Clonmacnoise, Ireland
Italy is the same size as Arizona and Ireland is even smaller. Looking at a map, an American may think that a week is enough to cover either country. We go to places and spend a minimum of three weeks and barely touch the places we wish to see. Thus, we have to decide what we are going to miss.
As an example, when traveling to Ireland, you need to first choose what things are most interesting to you. We like to meet people in their own contexts and we like to spend time getting to know a place. This means, for us, having ample time to just sit and chat.
In Ireland a chat can last half a day.
We set out our "must-sees" and rough out a schedule. Along the way we may talk to someone at a bed and breakfast and they wax on about someplace we had not heard of. We will then need to choose. Which shall we do? Which is more interesting?
Clonmacnoise was not in our plans. We were going to stay some time in Galway. But, we chose to include Clonmacnoise and then Trim in our plans and leave Galway to just an over night and brief visit. Did we miss much. Absolutely, but in our minds it became worth it. We did not kiss the Blarney Stone, but did meet a really fun and interesting couple from Shannon at a B&B in Castlegregory.
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