September 16, 2009 - Catching Up

Well over the past few days we have not been able to blog. The castle that we stayed at had internet access for 1 euro a minute (which equates to $1.50 a minute). So for those of you who know me, I am NOT paying that much for internet. If it is not buy one get one free, or half price...well forget it we do not need it LOL.

The castles, however, continue to be wonderful. The most recent castle had a most interesting attraction...Authur an Irish wolfhound. He appeared to be the mascot for the castle. Although rather large, it was very gentle. He had full run of the castle and the guest loved him.

Upon leaving the castle, we were flagged down by an older (60ish) Irish women and her family (son and grandson as it would appear). They simply stated - "a part of the bumper is hanging down." We seem to have knocked the lower bumper off the car some how. Easy enough, it is snap on so Steven gets out and snaps it on. Well as the story would end, the lady declared we should simply remove it and put it in the "boot" and started laughing. Then her son stated "mom the Americans call it the trunk." She corrected herself and said, oh yes...the trunk. Then readily declared "and you know you guys have that one wrong right?" Of which I simply pointed out to the lady...of course we realize that we are wrong, as we are younger. She loved it. Americans ONE...Ireland ZERO. The Irish are very friendly people.

Steven and I drove to Dingle, the country side continues to be beautiful....but I have to be honest, there are only so many lakes, oceans, and mountains one can see....so now we have committed to passing the rest of the time to shopping for local artist and items from Ireland.

Major things to know over the past few days:
We experienced an Ireland traffic jam (picture of the day)
We decided to eat some American food, pizza hut. It seems eating American food here is a luxury. By the time the four of us had some pasta and a pizza the bill came to 109 euros (about $150.00). In short, if we are going to eat at those prices we will continue to eat at nicer places.

Steven and I made our way up the Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. Well we are not sure which will regret the decision more....kissing the stone gives you the gift of gab. A fast note here - Queen Elizabeth used the term blarney and introduced it into the English language. Back to the story, Steven kissing the stone brings up a great story of when Steven and I first met. We were on our way to Greece and I flew to Jersey to meet his mom and aunt. We were sitting at lunch and I asked both of them...."is there anything I should know about Steven." Their reply:

- HIGH maintenance (remember what I said about a suitcase for shoes)
- Never ask him about a movie. He will tell you the first word of the movie all the way to the last word of the movie. (so him kissing the stone might be the bigger issue) hahahaha. Either way, I kind of like him.....so I will keep him.

I digress, we did find a gallery for local artist...we got a very nice painting. We pretty much will be able to pay for the rooms with the tax returns that we will get at the airport. Between all of us, we will have to take on a second job.

Mom and Dave continue to be troopers on the trip....they have both declared Ireland to be their favorite country of all the ones they have traveled (and once again that is an extensive list).

We are completing our final day in Ireland (tomorrow) by driving from Cork to Dublin. So far the stats for the trip:

Total Moving Time: 54 hours 40 minutes

Moving Average Speed: 51.6 km/h

Max Speed: 134 km/h

Total km: 2822.3

Total Miles: 1753.7

September 12, 2009- Cliffs of Moher

Today was a relaxing day. We drove to the Cliffs of Moher and took a boat out to see the cliffs (picture of the day). While waiting on the boat, we met some really nice people from Maryland and another couple from Atlanta. The cliffs were amazing....one of the main sites that people come to see in Ireland. I often times like to be adventurous and the associated picture with this blog note will show such. I decided to walk over the rocks to the ocean....well a big wave came crashing in and drenched me. Steven insisted on taking pictures the entire time I was at the ocean and simply stated "I knew it was going to happen."

Prior to going to the Cliffs of Moher we did drive through the Burren, a national park, and found the portal tomb that was used as a tomb for 33 individuals (all dating back to 3000BC) in the neolithic era. There was a child buried outside the tomb about 10000 years later. Of course the tomb dates prior to the pyramids in Egypt.

Once completing the above, we made out way to the central part of Ireland and visited Clonmacnoise. This is one of the holiest sites in England (not that it impacts Steven and I), and is a site for annual pilgrimages (of which was this week). We were able to appreciate the archetecture of the high crosses (main reason for visit) and the historical impact that the community had on the Ireland.

We made our way to the Turoe Stone....The stone has been placed inside a temprary structure, so we did not get the best view, but it was a nice.

