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The start

  We start here  , my sister from another mother Klara and myself did our almost nightly chat . A random talk about everything that happened to us ( which I really love with our friendship) . I became fond of Klara  ever since I met her  in NYC ( I will be talking about this friendship more later in my future write ups) . So out of nowhere I have asked her about St.Patrick’s Day  and when it  is .. we talked after this nightly chat I have already booked a ticket for Ireland . I am going to spent St. Patrick’s day for the first time  ( not bad for someone who is almost celebrating  her golden birthday ).

  What has followed next warmth  my heart it made me feel loved  and special . The rest of my Irish- filipino  friends took time to spent and made this experience special … here we go

March 17 …

  This was  my first Ryanair  flight .If I would base everything through the reviews that I have read  …  It will honestly  scared me . Thus , I  don’t really  expect anthing with this flight . In fact , I am bracing myself for the worse scenario case .

In the plane it was comfy ( I bought a  seat with extra leg space 🙂) . Ryanair left and landed on time .. We could not asked  for more .

  In the plane when everyone was boarded .. my seatmates an american and  frenchman have started chatting about what they have been expecting about this festive event . They have chatted themselves through my dreams.

  We have landed the passengers gave  the pilot an applause and a shout out  from a Flemish passenger ” zuipen to the max ( getting drunk  to the  max ) ” .   french passenger answered  ” Santè”

Welcome committee

While I chatted myself through immigrations with my fellow green passengers . My good friends were outside waiting for me ..and also having their own festive moments

After almost an hour waiting for thier message to come and informed me that they were waiting outside . I went out and then I discovered that they were also waiting for me ….the waiting game is on

We got reunited and ready for the St.Patrick’s Parade to witness .

St .Patrick’s

After almost two years of not celebrating this event it was expected to be very crowded and very festive . This event symbolizes not only the yearly St.Patrick’s but also freedom .. the near normal feeling of what the world was prior to the covid pandemic.

The basic covid safety rules was no longer respected ( I guess some of party goers already have a respected amount of alcohol in their system.)😄😄 More so it is very fun to walked in between these crowd with a mask of course for some precautionary measures, especially that in this event 1.5 meters distance can no longer be respected or practiced .cj,

We haven’t see a lot about the parade itself .. if you want to watch and battled yourself with these green people and the street barricade you must be very peristent .But you can also watch through the monitors of all the cellphones who have been recording the event.

I got myself a face paint to fully be immerse with the crowd ..

Hunger strikes

After the squeezing in and out , walking in between the crowds it is time to eat. Bong made a reservation at Wings a world cuisine buffet restaurant. Here you can eat any cuisine, asian , turkish ooh vegan and vegetarian too desserts is a plus and oooh the bottomless drinks for a reasonable price. I love to believe the ” reasonable price” since Bong treated us … Thank you Bong!

We all agreed that we made the right choice by abondoning the parade and listen to our stomachs . When we were done with our lunch , On our way back to our car ( we were heading to Howth) the waiting was unbelievably long . Bong even said that when the time comes for these waiting people to have their lunch it will probably dinner then .

Happy tummy is all we need as we continue our St. PADDY’ s day . Let’s go Howth

Howth

Howth is an Irish Village on the Howth peninsula east of central Dublin and only 20 mins drive from east dublin ( depending with the traffic of course ) . It is known for its Fish and Chips , posh houses , awesome pier and my own conclusion amazing early spring sunset .

Before taking a walk to the pier, We went to starbucks ( yes ! After all these years we are still a starbucks believer🙂). Had our coffee and charge dying cellphones . At this age especially when you are travelling a dying cellphone means missing out taking dramatic pictures of the wonderful views .

As we embarked in the pier , I pointed my phone lens to the sunset here and then I fell in love . It was a beauty and by force Bong , Maricar and Claire became my subjects with my picture taking quest .. I have even asked and directed a teener on how to take these pictures the way I have imagined them to look like .

Howth is pretty and posh . We will explore this village more next time

March 18 ( day 2 ) Powercourt waterfalls , Wexford and sumptous dinner 

  We started our day with a sumptous breakfast . A typical Irish breakfast with plenty of coffee ( on my part)

  As always breakfast has always been  the time ( even during our previous trips ) where planning of the day was  made  or I should say bucketlist places to be visited were being discussed .

Intial plan … We will be having roadtrips  visiting  Powercourt , Wexford and we shall were the rest brings us  as long as we will have dinner at  Klara’s place .

First stop Powerscourt waterfall , Wicklow

This is considered to be the highest waterfall in Ireland with approximately 121 m of cascading water that is set at the parkland foothill of wicklow mountains .

There was also a beautiful hiking trail  that we have not fully explored.  We were more awed by the cascading waters of powerscourt . We took some pictures .. it was here that I have discovered that our Bong is not so crazy with heights , so is Maricar and Klara  . I have asked them to climb with me a little bit higher to have this wonderful picture of the falls but they told me it is safer on the level that we were standing. Me being me  love heights and challenges  made my way up near this beautiful waterfalls .. I bribe a lady to take a picture of me ..the result was magnificient

  

The rest of the crew took a picture near enough to waterfalls

A nice spot for picture taking as I see it.  But there was a couple that sat there for quite  awhile and I believe took three hundred pictures of the same angle . Determine to “steal” the spot subtly  I stood there near enough to invade their small private space .. it was  that  not too rude it is more of a silent message of ” we want you guys to vacant the space it is our turn” it worked 🤣🤣🤣. Thus, asking a nice fellow to take a couple  of family picture of us

After Wicklow , we were planned to go to Glendalough a glacier  valley with the   Irish monastic style . Unfortunately we have  detour due to the  long waiting hours due to traffic. We went to Wexford instead walk around a bit have our coffee break  at the nearby Italian pastry shop .

Wexford it’s time to go .. Let’s meet Edgar, Klara’ s husband who is a magnificient cook .

When we arrived at Klar’s place  we were  met by Toby and Scarlett their  four legged babies .

Edgar made a very delicious vegan version of bibingka ( a kind of filipino dessert) , a home made pancit canton and of course Bong’s Humba favorite . We could not thank Edgar enough for the delicious filipino cuisine that he cooked for us . Klar is one lucky momma

Time to pack and fly home

My flight was very early , it was 4:30 am when Bong , Maricar and Klara took me at the airport .

After my bagage was drop off …it was really time to say goodbye to this three wonderful host.

I am beyond touched Bong, Maricar and Klara for taking time off from all their daily routines . For spending time with me and make sure that I will have a good time .

To Bong who kept on asking me ” if I am okey or I am having a good time” .. Yes , Bong your shade of thoughtfulness made Ireland more colorful .

Maricar , despite of your busy schedules who have choosen to spent time with me . Thank you for making me special for squeezing me in between your momma duties , madame nurse and a businesswoman. It is good to see you after almost 4 years.. ❣️

Klara, you are my sister from another mother and we both feel our emotions with each other than verbalize it.. I will see you soon in Belgium ..I love you😘😘

I will be back Ireland ….