On Steve’s last full day in Ireland we set off to see Powerscourt Waterfall – which is the highest waterfall in Britain according to the sign. The Irish people seem to be great at comparable statistics. (Just the other day I read an article announcing proudly that the average age of death in Ireland is no longer the worst in the EU. However, this was not owing to an improvement in living conditions or health – the article went on in a very honest tone to point out that the improvement on this table was owing to the nine new countries that have joined the EU – all who have worse average death rates than Ireland.)

After the waterfall as navigator I decided to take us on the scenic route to Glendalough through a mountain pass attractively called Sally Gap. Thank goodness for;
1) The fact that Sally Gap was attractive as we got to travel through it twice - once going the wrong way and then on the way back again.
2) An Irish farmer with only three tooth stumps in his mouth but a great sense of direction (“To be sure you can’t get lost in Ireland there is water all around you”).
3) Steve’s patience while I tried to find where we were with no road signs. (It is an Irish youth sport to steal signs or to turn them around the wrong way).

After lunch in a lovely charismatic pub, and after me leading Steve up the garden path only one more time, we arrived at Glendalough, one of my favourite places in Ireland. We had a lovely relaxing walk around a lake and through old monastic ruins from the 6th to 9th centuries. The car has got 1,100 kms extra on the clock since we picked it up and I plan to add a few more when I go away at Easter. Steve is returning home rested and all fired up to make some changes at work (and no doubt will be happy to drive without a navigator saying I think you may have to turn around now).