The plans for tomorrow...sleep in until about 0830 and then walk the grounds of the castle we are staying at before we check out. After checking out we will make our way to the Galway for shopping (Galway crystal and local artist will be our main focus). After a few hours of shopping, we will make our way to Tralee just on the pass to Dingle peninsula. We will be staying at a castle there as we tour the Dingle peninsula, Lakes of Killarney, and Ring of Kerry over the next two days.

September 11, 2009 - Aran Island and Ballynahinch Castle

Today we started our travels off by driving through Connemara National Park from Westport. After about an hour of driving we were at the port town of Rossaveel to catch our ferry to Inishmore (the largest of the Aran Islands). We took the ferry for about 50 minutes to reach the island. After hiring a driver, we started on our way. There were several interesting facts that we found out as we toured the island, first it has a primary layer of limestone which covers the majority of the island. After centuries of the locals placing seaweed and sand on "patches" of land, there are now spots that have soil and can grow grass. The majority of the island has rock walls that, on average, date back to 1000 years. With that being said, the island is estimated to contain 4000 miles of rock walls. Within the last 30 or so years, the average drop out rate for school was about 80% and many of the males would "go fishing" after dropping out (tourism and fishing are the primary industry). Population of the island is 800 people. OH one fast fact to know....if a fence were to "fall" since the fences often times serve as property lines, the way of determining who should fix the fence....if the rock falls on your side...you fix it. The major crime of the island, drunk and disorderly. Number of police for the island....ONE for the week.....two to three for the weekend.

Major sites of the days...

SEAL -there is a seal colony on Inishmore. We were able to see three or four and then one greeted the ferry as we pulled into the mainland.

SWAN - Other nice folklore, you are not able to kill swans in Ireland. The King of Lir loved his children so much that his wife became jealous. She took the children to the waters of Ireland and turned them to swans. Due to her guilt she bestowed on them the gift of song and the king decreed that no swan in Ireland should be killed.

Cottages with thatch roofing - located on the Aran Island. One was 300 years old and had remained in the family.

Leprechaun houses - they dot the Aran island....you are driving along and you spot a small house in which a leprechaun lives.

Steven continues to want to just eat things on the side of the road. He is obsessed with raspberries and has for some reason got it in his head every red berry that is on the side of the road is a raspberry. I have taken to slapping his hands, as I am sure his mother had to do when he was doing something he should not have....my biggest fear....he will eat a wild berry that is poisonous. After many lectures and agreeing to paying him with hugs...he has decided he will not eat the wild berries....OH one more fact about this...they are actually unripe blackberries, but he insist they are raspberries.

Driving to the hotel, another castle located in Connemara....we have discovered something new....not only on this side of Ireland are the roads bumpy....the roads have been turned over to not only the sheep, but also HUGE cows. I mean you are driving along and...SMACK right there in the road is a cow....the cow simply chews his grass and looks up at you and declares "where did you come from." Then simply moves at its own pace. Your role in this whole thing....sit, sit, sit, sit, wait, wait, wait, cow off road....hit gas.

We had the most excellent dinner at the castle tonight....rule of thumb for dinning here....if they do not have it on the menu and your order it...they make it. The is the castle to be at.

September 10, 2009 - Amazing Sites Continue

We woke up around 0715 and started getting ready for breakfast. The castle ended up being a great overnight stay....when we woke up there was a light fog that covered most of the grounds....once again it was a beautiful site.

After having breakfast, we drove about 2 hours to the island of Achill, this is the largest of the irish islands and has a population of about 2700 (down from 6,000). To enter the island we crossed over a small bridge and took the Atlantic Coast drive. First stop, a small graveyard at Kildavnet. The graveyard contained plots with multiple individuals in each plot. Sites included a burial site of 31 individuals that drown in Clew Bay and ruins of a small church. Just past the graveyard was the Tower of Kildavnet, which was the house known locally as Grace O'Malley's Castle (a legendary pirate queen). We made our way along the coast to breath taking views and of course more sheep. As we drove around the island, the sheep must have know we were passive....they simply stepped in front of our car and had a scratch....we waited.

