Wilkommen-Failte

For those of you that don’t know- One of my favorite things to do is research. I’m sure thats part of why I couldn’t bring myself to do a guided tour of Ireland. For months I have researched B&B, Castles, Airlines and car rentals. I hate surprises especially if not mostly when I travel. There is so much that is already out of your control- unless you know how to fly a plane. I dated a pilot once but for some reason we never got around to teaching me how to fly- although we spent a lot of time in his planes…I digress. As I was saying I researched the shit out of every decision I made and nucking nothing was left to chance.

First choice was airline- I knew I didn’t want to fly British as I read some pretty bad things about connecting flights in Heathrow, besides their “premium economy” seemed to be an economy seat with a curtain around it. Instead I decided on Lufthansa…A-mazing.

Check out my first meal spread- its missing the two very generous pours of white wine and my post coital- I mean post-dinner Bailey’s

So Lufthansa gets a freaking A+ from me- besides the food the seat was comfortable and the entertainment selection was out of hand. I never even cracked open my Mac.

Now let’s talk car rental- I really don’t want to get into it cause Im still a little peeved but for the sake of posterity. Did anyone ever see that epidose of Seinfeld when he has to get a rental because his car is in the shop and when he arrives no car. “Anyone can take a reservation…its the holding part thats important” I mean I know I’m pretty and pretty is usually stupid but as per usual these stupid boys are catching me on the day when I’m collecting balls. I got my car except for some reason they messed it up and put everything ON THE WRONG FREAKING SIDE. Ok I could lie to you now and tell you that its not that big a deal…….

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Its fucking nuts!!!! sorry for all the cursing but its required. There might not be a more rational and yet irrational fear of not being able to drive, but there I was in the Hertz airport parking lot frozen in fear. I eventually worked myself out of the car park and around the airport ohh just about 7 times. Thus began the three hour journey to my first B&B in Cork which when you look at the map- go down about 100km I’m right at the tip…oh my god get your mind out of the gutter. Geez!

As my three hour journey on the wrong side of the car, wrong side of the road and wrong side of the world started there was something lurking, I can’t believe I didn’t smell it coming. So náive..again sore subject let’s just say the three hour drive turned into 6hrs and 2o something minutes. There were times on the road I really thought I was going to fall asleep and I started to get so upset that the trip was going wrong already and then I literally just looked to the side of the car and realized, I’m seeing Ireland. The whole point was for me to see it and the detours that caused me to lose more time helped me gain new perspective.

Oh and right now I am laying down in my beautiful four poster bed looking out at the Dunmanus Bay- no I will not tell you what I’m wearing. I mean my gosh this is a travel blog sir…stop asking these things of me…ok fine if you insist I’m wearing the t-shirt my sister changed me into the other day that I might have had a little too much to drink- makes me feel she’s here with me. Sofia is here too..

Oiche Mhaith

5 responses to “Wilkommen-Failte”

Santiago Moncada

September 4, 2015 at 12:57 am

Welcome to Solo Traveler. To receive the monthly Newsletter and the mid-month Solo Travel Advisory of deals, please subscribe on your right. Thanks for visiting!

John O’Donohue
Aren’t poetry and travel simply two different modes of exploring the world? Of learning who we are, what we believe and how it all fits together?

When you travel, you find yourself
Alone in a different way,
More attentive now
To the self you bring along,

How could I resist today’s poem. It so casually points to one of the most amazing things about solo travel. You “discover yourself as you discover the world” – a tag line I use at times.

and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart
That lies low at home

I have written about this before; the idea recurs because it is so true and so important. When we are surrounded by family and friends, we are subject to their expectations of us. Our behaviour, even our thoughts, are circumscribed by a desire for acceptance. Traveling solo you have time to discover who you are (what’s really in your heart) when no one is looking.

John O’Donohue, today’s poet, was born in 1956 and died in 2008. An Irish scholar, philosopher, priest and poet, his first published work was “Anam Cara” which holds a wonderful quote for solo travelers:

“When you cease to fear your solitude, a new creativity awakens in you. Your forgotten or neglected wealth begins to reveal itself. You come home to yourself and learn to rest within. Thoughts are our inner senses. Infused with silence and solitude, they bring out the mystery of inner landscape.”

I hope you enjoy today’s Sunday Travel Poem:

For the Traveler

Every time you leave home,
Another road takes you
Into a world you were never in.

New strangers on other paths await.
New places that have never seen you
Will startle a little at your entry.
Old places that know you well
Will pretend nothing
Changed since your last visit.

When you travel, you find yourself
Alone in a different way,
More attentive now
To the self you bring along,
Your more subtle eye watching
You abroad; and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart
That lies low at home:

How you unexpectedly attune
To the timbre in some voice,
Opening in conversation
You want to take in
To where your longing
Has pressed hard enough
Inward, on some unsaid dark,
To create a crystal of insight
You could not have known
You needed
To illuminate
Your way.

When you travel,
A new silence
Goes with you,
And if you listen,
You will hear
What your heart would
Love to say.

A journey can become a sacred thing:
Make sure, before you go,
To take the time
To bless your going forth,
To free your heart of ballast
So that the compass of your soul
Might direct you toward
The territories of spirit
Where you will discover
More of your hidden life,
And the urgencies
That deserve to claim you.

May you travel in an awakened way,
Gathered wisely into your inner ground;
That you may not waste the invitations
Which wait along the way to transform you.

May you travel safely, arrive refreshed,
And live your time away to its fullest;
Return home more enriched, and free
To balance the gift of days which call you.

~ John O’Donohue ~

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1. melissamoncada
  
  September 4, 2015 at 7:52 am
  
  Damn tano….you got it
  
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Erika

September 4, 2015 at 1:31 am

Meli! I’m so so excited for you taking this journey of freedom and rediscovery. Milk it while you can! Life is short and you get to see all of God’s gorgeous creation starting now.
Love how your focus changed in the middle of your unexpected 6hr car ride. It’s no mistake that you were wandering around. Can’t wait to read about more of Ireland and all your discoveries there, whether it be about you or about the wonders around you.
I love you to pieces!
And yes, I concur with the other Meli fans… Your gift of words is ah-mazing 🙂

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Berni Virelles

September 4, 2015 at 2:58 am

When you mentioned you had posted I couldn’t wait to read them but I didn’t want to ready them rushed. Just like a good book I wanted to be able to take in every word so I waited until the end of the day, As I “cracked open my Mac’ as you put it Papa Bear asked me what I was doing. I told him I was getting ready to read your posts. “Oh will you read them aloud to me” he said. So sweet. He is not feeling well. We started our 21 day cleanse and well let’s just say things are getting clean 🙂 lol. We are enjoying them so much. Keep them coming!! We love you and miss you. MOM

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1. Angie
  
  September 4, 2015 at 3:20 am
  
  Can i tell you…. i came to bed early, specifically to read. Im loving this.
  
  P.s. i might have a connection with a publisher.
  
  Something to think about.
  
  💓
  
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