UK & Ireland - Summer 2006

Day 10 - Powerscourt Gardens, Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains and a Few Pints at Temple Bar
Like our time in Edinburgh we hired a driver to take us through the countryside to the Powerscourt Garden and Glendalough. We drove through the Wicklow Mountains on the military road stopping to have lunch break at Lynham’s Hotel. We returned to Dublin for dinner at Lord Edwards then met up with Sarah from the Dublin AOL office for a few pints in Temple Bar.

The exterior of Palladian mansion at Powerscourt. Powerscourt Gardens are the attraction here, as the "house" is now only shops and a cafe. Brad and Tina through the entrance. Looking out over the grass and gardens to the Sugar Loaf Mountain. Triton Lake and fountain appear in the green.
The statues were collected from around Europe. The statues along the top terrace include Apollo, Belvedere, Diana and Fame and Victory. The house and grounds were started in 1730 by Richard Wingfield, the first Viscount Powerscourt. The Perron which leads from the house to Triton Lake. Italian Gardens set on the terraces along the Perron.
The pebble mosaic that makes up the terrace. Tina and Brad standing on the terrace over looking Triton Lake. Melissa standing on the archway of Wicklow granite. The pebbles are all from the coastal town of Bray. This Italian Garden section with its statues and terraces took 100 men and 12 years.
Very ghostly and mysterious. One of the "Spitting Men" from Milan. The sun dail says "I only mark the sunny hours." The water splashes from the bowl into the pool below. As the bowl spills over.
Chris desending the steps from the central perron. The gardens in bloom. The terraces were created in the 1730's while the garden was designed in the 1840's. On of the bronze children copied from the gardens at Versailles. Things are a little askew.
Two Pegasus statues guard the Triton Lake at the bottom of the Perron. Triton from through the legs of the winged horse. The Wingfield family emblem is the winged horse, these two being created in 1869. Looking back up the Perron to the house. A statue sits hidding aside the Triton Lake just below the horses.
Triton himself through the trees. The fountain is based on the one at the Piazza Barberini in Rome. The lily pads with Triton and Pegasus beyond. The lake was created for the first garden at Powerscourt. The winged horses stand watch from across the lake.
The full effect of the Perron. Once again we were not blessed with a sunny day for our outdoor touring. Looking down to the Japanese Garden. Melissa peeking at the Japanese Garden. The Japanese Garden was an addition of the 8th Viscount and Viscountess in 1908.
A tiny stream running down into the Japaness Gardens. Chris walking up the opposite side of the gardens. Luck of the Irish? The Pets Cemetery included the final resting place of dogs, cats, some horses and cows. The Dolphin Pond looking toward the Walled Gardens.
The base of the Dolphin Fountain in what was once called the Green Pond. Once inside the Walled Garden held an assortment of flowers. One bumble bee... Two bumble bee... Number four.
No bumble bees, but these flowers look a little prickly. No bees in these little white bells. A strong contrast between the delicate flowers and sharp folliage. Bumble bee number? Two bees are hiding in this white poppy.
Nature has a wonderful way of using color. You can see the covered wall of the garden. Looking past another fountain to the walled garden's entrance. The mermaid fountain within the walled garden. Melissa standing past the fountain toward the end of the walled garden.
Part of one of the garden gates. It is designed to match one of the gates from Bamberg Church in Bavaria. Back at the top of the gardens, near the house sit rose gardens. A rose... ... is a rose... ... is a rose.
Looking hard, you can probably see every color in the world within the roses. One wall of roses. A memorial to the 7th Viscountess with busts of Michaelangelo, daVinci, Raphael and Cellini. Further along the wall and the roses continue. Everything was in bloom.
Any color in particular that you are looking for? Can you understand why the bees cannot stay away? Melissa along the top terrace. Chris and Melissa with the Sugar Loaf Mountains beyond. A final look at the moutains and landscaped lawns.
A path along the Military Road leading to an overlook. Thistles? The wicklow mountains. The sun still has not come out. The military road cuts through the Wicklow Mountains.
Melissa heading down the path to look down the valley. Lough Tay, also known as the Guinness Lake. The house in the trees in owned by the Guinnes family. A sweeping view of Lough Tay. The water from here flows down into Lough Dan.
Brad, Melissa, Tina and Chris at Lough Tay. Looking toward the other vantage point that Chris and Melissa visited on their trip to Ireland. The group with the driver heading back to the van. The military road form the van. The Irish mountain side, green from all the wonderful rain.
The top of the waterfall. That wall is the only thing to stop your car from going down the waterfall. The driver, the van and Melissa climbing to get a better view. Melissa looking to capture the valley and waterfall. Looking down into the valley.
The waterfall. Looking for a quiet place to get away from it all? Say good-bye to stress and hello to sheep hearding. A clear view of the waterfall. The Upper Lake at Glendalough.
Glendalough means the valley of the two lakes. The mountain side along Glendalough. If you have the time look at the difference between the moutain in July and almost three years earlier in October. Brad and Tina at Glendalough. The sun was trying to make an appearance.
Melissa is laughing at Tina trying to follow Chris's photography orders. Melissa and Chris at Glendalough. The Round Tower. Looking up the 110 foot tall tower. The tower as it peeks through the trees.
The graveyard at Glendalough monastic site. This graveyard is still in use today. A twisted tree in the graveyard. Chris and Tina wander through the site. Chris is not really happy at having is photo taken.
Brad, Tina and Chris wander further down through the graveyard. Looking out the Cathedral doorway. Tina and Brad leave the site through the stone arch of the Gatehouse. The bridge over the river at Glendalough.