After completing the drive through Achill Island, we drove about an hour to Kylemore Abbey (picture of the day). This required us to drive through the Connemara National Park (an absolute must for anyone visiting Ireland). The drive was tedious, but the views were astonishing. To top it off, nestled back at the base of a mountain in the woods was Kylemore Abby. This castle was built by the Henrys and was later passed to the Manchesters (who allowed the abbey to fall in desrepair). After the Manchesters, Benedictine nuns occupied the abbey after being forced to leave Belgium during WWI. My mother loved this place. As we were leaving the abbey a nun passed us in her Saab.

We then made out way to Croagh Patrick, where it is said St. Patrick threw a silver bell off the mountain knocking the she demon Corra from the sky and banishing all the snakes from Ireland. It is said that St. Patrick fasted on the holy mountain for 40 days. Just know if you approach Croagh Patrick from the south the GPS will take you down narrow road number 557 (surely the last of all the roads with grass growing down the middle).

Lesson from today...Dave made the declaration that he "cannot wait" until we got off the road to and from Achill Island. This is simply because the bumps almost made us go airborne.....so what is the lesson for the day, be happy with the one you are with....it could be a whole lot worse (as we have experienced in our travels on the roads here, they can get worse than the one you are on).

Now we are sitting in our nest hotel (Carlton Atlantic Coast) - of which Steven and I somehow ended up with the honeymoon suite. It is very nice, large bathroom, the only room with a private balcony, and a third room for a sitting area. More importantly....the live band is playing folk music in the Bistro and locals are dancing what appears to be traditional Irish dances.

September 09, 2009 - Sheep, backroads, and stalled cars OH MY!

Well things have turned to a sunny spot...we have found our way to the first of the castles that we are staying it. The drive into the grounds was absolutely lovely (mate). We are now sitting in the lobby after a day of travels from Northern Ireland just to the upper southwest portion. A town called Sligo is where we find our accommodations for the night. The lobby is very decadent with a grand wood staircase and a large fireplace. Just off the lobby are two sitting areas and an ornate dinning area. Our room overlooks the grounds. Mom is reading an Irish newspaper (and she declared "these newspapers are wide"), Dave is working on his email, and Steven is playing with his Blackberry. I can hear the hint of Prince music coming from the dinning area as the workers clean up from tonight's dinner.

Our day of travels started with two hour voyage to the western portion of Ireland. The first stop, Slieve League, the highest cliffs in Europe. To make this trip, you must drive up a winding narrow road that will only allow one car either way. The view is spectacular. Folklore would have if that the rocks at the bottom of the small ball of cliffs are call the Devil's chair and table. Mom learned of this while talking to one of the locals. Steven and I walked up a portion of the trail to take in additional scenes....you will see this as the picture of the day. The locals also informed us that when the clouds were low, they would cover a potion of the cliffs and hikers would get lost. As with anything on this vacation, there is a story here....well we got LOST. The GPS could not even find this place. So we decided to play it safe and ask locals as to the exact location....after the second stop, two old ladies watching a wooden boat being moved down the small road in which we were on informed us...."oh no the cliffs are not this way, you must go to the big white building up the road and make a left....once you get there go up the road and there will be lambs, just open the gate and make your way to the cliffs, but close the gate back so the lambs will not get out." First....when did lambs become landmarks, and how would one tell when a lamb has passed the age and becomes a sheep. Lord knows we would have turned on the road with sheep and not lambs.
After completing our visit to Slieve League, we made out way to Belleek to the Belleek Pottery plant. I must say, handmade means handmade at Belleek. We toured the plant and saw the workers painting the pottery. Each individual flower is handmade (often times requiring a lick from the tongue to get the petals to stick together, no jokes here we witnessed it). Anyone that likes Belleek, the time that it takes to make the ornate pieces is not reflected in their prices as far as I am concerned. It was short of amazing. Of course, we had to walk out with at least a piece of pottery (mom bought one also).
Next we were off to the nightly lodging, as you can imagine from the first paragraph, Markree Castle is well worth a stay.
Oh but here we go, we decided to make one last stop for the night....Carrowkeel Cemetery. This is located about 10km from Sligo and are irish passage tombs located at a top of a mountain. So we drive down narrow road number 554 on this trip and turned on to narrow road number 555, of which the GPS just went blank. We had officially came to the end of the earth and the GPS simply stated "stop because I will have anything else to do with this trip you bloody idiots." Oh no, did we listen, not at all....we simply looked at the sign that stated "the roads to the cemetery are narrow, bumpy, and windy and not to be traversed by coach." We all look at each other, awww we are in a car....it did not say not to be traversed by car....we can make it. So off we go...may I say we have not seen such holes, rocks, and sheep crossings in our life. We attempted to stay on grass, but the sheep just kept getting in front of the car. We made our way over the river rock hills and finally ended about 1km at the foot of the mountain. I cannot describe the effort it took to get to this location. The bottom of the car was dragging, and mom and Dave volunteered to get out and ride on the hood in attempt to redistribute weight. Luck would have it that we all made it in the car. Sad part of the story...Steven and I made out way up the hill to the cemetery....5 minutes to walk up the hill....to come down it 20 minutes....and you ask why....never send two guys (one from New Jersey and one from Nashville) up the hills of Ireland....both will get lost (and we did). It took us 20 minutes to find our way out of a 5 minute walk in...we had to follow a family from India to get the right path back.

