I spent my last day in Ireland hiking the trails at Glendalough in Wicklow Mountains National Park.
I spent my last day in Ireland hiking the trails at Glendalough in Wicklow Mountains National Park. I asked an associate at the visitor center which trail she recommended, and she told me to go on the silver route along Upper Lake. But, she advised, I should take the trail clockwise even though I’d have to go up more than 600 steps. It’s the less popular option, but that way the view is always in front of you, rather than having your back to it. I was glad I took her advice, for those reasons and because the trail on my side was relatively empty in the morning, which made things more peaceful and scenic. I even spotted a few deer lounging around. My only regret is that I didn’t visit during the fall – I saw loads of heather and couldn’t help trying to imagine how even more beautiful the hills must be when they’re blooming vibrant purple. Still, it was a great walk (and workout), and by the time I added the mile to and from my hotel, and the walk from Glendalough to Upper Lake, I ended up wandering around for about six hours. My favorite part surprised me. It wasn’t at the top of the spinc (cliff) even though those views were gorgeous. It was in the woods at the end of the trail, down by the shore of Upper Lake, past the ruins of the old mine. In the golden sunshine, the trees in this area are straight out of a Maxfield Parrish painting and I couldn’t get enough of them. I just wanted to stand amongst them forever and soak it all in. In a fitting conclusion to my Ireland stay, I was at the bus stop this morning when an older Australian gentleman approached me and started a conversation. His questions led me to mention my dad, and that’s when he revealed that he was a retired (“free-range”) Catholic priest. As he discussed the grieving process, he rolled up his sleeve to show me his tattoo: “Live in the moment.” In the context of this trip, it felt like a mic drop from the universe. Not so subtle, at times, is it? “I get it, I get it,” I half whispered, half laughed to myself as I boarded the bus. All I can do is keep trying. -- source link
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