It's so nice to be back
After a bit of a journey we are back in Westport again. We flew from Orlando to Iceland and from there to Dublin. As has been our habit for the last couple of years, we caught the train from Dublin's Heuston Station and got off one stop before Westport (which is the end of the line) in Castlebar. We hire our car (yes, it's carhire, not auto rental as in the States) from a small outfit - Casey Carhire. They always take good care of us and we don't have to pay the additional fees you would if you picked it up at the airport. Plus, it's nice to not have to get off the plane and jump into a car for the three hour drive from Dublin to Westport. The trains are modern, comfortable and have good free Wi-Fi. We left Orlando at 7 p.m. Sunday and got to our cottage at 5 p.m. Monday. Keep in mind that Ireland is five hours ahead of Florida time, so it wasn't 22 hours of traveling, it was 17. Still...
We unpacked and headed to Madden's Bistro at the Clew Bay Hotel, owned, as I'm sure you know, by our dear friends Darren Madden and his wife Maria Ruddy. They're out of town, gone to fetch Maria's mother Brig (pronounced Breeg -soft G), who at 90 had gone off to holiday in Spain. She's a truly indomitable woman who still works a daily schedule at the hotel she and her husband started 70 years ago. She counts the cash each day and throws the bank bag under her arm and goes off to make the deposit. She stands 4 foot-10 and there's not a thief or blackguard who would have the temerity to take her on.
But, we were greeted at Madden's by our good friend, the lovely and sweet Pawel Sadowski, and enjoyed a bowl of their fine chowder and homemade brown bread - a new, and surprisingly even better, recipe. Just don't touch the can't-be-bested scone recipe, ok? We finished off with a slice of apple pie with warm custard and whipped cream, along with a cappuccino. We then went home and collapsed.
This morning we met up with Ronan McGreevy from Westport Self Storage to pick up the many things we leave behind - my golf clubs and golf shoes, a number of polo shirts, slacks, sweaters, socks, a hair dryer, two pairs of shoes, a good fry pan, a drip coffee maker, travel coffee mugs, a foldable clothes dryer (for those oh-so-rare rainy days when we can't hang clothes out to dry), a clock radio, a couple of pint and wine glasses - in short, a whole bunch of things that improve our stay in little but significant ways. We really do settle in.
Then off to O'Connors SuperValu to stock the kitchen. Food can be really inexpensive here - no need to buy products labeled "Organic." The European Union enforces strict guidelines as to food and most of the additives that we concern ourselves with in the States are not allowed in the food. Fresh fish especially can be quite reasonable. I had occasion to buy some haddock at Publix a few weeks ago and spent about $16.99 a pound. In O'Connors today, I could have gotten a kilo for the same price - 2.2 pounds. And no need to put a "Never Frozen" sign on the fish - I'm sure it was pulled out of the water yesterday or today - Clew Bay is only a few miles away, and the cold waters of the Atlantic are only 25 miles away from Westport. If you like fresh berries - blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries - you'd be in heaven here. Three times the quantity we're used to for the same price.
After having a bit of lunch, I headed down to play a few holes at Westport Golf Club. I bought an overseas membership this year - quite reasonable - and I can play unlimited golf for no additional charge (except all the money that goes from my wallet to Padraic's hand in our wagers). I just played six holes today - the sixth, ninth, and eighteenth greens go past the clubhouse (and there's a wooded path to the clubhouse after the thirteenth), so it's easy to play a non-traditional number of holes. And one just does not use a "buggy" here (a golf cart). Not unless you're extraordinarily hobbled or a fat, lazy Yank. I can't hide the fat part, but I'm trying to hide the lazy... And, in a very good sign, I started my golf in Ireland this year with a birdie. A strong drive down the middle, a crisp 9-iron eight feet right of the pin, and a firm and confident putt into the cup. Now Please don't tell Padraic - he's certain to angle for some strokes. Click here to go to the WGC website. Be sure to watch the brief video.
We'll get to see Marion and Padraic tomorrow. Up for dinner at their place and a chance, perhaps, to meet up for coffee in the morning. It will be a lovely thing to see these dear people again.
I shall leave you with a few pictures taken this evening down by Rosmoney Pier.
