Emerald Isle - Part 5
All of that driving seemed worth it when we finally arrived at Ballyvolane House in Castlelyons, Cork County.
We passed through the grand entrance door and were dumbstruck.
It was like stepping into a Merchant Ivory film - except we didn't have to wear uncomfortable Empire-waist dresses and there was a fully-stocked, fully-refrigerated honor bar. It was incredible. Were we really going to get to spend the night in this gorgeous manor house? Did we make a wrong turn back at the last roundabout? We couldn't possibly be staying somewhere this sumptuous.
Justin, the ebullient owner, assured us that we were indeed on his list of reserved guests. It was his honor to have us spend the night at Ballyvolane - and he could even accomodate us for the next night too, if we wished to forgo our original plan of driving up to Doolin in the morning. Our bedroom was right this way...
The view...
I was in heaven. Pure heaven. I was gob-smacked. I wanted to move in - to never leave.
Mo seemed a bit stunned herself.
Glee can do that to a person.
I took a long, luxurious bath and then decided to take in a tour of the grounds, while Mo settled into our amazing suite. And, no sooner did I step out of the front door, when the family dog, Wriggles, greeted me with a happy "Woof!"
She seemed like the perfect companion. I started to wander off, when I saw Wriggles veering in another direction.
Woof!
Clearly, I was to follow.
We meandered down a lovely path and then came upon a closed gate. Wriggles adeptly wriggled underneath. Hmmm. What to do?
Woof! She slipped back to my side. Woof! And, she slipped back under.
Who was I to argue?
I opened the gate and shut it behind me as I followed Wriggles down the path. And, then I saw why it was so important for her to lead me in this direction: She wanted to introduce me to the Ballyvolane donkeys. They clip-clopped over to the fence and allowed me to introduce myself with a pet or two before Wriggles had me chasing her further down the pathway.
Where to now? A turn or two later, and a gorgeous vista revealed itself - two charming ponds surrounded by shrubbery.
Woof! Woof! We walked around them both.
Woof! Woof! And, we were off again - but through some rather rough brush. Where were we going this time?
Woof! Wriggles led me to a short pathway that led up a hill to a closed-in fence. Woof! Woof! And, then the cows came home - literally - about a dozen or so ambled up to the gate to say their "hellos."
I most certainly wasn't in New York anymore. Thank goodness! (Did I really mean that? I love New York! But, no, I really meant it. I needed this - to be away - really away - somewhere this utterly enchanting.)
Moo! Moo! Woof! Woof! And, Wriggles led me back to the house, where I ran up the steps to see if Maureen had experienced similar magic while I had been gone.
She was sitting in one of the room's comfy chairs looking beautific. And then she spoke.
"Can we skip Doolin and stay another night?"
I felt the tears streaming down my face and promptly kissed her atop her head.
Yay!!!!