It turns out getting lost was the least of our troubles....it seems that on the way in gravity was working on our side....on the way out...gravity appeared to not work on our side. The car kicked, sputtered, and came to multiple abrupt stops as I attempted to make our way back up the hills. Finally we had to roll back down the steep hill and give it a running start...upon reaching the summit of the hill I had to push the gas hard....we are not sure if it was the burning of the motor or the tires that we smelled, all we know is we spun and leaped over the hill throwing gravels. The next puddle served as cooling for the car. - THIS is no joke!

This is turning out the be a great trip, the land is beautiful and we have learned to just take what comes. In the end, it will all work out and we are reminded of the saying from the islands "no worries man" and irish luck is with us.

8:45 pm September 08, 2009 - Causway Coast

Our day started out at 0730 - the wind was strong and there was a light rain. We spent the night with the window open and listened to the ocean. We had hoped to take the ferry over to Causeway Coast, but the wind caused the ferries to close. We decided to drive and just enjoy the sites along the way. First, the Causeway Coast is in the northern part of Ireland and contains some of the most visited sites of northern Ireland. Notes to future travelers: once crossing over to Northern Ireland, the Euro is rarely accepted, American credit cards are even accepted on a rare basis....carry the British pound with you.

First stop - Mussenden Temple. This site was absolutely beautiful. Right on the edge of a cliff was this temple that was once used by the Earl of Bristol for a library. As visiting this site, you are able to walk the grounds that contain the ruins of the elaborate home of which the Earl of Bristol built. The temple is the oldest structure (dating to 1785) along the Londonderry coast. After walking to the top of the pasture, and I do mean pasture....mom declared "this was worth the entire trip." She was amazed at the view...on one side you could look and see the ocean and then simply turn and overlook the valley.

We made our way to Giant's Causeway next....this is the site in which lava through a slow cooling process formed columns of rock on the coastline. Legend would have it that the giant, Fin MacCool laid the causeway to provide a path across the sea. the tour guide showed us some amazing rock formations that included the camel that Fin MacCool use to ride (according to legend he called the camel Humphry). We also saw a rock formation that appeared to be an elderly lady making her way up a hill. Legend would state this was a "granny" making her way to the top of the hill to have Bushmill (beer). After the third night of drinking and making much noise, the family turned her to stone - so the legend would have it, if you drink Irish Bushmill you "get stoned."

Final site of the day included the 13th century ruins of Dunlace Castle. The history of the rise and fall of this castle that was perched on the edge of the cliff was nothing short of amazing. The story was told by a family member of the original clan that use to own the castle. Much blood and lives were lost in the multiple times that the castle exchanged hands. Today it is a site of ruins that is absolutely beautiful.

Of course no day would be complete without stopping at a local "pub" to have fish and chips. Yummmm.

Day one - Completed

Well today was a great day. We got an early start to the day and made our way to the airport to get a GPS, which has been a life saver. With that being said, our issues with driving continue. First, to the great sites.

First we drove to the Hill of Tara - this was considered the seat of the Celtic Kings. It was amazing, sitting right behind a small church was large rings as if a spacecraft had made them. As we walked, a statue of St. Patrick was there to welcome us into the Hill of Tara. Sheep were grazing throughout the pasture. Everything was green and beautiful. The Mound of Hostages was literally a mound that appeared to hold prisoners. We made our way to the Stone of Destiny (Liath Fail) and through the old church grave. Locals were very nice and stopped to talk to us. They told us this past weekend a wedding was held at the Hill of Tara. This required the couple to go through a ritual called "holding of hands," meaning the couple took a year and one day to decide if they wanted to get married. They will return to the Hill of Tara in one year. If the wife is pregnant, the man must provide her with sheep and cattle.

