Benbulben Co. Sligo
What makes Ireland so special for Indian
families? It is like a thali meal. It offers a
range of complementing tastes and textures;
you can dig into it hands-on; and, because
it is served from the heart, the enjoyment
of it goes straight to the same region.
Many countries can rightfully boast of
natural beauty and vibrant cities, but
how many can lay claim to being the
‘friendliest place on earth’? That’s how
the Lonely Planet 2008 Blue Book Guide
described Ireland. Ironically, you can
never be lonely here. The Irish, like the
Indians, are hospitable and home loving,
and they will draw your family into their
embrace without even thinking about it.
Just like us, they’ll spontaneously share
without being asked, whether it’s a picnic
sandwich or a slice of their culture. And,
yes, you can ask for directions without
fear of rebuff; they’ll go out of their way
to show you yours.
The whole mix of delights is so varied and
yet so easy to handle. Everything is
perfectly organized and yet so informal.
The landscape is awesome for everyone,
but children get a special kick out of it
because they love the myths that shimmer
‘—– ‘ˆ ‡˜‡”› ’Žƒ…‡Ǥ ƒ‹”‹‡• ϐŽ‹– –Š”‘—‰Š –Š‡
deep glens, causeways are built by giants,
and swans are lovers from a never grow
old land. We parents may touch the ancient
stones of a castle and go back on a time
ƒ…Š‹‡ǡ „—– ‘—” …Š‹Ž†”‡ ϐŽ› ™ƒ› —’ ‹–‘
the realms of imagination on a magic
carpet, as they hear the fascinating stories
of princes, princesses and ghosts.
Ireland is truly Nature’s showpiece. Massive
mountains and foaming rivers are the
prima donnas of tourism anywhere in the
world. But here even the simplest pasture
deserves star billing.
This is, after all, the Emerald Isle whose
benign rainfall dresses it in a mantle of
amazing green and makes it the envy of
pastoral landscapes elsewhere. Similarly,
just a drive turns into a memorable
experience. So many routes, from the one
through the Ring of Kerry in the South to
the one along Northern Ireland’s Antrim
Coast, have been ranked among the best
in the world.
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