Friday, 26 May 2023
Le Havre, France

Today is supposed to be an easy day with plenty of rest after the rather vigorous tours I completed in Ireland and England. I did sleep in this morning and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the Dining Room. I left the ship about 10:30am and took a taxi to the center of the city. I was in Le Havre once previously, on my very first transatlantic cruise in 2009, and it isn't a particularly interesting or beautiful place. But I will get to all that when the blog catches up to Friday. For now, I turn back the clock (at four in the afternoon) to:

Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Dunmore East, Ireland

Another beautiful day as we drop anchor in Dunmore Bay and tender into shore. The city of Waterford, and its eponymous crystal, is the ostensible reason for visiting here. But I choose a shore excursion that again goes northward, this time into the heart of medieval Kilkenny, a very popular tourist destination, to explore its famous cathedral and castle.

First stop is the Church of Ireland's Anglican Episcopalian St Canice's Cathedral. Constructed between 1202 and 1285, it was originally Roman Catholic. The round tower is from the 9th century.

It's then time for lunch at one of the traditional grand hotels in the center of Kilkenny, Langton's. Unfortunately, this typical meal (salad with dressing; Irish stew with carrots and boiled potatoes; apple pie for dessert), doesn't do much for the reputation of the national cuisine. The salad and carrots are passable, but the meat and potatoes have no taste at all, and the pie crust is badly over-baked. Ah, to be in France!

After lunch the group trudges up the narrow streets of the old town to the castle that sits above it. The self-guided tour covers the important rooms--and can be walked in about 15 minutes. The castle was completed in 1260, with major interior improvements in the 19th century, and is less a stronghold of defense (like Cahir Castle), than an outlook post above  the River Nore.

Castle Entrance Gate with Tourists in Line

Castle Courtyard

Great Hall

"Chinese" Studio

Library

Before heading back to port and the Zuiderdam, there is a little bit of time to wander through the center of the city.