Simply amazing day!

As so often happens, my itinerary has to be adjusted on the fly. Today, I decided to head down to Avoca, Nebraska. I really wanted to get there to see the town and see what it was like and bring gifts from Avoca, Nebraska. I got up early and got to the station for the 7:30 train. From there it took around 1 1/2 hrs to get to Arklow. I found out there...no bus to Avoca within the near future, so I hoofed it....10 km. Arrived around 11:40 and when I asked who I should talk to, a few people said "Tony" who owns the local pub. He was excited to meet me and said he was planning a "festival" for the Avoca's of the world in 2011. He gladly accepted my T-shirt from the Avoca duck races and gave me a shirt in return. Then he sent me off with Liam and Darragh. These two guys took me around the area of Avoca, showing me the town church, the cloth mill, an incredible view of the valley (it reminded me of both Switzerland and Boulder, CO), the place where Thomas More wrote "The Vale of Avoca," (that's close), copper mines, etc. Then we headed back to the pub where I had some Irish stew which was great! They shared so many other things about the town, etc. that I can't recall them all right now. I did right many of them down while sitting at the station in Rathdrum, where Darragh gave me a ride to so I could catch the train to Dublin. I couldn't believe what a great (lucky) decision I had made to go to Avoca. It will make me adjust some things over the next few days but worth it. I really felt like I was getting a flavor of local Ireland instead of just the big city, touristy places. Just got back to the hostel tonight around 9:00 pm so it's been a long day. Tomorrow, it's off west to Galway and hopefully to see the Cliffs of Moher. It's a 7:10 train so I'll need to again get up early. I hope everyone is doing well.

God Bless,
Scott
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