All day tours are an interesting dynamic. On one hand, you hate waking up early, but on the other you feel a sense of amazing accomplishment when you finish the day.
Rural Dublin is picturesque and slow. City Dublin is just as picturesque but has an air of rush to it, and that makes you feel kind of bad for being a tourist—I never want to get in anybody’s way or do something embarrassing. But in rural Dublin, there’s an awareness that you’re there to see the sights and buy the coffees and books and ice cream and souvenirs so take your time, and of course, and you are welcome. Although this treatment is not exclusive to rural Dublin given that there are just as many tourist traps in the city, you feel less alone when you’re touring in the rural communities. You feel like it’s okay to marvel at every beautiful sight you’ve never seen before, stutter when saying something in Irish, trip over poles and sidewalks you didn’t know were there, and ask questions without feeling like you’re bothering the tour guide.
I think it’s obvious, then, that the perspective of foreigners shifts depending on the location you are at. In the city, you’ll likely be seen as misstepping and barging into the lives of locals just trying to get to work and not run over you when you don’t know when to cross the street. In rural touring towns, they want you there, they are more patient and understanding, and they like to show off their beauty.
As an example, I ordered a hot latte today and the cashier asked me if I didn’t want it iced. I said no. She gave me my hot latte but not without a smirk. As I left the cafe, I saw their hand drawn sign on the window: “ICED Latte available!”
We also went to a sheep farm! I’m not entirely keen on animals but I have to admit, those baby lambs were simply adorable (and stinky). The Shepard told us he is the fourth generation to take over the farm, which is just incredible. He seemed so happy to have us there, he gave us demonstrations and explained how his business works and even had time for questions from the audience. I wouldn’t say it was showing a particularly entrepreneurial mindset but a tradition following mindset, instead. It’s baah-eutiful (sorry) to think that his ancestors before him took care of so many other lambs across those gorgeous green mountains just the way he is proudly doing now: a man, a stick, his dogs, and his sheep.
