After everybody falling asleep on the bus on the way to our first stop (it wasn't really that exciting), we decided to stretch our legs at a gas station where everybody got a coke. A few of the cokes had names on them and some were trying to find cokes with names of friends. We then got back on the bus and drove for another hour before we arrived at Monasterboice for a lunch break. Charlie pulled the bus over and we all got out to eat our lunch. Thankfully it wasn’t forgotten or left anywhere. Twice in a row we made sandwiches and managed to leave them either in the hostel kitchen or on the bus when we couldn't get them. After eating we visited Monasterboice, a graveyard with classic Celtic High Crosses that are some of the best preserved and magnificent in all Ireland. Crosses from as early as the 10th century were in the midst of some graves from last month in this active cemetery. We walked around for a bit before we sat down with our journals to reflect our pilgrimage up to its current point.
We then got back onto the bus for a shorter bus ride to the Hill of Slane where Saint Patrick lit a fire proclaiming that he worshiped God not the king of Ireland at that time. We all explored the ruins of the old monastery there and found a few good spots to take pictures.
Our journey then continued to the final drive to Dublin where we disembarked in front of the Jacobs Inn. Everybody went upstairs to our rooms to check them out and to claim beds. After checking out the rooms we fixed supper and then went outside to explore Dublin and walked into the lively part of the city, which is called Temple Bar. We decided to grab some ice cream there and watched the many types of people who walked past, laughing at a few of them, before starting the walk back to the hostel where we would be resting. The Temple Bar area was very unsettling to many of our group, with the big city of Dublin seeming so chaotic compared to the peaceful country villages and seaside vacation town of our past 6 days. Father Bob then led a very nice compline service for us all where we all reflected on the occurrences of the day and how it affected us all.
Blair Hood
P.S.
Happy Birthday Dad, and I hope you enjoyed the concert you went to.