Our Day to Glendalough (pronounced Glend-uh-lock)

This past Saturday was spent in the Wicklow area.  We left early in the morning and arrived in Glendalough at just the right time.  Getting there early meant that the crowds of visitors were low and it just so happened that the rain wasn't too bad. 
On our way to Wicklow we drove through many little towns and enjoyed seeing several sheep.  Most of us expect to see sheep when coming to Ireland but soon discover it is much more likely to see a cow than sheep.  I am hoping to get a picture of a cow one of these days.  It is hard to get a shot of them standing since most of the time they are laying down. You might wonder why I would want a picture of a cow.  Irish cows are much larger than our American cows.  They look more like they should be in a State Fair then roaming a field. 
Below is some pictures I took while we were driving to Wicklow.  It was extremely cloudy, foggy and dark that day. 

 We can now say that we've been to Hollywood.

Below we are walking through the Wicklow Mountains to go visit  one of Ireland’s monastic sites founded by St. Kevin in the 6th Century.  Click here for some information from Rick Steves about Glendalough

Below is our first good view of the Round Tower as well as pictures of what it looks like within.  We didn't visit all that there is to see here.  We are hoping to go back and and see much more of the sites in the future.

Located in the Monastic City, Glendalough, this fine tower is built of mica-schist interspersed with granite. It is about 30 meters high with an entrance 3.5 meters from the base. The conical roof was rebuilt in 1876 using the original stones. The tower originally had six timber floors connected by ladders. The four stories above the entrance are each lit by a small window. The top storey has four windows facing north, south, east and west. Round towers were built as bell towers, but also served as landmarks for approaching visitors, and were used on occasion as store-houses and as places of refuge in times of attack.  (Information taken from the Wicklow National Park website)

(below) 
I took this photo with the kids standing below to show you just how high the tower is.  While we were there we overheard one of the guides explaining the way to enter the tower was on a ladder through the lower window.  They would then pull up the ladder so that others could not enter.  When the Vikings would invade they would light a fire and force them out with smoke. 

Below we are standing in front of St. Kevin's Kitchen also known as the church or Monastery.

Below we are standing in St. Kevin's Cathedral which is the largest building in Glendalough.

The Cemetery at the site.

After visiting the Monastic City we then went for a walk to visit the two lakes that this place is named after.  The walk was a bit exhausting but extremely worth it. 

The picture below is of the lower lake.  It is all I have for now.  I didn't take many pics of them and didn't get any of the upper lake.  By the time we made it to the upper lake it was raining too heavy for photographs.

 

Umbrella's were definitely needed this trip.  It rained off and on the entire time.  Thankfully we ignored the forecast and brought them anyway.

We stopped to play in the stream below.  The water was so clear it looked like you could drink from it.

 The dandelion's in Ireland are enormous.  We took the picture below with Sunshine's hand so that you could see just how big they are.

 Below is a picture a very large bog.

 We were able to see a baby dear with it's mother which made this day out extra special.

Below we are almost to the waterfall! 

The waterfall!!!

When we were done with this trip we were hungry, wet and tired.  We drove over to Glencullen to visit Ireland's most famous pub, Johnnie Fox's.  More details coming in another blog.