Our departure from Cobh was delayed due to rough sea conditions outside the Waterford harbor. The captain implemented Plan B – we stayed in Cobh and took a bus to Waterford. While a 1 1/2 hour bus ride is not my preferred mode of travel, it was a terrific option for today.
The bus ride took us through the Irish countryside, passing farms, small villages and gaining a sense of the Ireland we have read about. As Paul and I usually opt for independent travel over the shore excursions offered by the ship, it was a change of pace for us to have a running commentary for the drive. I must admit that three hours of non-stop chatter did wear me out, much of the discussion was informative covering agriculture, sports, the impact of joining the EU and how the local governments are organized. It was a surprise to learn that only 1/3 the population speaks Gaelic (it is called Irish here). All official signage is in English and Irish, as are official documents. If there is a disagreement about the meaning of a document or law, then the Irish version prevails. On the bus we were also introduced to a few of the Irish accents. I must admit that the Irish accent we hear in movies and on television is a very Anglicized accent. Many of the conversations we overheard as we wandered, were impossible to understand.
Our visit to Waterford was short due to the addition of the long drive. With it being Sunday, not much was open. We did visit Waterford Crystal where we were able to peruse all current offerings, including many magnificent sculptures, serving bowls, trays and other pieces we would never see at home.
Waterford was a walled city in the days of the Vikings and remnants of the wall remain. City center is primarily a pedestrian mall with a mix of newer and older buildings.
When our guide ran out of serious topics, the Irish jokes began. Folks from County Kerry are the “blonde” jokes of Ireland, with each story beginning “there was a Kerryman”. We will save those we can remember for retelling when we arrive home.
Now we leave Ireland for an overnight voyage to England.
