Wicklow Way

Happy Easter (for all those who celebrate it). I had an amazing weekend in the Wicklow mountains, which are just outside dublin but feel like a world away. Rafael (who i met through hospitalityclub) and I took a bus to Glendalough on friday and picked up the Wicklow Way about the halfway mark. The weather couldn't have been better all weekend...my new rain jacket was just weight in my bag.

The first day we visited Glendalough, it's churches, cemeteries and beautiful lakes...very nice but also very touristy. That night we took a little detour off the official way and found an amazing camp spot on a white sand beach with a beautiful lake in front, green valley behind and mountains on both sides all to ourselves! The following day provided views of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain, many valleys and animals (i think we saw between 100-200 deer that day). We camped by a river in a valley that night. The last day was physically the hardest for us, but it was a great feeling to come over the final mountain and see all of Dublin before us. The hike finished in a park on the edge of the city (this is actually the starting point of the Wicklow Way...we had decided to do it backwards), from there we took a bus home where we immediately bought some fish n' chips and beer.

BTW, all photos were taken by Rafael with his spanking new D80.



Glendalough



Officially starting the way. Notice that i already look like i've been hiking for a few days...long week at work.



Sunset at our first camp site.



Sunrise at our first camp site.



Sex legs!



Where's Bartek?


Rafael and I at the end of our hike (beginning of the Wicklow way)

Alone and not so alone

Wow, im sitting on my couch tonight and i just realized that it's the first night since i moved to dublin that i'm alone. My flatmate Soeren flew out to Germany this morning, my best buddy Tomasz is in Madrid with his girl Almo, my girl is in Poland, Jarmo (probably swimming the Liffey), other friends are in Poland as well.

Anyway, cooked myself a great vegi dinner and opened a 2002 vintage bottle of wine....not too shabby.

This weekend is a 4 day weekend, and i've decided to go hiking in the wicklow mountains...in particular i will be doing half the wicklow way. I was planning to do this alone, but a couple days ago i got an email from a Hospitality Club member from Guatemala who is visiting ireland for a week or so. He emailed me for a place to stay at in dublin for a night or two over the weekend and also mentioned he's also into hiking and photography. I couldn't offer a place to sleep, but i offered to take him with me on the hike. So he organized the proper equipment for himself and we're off on friday!

15C and sunny in dublin today :)