living area and kitchen were pretty good sized. We all went to dinner at O’Niells Pub (except Amanda who was very tired because she hadn’t slept the night before) where the service was like a hof brau — you selected an entree (meatloaf, ribs, bangers, chicken, etc.) then added any side you wanted — such as three different kinds of potatoes including mash; carrots, cauliflower mash, gravy, and others. It was delicious! We were quite tired after another long day, so we headed back to our rooms for an early night. Lexi headed off for a little more Pub crawling with her roommates — ah, to be young!
Duct Tape! The answer to every question!
Amanda holds a crystal football trophy at Waterford Crystal Factory.
KarenAnn, Kenzie and Amanda on the tour.
Every cut done free hand and by sight (they are NOT premarked)!
These specialized pieces are actually hand carved. The crystal in back, not the beauties in front!
After the factory and dinner, a stop for ice cream.
Views as we walk back to the hotel.
Safari So Good 