Next we drove to Newgrange and Knowth, these were ancient structures that were used for burial rituals. Absolutely amazing. But there is a story here....on the way to Newgrange, the GPS took us the wrong direction. Leading down narrow roads that instead of a white line to separate the lanes of traffic, it was simply a narrow strip of green grass. Once reaching the site, we attempted to park, this required me to back up....WELL issue number one....NEVER back up on a small road....one rock ancient wall almost taken to the ground (car unharmed).....while pulling into the parking space at the site- one pole taken out. I mean we have a car of steal that can not be broken.....WELL we thought. We continued down the road to find the visitor center....just so happens there is another site in Ireland of which all the locals know and all visitors should make a point of avoiding - the locals call it THE HOLE....yes that is right...the city council refuses to fix bad feeder roads....so THE HOLE is a rather large pot hole on the road leading to the visitor center.....ONE back tire- GONE- the rim was bent and immediate flat. Please know Steven and I have never changed a tire....we looked for the On Star button, but one did not exist in our rental.....so we are proud to say....WE changed a tire. Yes, yes...Steven and I change a tire. A local saw us and walked up and simply stated "are you guys okay, do you need some help" and then proceeded to say "ahhhh THE HOLE." As if we should have know about this tourist trap.

You would think this was our first time traveling, when in fact...Between Steven and I we have traveled most of Europe, Russia, South America, the West Indies, etc...it just seems to be our trip of follies.

After seeing the above sites, we made our way 2 hours north to Northern Ireland where we are now relaxing in a beautiful ocean view suite.

Tomorrow we will take the car on a ferry to the north coast (lord knows with our luck, the ferry shall sink).

Monday September 07, 0630 - Reporting in for duty

Well it is Monday and we are ready to get our vacation started. Today we will be driving, YES driving, from Dublin to the the Hill of Tara, Newgrange, and Redcastle.

Hill of Tara, translated into Irish would mean the "Hill of the Kings" and is an archeological complex containing ancient monuments and is considered the seat of the High King of Ireland.

Newgrage, was constructed around 3200 BC and is an ancient burial chamber.

Other sites today include the high crosses of Ireland, the Stone of Destiny, and Scrabo Tower. If memory serves me well, we will also go pass the port in which the Titanic was commissioned (more reading required here).

This is going to be great (minus any international diplomatic rows we may cause due to my driving).

Good day.

Driving on the "wrong" side of the road and lost agenda

Okay let's get this straight, in general Steven and I travel very well together, but today would not have been a fine example of that. We are step synch with each other, if the other one does not think about it...the other one will. So today we landed, to be exact 1.5 hours earlier than scheduled. Steven met a nice man that insisted on talking to him the entire time we were getting our multiple bags of luggage. Of course, when he proceeded to ask Steven "so what is a nice man like you doing in Nashville," it was very evident that he would wink at Steven as we walk away. I can't take him anywhere. Okay okay back to the trip.

The entire time I am getting the car rental, my mother and Steven are insisting we get a GPS device. HOLD UP, what happen to the good ole days when you go on an adventure and use the trusted map - a decision I would all to soon regret.

So important facts to know about driving in Ireland. It actually takes a co-pilot (two to be precise). The primary co-pilot sits besides the pilot and shifts the gears when the pilot pushes the clutch to ensure that all the pilot has to do is stay focused on the road and the second co-pilot ensures that we stay on the "wrong" side of the road. So take the above and apply it to our travels. Ken, me, serving as the pilot (of which having two co-pilots is not easy), my stepdad sitting beside me shifting the gears and performing that task nicely, then Steven sitting in the back saying "wrong" side of the road which really meant the right side of the road (with my mother's help) as we make our way to Center City Dublin. End result of navigating the car with this proven technique - only ONE wrong turn down the "right" way into oncoming traffic, hitting four curbs, and being honked at three times. Overall a great success I would say. I encourage anyone to try it sometime. Oh did I mention we did all of this on the very day there was a football match in the city - and the Irish love their football, seems not a one of them stayed at home.

