We have traveled south to the coastal town of Waterford, home to the famous crystal factory. Today is our last full day in Ireland.
Yesterday was more of a relaxation day than we had planned. We originally were going to take a day trip to Galway on the west coast, but when the alarm went off at 5:00 am, neither one of us was ready to get up and make the three-hour journey there and back again. So we decided to spend another day in Dublin. After making our momentous decision, we proceeded to go back to sleep, not waking up until after 10.
Most of yesterday was spent shopping in Dublin. We took a leisurely stroll along the river and poked our heads into a number of shops throughout the pedestrian mall. The place was absolutely packed, but we were able to get in wherever we tried. The more touristy shops were, of course, filled with people on bus tours that had been given 20 minutes or so to look around and buy what they need. The shop would become a madhouse for a while and then, the next moment, we would be virtually alone with the shopkeepers.
So, after another wonderful night�s sleep, we hopped on the train to Waterford. We checked into our hotel and walked to the factory, a stroll of almost a mile. We were treated to a traditional Irish downpour on our way and entered the visitor center completely drenched. We got on a tour and saw the factory.
Waterford crystal is still blown by artisans in the factory. All the decorations on the pieces are hand-carved, and the carvers are paid according to the number of pieces they complete that pass the later quality control process. In this age of automation, it was refreshing to see a company that still relies on people to do all the work. Of course, the pieces all come with their minor flaws, but that�s the price of the process. Throughout the tour we saw trophies made in the factory (NFL, tennis, golf, etc). Quite amazing stuff after seeing the artisans do their thing.
Colleen has contracted a cold, which we are trying to nurse as I type. Hopefully, she will be able to make our trip across the Irish Sea tomorrow. If not, we�ll be spending another day in Waterford. We�ll see.
I have put up some more pictures on the web site. As always, you can view them here. We hope you enjoy them.
Paul and Colleen
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