a shrine

I am not religious. In fact I think religion does more to divide people than to bring them together. I had hoped though, that I would be able to feel the reverence that inspired people to build the beautiful churches and cathedrals scattered everywhere here. I did not. But one day I was driving on some back roads near kilkenny and I stumbled upon this altar on the side of the road. My instant reaction was "holy s#%t". I pulled over the motorcycle and had a sit for 30 minutes or so in the pouring rain. This place exuded a charge that was clearly from something special. It felt like sitting in front of a fire. It's always interesting to see where the GPS takes me. Sometimes it is a lot more interesting than the tourist routes.

Well needed retreat

I suppose the obvious thoughts that come to mind when people hear of Ireland are dublin, belfast, galway, I.R.A. Mindless killings. But when you get through the tourist veneer, you find a place where people are genuine, kind and always willing to help. I suppose the most interesting thing i encountered was the fact that people seem to know more about American history than i do. I felt a little ignorant at times. There was a story that I heard from more than 1 person about the Choctaw (I think) indians coming to the aid of Ireland during the potato famine. They raised the equivalent to 50000 dollors these days and brought a lot of corn. Apperently there is still some sort of march that happens in honor of those troubled times. I wish that was a story that I could have heard in elementery school, or even high school. Another thing that I think is interesting, is that 9/11 has effected the whole world. It has triggered something that is way bigger than just the United States. I think it has instituted a whole new era of global paranoia and panic that will have far reaching consequences.
I found a four leaf clover the other day. I was hanging out with a friend, who was 62 years old and he said "In all my time, I have never found one of those." I guess I felt a little special. My travels had started out quite sad. I was not sure how the I was going to make it a year without my loved ones. Things started to turn around though when I found a music festival in Rostrevor. There is even a song about it. I think I am a little bit of a drug addict. And my drug is American modern culture. One thing is true, i will always be American, but I am becoming more aware that the things I have chosen, were not in fact my choice, but a product of a certain set of options that I had sitting in front of me. I don't know that I can even be proud anymore. Everything inside has become a little suspect. Somewhere along the way the human species got split into many smaller but equal parts. When we expose ourselves to other cultures and beliefs, hopefully we can collect all those little bits and pieces of ourselves we lost.