It only took us an additional 90 minutes to find our hotel. I had forgotten how much fun it is to navigate without a map, compass, GPS or google map. Sheesh
We did eventually find our hotel
Located on
With these beauties fooling around
We do a walk about in the town
To gather our surroundings. We are here for 3 glorious nights, other than the 2 nights we spent in Killarney we have been on the move every day.
Waterford is Ireland's oldest city, founded over 1100 years ago. It is the home of Waterford crystal ( which I hope to learn more about tomorrow). Waterford is the only city in Europe whose Roman Catholic and Prodestant Catherdrals were designed and built by the same man, John Roberts ( imagine...what will they think of next!)
While we have been here we have learned something of the history of Ireland and the potato. The potato was introduced to Ireland in the 17th century, and changed a whole way of life. It suited the soil and climate in a way that cereal crops did not. A tiny plot could feed a family and pay rent so small farmers quickly became dependant on them. In 1840 potatoes accounted for 1/3 of the crops grown in Ireland. In 1845 potatoe blight hit Europe , spreading swiftly to Ireland destroying crops. Over one million people died of famine and famine related diseases between the years 1845-1852 and at least 1.25 million people emigrated . Over the next 100 years the population of the country halved. Interestingly , the cereal crops at that time yielded well and could have easily fed the Irish, sadly the harvest was committed to the United Kingdom.
I expect tonight will be mostly sleepless....between the Blue Jays and the election.....
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