Friday, June 17, 2011

A Trip to Callingford

I can hardly believe that I let a day go by and didn’t realize until it was bed time that I’d forgotten to post!  Wow, I let down my adoring public…all three or four of them!  LOL!  I finally got my new guitar and played it for the first time on Wednesday.  That was real treat.  That thing shines on the melodies and is a real joy to play.  Playing a new guitar can be a bit like driving a new car.  You know how to do what you need to do but it feels different.  This guitar is an absolute joy to play all the way around, I love it and man is it beautiful!  If you want to have a look at it you can go here:  http://djashba.com/AshbaSwag/index.php/guitars/the-demented-collection/chrome-bone-acoustic-electric-guitar-by-dj-ashba.html  Be sure to enlarge the picture to get the best look.  The guy who designed it is guitarist now of Guns ‘n Roses and also Sixx A.M. and I’ve always loved his style.  Ovations rule, I just have to say this and to get a custom guitar like this from them is an exquisite treat.  A dear friend who traveled with us to Ireland bought this for me and I am so very grateful.  My guitar before was damaged and really needed to be retired and now that can happen.

 

Well, back to Ireland!  One of the nicest day trips we had was to the little village of Callingford.  This place has some of the best examples of old architecture in an actual functioning town that I can think of.  We explored King John’s castle and really enjoyed every moment of it.  I enjoy castles no matter what their condition.  This town is what I always imagined Ireland to be.  The threat of rain is ever present and the storms were unusually bad when we were there but sometimes the threat never materialized and left a mysterious fog on the hills.  Somehow shots like this remind me of something that you’d see in an old Spanish fortbut it was far to wet for anything Spanish I think.  Again I think of a prison with this somehow but I’m not sure that’s what it used to be.  Perhaps it’s my experience in travel that kept forcefully reminding me of other places.  This looked like something I could well imagine in India.  Some intriguing old world designs on this window frame.  Can’t you imagine a knight tying his horse to this?  Pastor Sakey was kind enough to be our guide and one of our drivers.  I see my five year old daughter standing in Ireland and I know I’m so very blessed to have her with me!  Ade (our friend and other driver) walks through this ancient archway with our dear friend RD.  Old European style always inspires my camera to click away!  The next photos are of a subject matter I’ve always wanted to capture on film…call me morbid but I always wanted to cover old graveyards…we found just that!  Tune in next time for the continued adventures…

14 comments:

  1. Thanks for the nice pics Joe. I hope you have a nice weekend!

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  2. Awesome photos Joe!!

    Congrats on the new guitar. What a very nice gift from a friend.

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  3. Still the most beautiful place on earth....!! I'm with Beth here...love the guitar!!

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  4. Hi Joe,

    Great to view your wonderful pictures and to read you commentary.

    Have a great weekend. God Bless - Nita

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  5. Congrats on your new Guitar Joe and I love these photos . Thanks for taking me along to a place I would someday love to see.
    Happy Fathers Day Joe.

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  6. Pretty cool thing to have the new axe there Joe I know you'll enjoy playing! All the photos are great, must be quite amazing to visit the old structures with so much history there. Have a peaceful weekend and enjoy Father's Day with the family

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  7. Ireland is a truly beautiful country, I haven't been there for 30 years or more suppose there are so many changes there now...
    You'll have to post some pic's of you playing your new guitar Joe or better still a video..
    Happy Fathers day my friend
    Hugs Lady Jude

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  8. The photos are beautiful specially the old building which I like very much.
    Happy Fathers Day.

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  9. The old buildings maybe an old jail?
    Lovely to seen your daughter's photos she has been a lots of trips in her age.
    She will have a nice memories for her, my son's still remember that his trip with us.
    Sorry first comments which I don't know it okay or not that why I sent way quickly.
    Have a nice weekend.

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  10. Loved this post.. I must have some irish in me someplace because I sure love the old buildings and such..what a neat life for your children to live and be able to see in person all the sights of the world like that. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ONE GREAT DAD!!!

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  11. Hello Joe,
    Please visit my blog and collect The Sunshine Award. I received the award from Rhapsody Phoenix and am happy to pass it on to you to show my appreciation of your blog.
    I hope you will also enjoying passing it on as I have.
    All my best... SETH!

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  12. Here I'm back again, Do you know Joe that the old building make me think to how they build up the high building an ancient time?
    With out the machines.
    Enjoy your day.

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  13. *´¨)
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ I have to tell you Joe, my brothers are all musically inclined. My mother tried her best to teach me to play the piano. One day finally... with ahuge smile on her face, she turned to me at 10 years old and whispered in my ear 'let's register you for sports'. :O Yup, I am the black sheep of the family. I have always wished that I was more musically inclined. I hope that you get plenty of playing and enjoyment hours from your new found sidekick - your guitar. Maybe we'll hear you play some day... I hear there's this 'Youtube' thing where people can post videos. Huh? Huh?

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  14. *´¨)
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ As usual, awesome snapshots. They are all marvelous but I cannot help but be drawn to the first few you have posted.. the ones with the village and mountain in the background. Stunning!

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