One problem, in putting all our things in the shuttle at the airport....the trusted notebook (more of a bible) that has all the details of our trip, including reservations....left in the airport buggy. We had to have it, so back to the airport we go. By the time we reached the airport, the notebook, which is very well put together I should say, was in the hands of security and was being admired in their break room. Steven walked in the break room and everyone looked at him in utter awe and stated "you do not have kids do you."

Back on the road to Center City- remember with out a GPS. Total hours to find the Hilton (the correct one) in Dublin - FOUR. I say correct, because we walked into two Hiltons asking for help to get us to our Hilton. I am sure by the time we arrived at the correct Hilton the front desk was thinking "ahhh so here are the Americans." I mean there are no roads marked. We about ended up with a nice police escort (they did escort us down two roads).

So here I sit in the dark typing this blog, Steven is sleeping (as I am sure he is worn out) and I am excited for what the next day holds. I am not sure mom and Dave will come out of their hotel room and meet us tomorrow. Mom did walk in the hotel and said "I am not leaving."

Oh by the way - did you know it takes three toothbrushes for a two week trip. That is exactly what Steven packed. So now take that and multiply it by clothes. If we would have wrecked, there would have been clothes all over the streets of Dublin.

Mission critical. Well it is 0630 and we have not packed. Steven and I decided we would go to bed and get a good nights rest and pack this morning. As any good story would have it, I am sure that we will forget something. As far as I am concerned the only things needed: passport, international driving permit, US drivers license, a good book for the flight and credit cards. I tend to be a very relaxed traveler when on vacation. If we forget it, we buy it kind of deal. Everything else is a bonus.

Steven happens to think a lot differently than I. For him items of absolute necessity: shoes (and I mean a lot of them) and no telling how many changes of clothes. The first time we traveled together Steven had an entire suitcase dedicated to shoes. By the time we leave, there will be not one shirt left in this house. We will have packed all our personal belongings as if we were moving and never coming back. This goes directly back to momma diva's #3 concern.....the car being big enough to hold the luggage. She is aware of how Steven packs. But, we love him so we deal. He has list upon list with check marks, diagrams, and hidden messages on items of value for this trip that must make it into the packing ritual.

Ireland- Land of the leprechauns - Here we come

After much delay in actually taking a holiday, Steven and I are off to Ireland for two weeks. Of note, my mother - diva momma- and my stepdad will be joining us for this trip. Follow us as we drive around the island and experience the land of the redheads.







Momma diva's concern - #1. Driving on the "wrong" side of the road, of which they have done many times in their travels around the world. #2. I like to have her pay for everything (she is retired, but went back to work for one week to bring the bucks to Ireland hehehe). #3. Ensuring that the car is big enough for all the luggage.

Schedule of events include:

Day One - Dublin to Londonderry via Belfast.
Sites: Hill of Tara, Newgrange, Monasterboice, Scrabo Tower, Lough Neaugh

Day Two - Explore Northern Ireland.
Sites: Mussenden Temple, Giant Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge.

Day Three - Londonderry to Sligo.
Sites: Slieve Leauge, Donegal, Belleek.

Day Four - Sligo to Westport.
Sites: Achill Island, Croagh Patrick, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park.

Day Five - Westport to Galway
Sites: Aran Island, Spanish Arch.

Day Six- Galway
Sites: The Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Clonfert, Clonmacnoise, Tureo Stone

Day Seven - Galway to Killarney
Sites: Beehive huts of Fahan, Dingle

Day Eight- Explore Killarney
Sites: Lakes of Killarney, Ring of Kerry

Day Nine - Killarney to Cork
Sites: Blarney Stone and other sites of surrounding area.

Day Ten - Explore Cork
Sites: Drombeg Stone Circle, Baltimore, Mizen Head.

Day Eleven - Cork to Dublin
Sites: Waterford, Browne’s Hill Dolmen

Day Twelve - Fly Home.

So hold on to your wigs, false eyelashes, and enjoy the ride. We start at 1055 tomorrow. Come join us. We will post as technology access allows.

Maith an lá

The King of Pop laid to rest.

Michael was one of my childhood icons that had a significant impact on my life. Throughout the years, I have always been impressed with his kidness and desire to just make the world a better place. No matter the controversy that surrounded him, his contribution to society as an artist will be long lived.

Michael, I hope you realized that although you did not have a childhood, your music and soul was embedded in the childhood of millions. You made us dance, dream, and imagine through your artistry. RIP.