Clear / Partly cloudy
Our primary goal today is to stay off our feet, what hikers call a Zero Mile Day.
However, we are in the lovely seaside town of Dingle, the biggest (really only) town on the Dingle peninsula, and we need to get our clothes washed, some money changed, some postcards sent, and to find some food sources – all things that are contrary to our primary goal!
Our host Justin gave us directions to the laundry (turn in at the red door - we're still not used to how directions are given around here!), so that was our first order of business.
We thought it would be a Laundromat, but there is no such thing here, so we handed over all our worldly goods to a laundress, and hope to get them back by 2 this afternoon. No one seems to have clothes dryers here – even at the B&B, they hang all the sheets out on the line!
We found a bank to cash in some travelers checks, and a Post Office / Hardware store to mail our cards. (There is also a Bar / Hardware store...)
Went into a chemists (drug store) to find some Dr. Scholl’s pillow inserts for my poor feet. Family please note that it is an O'Keeffe Dispensing Chemist (our family name). Had lunch at the Goat Street Café, which boasts a wonderful seafood chowder. Sent an email home from the Library.
In the afternoon, we walked around town, which is dominated by St. Mary's church.
The church has lovely gardens, and an an extensive graveyard where only nuns are laid to rest.
The garden also boasts the Trinity Tree, carved and dedicated on Lady Dingle Day (Mary's birthday) in 2000.
Its three branches represent the Trinity (like the shamrock) and contains the face of Jesus, Mary, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, along with their symbols, man, lion, ox and
eagle, as well as other Christian symbols including a heart, a fish and a pelican. (The pelican was a new one on me...) The carving must be rubbed with olive oil every five years if it is to survive in this climate.
Quite a lot accomplished for our day of rest!
