Waterford and Hook Lighthouse

After our usual breakfast at Michael's (eggs, bacon or what we would call back bacon, tea), we headed to Waterford to tour the crystal factory. On the way, we took a car ferry across the river Suir (rather than drive around). To get on the ferry, you wait in the lane of the street (there is no pull out) for it to come back to your side. After it arrives and the cars from the other side all have driven off, we drive onto the ferry. The attendant comes around to your car for you to pay your fare. We saw little translucent jellyfish in the river as we crossed. They looked just like the ones I saw snorkeling in Jamaica. On our way to the Waterford building, we passed a Viking round tour and replica viking longboat. There were Vikings in the general area a long time ago. 

The Waterford facility here in Ireland only makes specialty products. Most of their manufacturing is in eastern Europe. However on the tour we were able to see the whole process from the molds (including some wood ones), blowing the molten glass into the molds, cooling down, and cutting the design. They had samples of their special products, like trophies & awards, a 9/11 memorial piece and a replica of a castle all in crystal! The shop had a crystal Irish harp, football trophies, chandeliers in addition to a selection of Christmas ornaments, glasses, vases and other items. On our way out of Waterford, we stopped at the Castle Arms for a quick pub lunch before heading back to Michael's.

In the afternoon, Stephen stayed home and we went with Michael to Hook Lighthouse. This was a great stop, the lighthouse is one of the oldest in the world and still operating. The building is about 800 years old! You can see the old building techniques on the tour along with the very narrow stairs. The views from the top are quite magnificent. The site includes some of the old walls of a monastery that used to be on the site. There were on-site lighthouse keepers until 1996, when it was automated! At the base of the lighthouse, we walked among the rocks that the light was warning the ships from. There are small fossils and tiny living critters in the tide pools that form in the crevices. On the road to Hook Lighthouse is Loftus Hall, which is supposed to be the most haunted house in Ireland. We didn't have time to see it, but were told that the tour is not at all scary and is actually quite entertaining. Well, next time! We got some ice cream before heading home.

Dinner was a traditional Sunday roast by Stephen, along with traditional potatoes and all the fixings.