Waterford

Our train for Waterford will be leaving at 7:20 from Heuston station, so we took the bus and waited at the station, getting breakfast again at Pret a Manger and Caffè Nero. Another pleasant train ride down to Waterford. I watched some more Jack Ryan.

After we arrived at Waterford, we walked into town. A nice walk along the shops next to the river. We headed to the House of Waterford factory for our tour. Mary would be our tour guide for 10:30 AM. There were some nice crystal displays in their showroom. A ring caught Gwyn’s eye. There was a priceless grandfather clock on display. There was only a velvet rope protecting it from being knocked over.

Onto the tour. We got to see them blowing glass. They would use wood molds to help shape the molten glass. They only last about 7 uses. It takes five years to become a glassblower, and another three to become a master. Saw them etching crystal, the raw materials, the engraving. Some one of a kind pieces through the tour. Very nice. After the tour, Gwyn bought the ring that she saw.

We then walked around the city, eventually going back down to the Medieval Museum. All about the Vikings that settled and sacked the area. They were big on wine, having the exclusive license to ship the wine. Nice museum. We wandered, looking at the shops and the Winterval Carnival shops. Stopped at The Granary Cafe for lunch. Continued wandering around. Stopped in the Shaws Department Store for some hot drinks and watched the world wander by. A young boy gave us the cupcakes the family did not finish. We were done, but our train did not leave until 6:30 PM. Walked back to the train station to wait there. Once we were back at the hotel, we packed up.