Adaline in Athens: November 8

After four car rentals from Enterprise, you receive a free weekend rental - so we took advantage of that opportunity this weekend! We had been planning to take the train to Cobh, but it was so nice being able to drive ourselves on our own schedule...

Cobh is not very big - its claim to fame is that it was the last port of call for the Titanic, it was where the Lusitania was going were it not for a German missile, and many Irish left for America through Cobh during the potato famine. We visited the Queenstown museum (the name before Irish independence!) and learned about all these interesting tidbits. Well, interesting for two people in our family. :)

This replica of a ship was used in the movie Far and Away! It was quite large for a replica.

The inside of the museum was made to look like a ship - and Adaline enjoyed playing on the shuffle board court.

After the museum exhibit, we decided to walk into town to see the cathedral. It was a beautiful walk over. The picture below was taken just moments after Bryan was almost soaked by an incoming wave!

The Lusitania memorial downtown...

The Titanic memorial is just one block away...

None of my pictures do the Cathedral justice. It is high up on the top of the city, almost floating above everything. When walking to the city centre, you walk past a corner and then WOW! There it is! Amazing. To say it is a steep hike up to the church would be an understatement - and again, my pictures don't do it justice. :)

Bryan asked me as we drove home what has been my favorite church that we visited - and almost without hesitation, I felt this cathedral was the most moving. While we were inside, a rain storm whipped up - strong gusts of wind and rain overcame the city. We could hear the wind blowing around the church, and it was almost like the voice of God - Bryan and I were drawn to the pews to sit, say a prayer, and take it all in... Even Adaline was well behaved and used her "quiet" voice as we walked around. The experience was inspiring.

When we left, we were soon drenched by the rain. Bryan and I, that is - Adaline was warm and dry inside her stroller, which has a rain cover (thanks again, Mimi!). I now understand why the Irish all have rain covers for their little ones... We finished our trip to Cobh with a delicious lunch - and a huge mug of hot chocolate for Adaline.

That night we went to dinner at Fiona and Pat's home. They have taken us in as part of the family, and we are eternally grateful! Their kids, Matthew and Georgie, are wonderful with Adaline, and she thinks they are great!