TRIVIA---5

Beehive Huts

On the Dingle peninsula in Ireland we stopped to visit some beehive huts. Made of stone in the shape of a beehive they date back to the 5-6^th centuries. They were in remarkably good condition and amazingly large inside.

Ice Breaker

Although we were in Russia in June, the ship ran into ice. The captain 


had to lay anchor while we waited for an ice breaker to arrive. We stood 


on deck watching huge chunks of ice float by as the ship followed the 


ice breaker to an alternate route and clear water. We missed a couple 


of scheduled ports of call, but the captain added a couple of different ones.

Foot Binding

In China we had a pleasant visit with a 90-year-old woman who had had her feet bound when she was five years old. The 1000-year-old custom of foot binding was outlawed in 1911, but was practiced in rural areas for some time longer. Foot binding started with concubines in the imperial court and spread to the city, then to rural areas. Tiny feet showed high class. The thinking was that wealthy women would have servants to address their needs. Bound feet made a woman less mobile and therefore under control of the male. Able to walk only short distances, she was unlikely to get into trouble. Curling the toes under, they eventually grew into the foot and were quite painful.

A Small House

Probably the biggest attraction in Ambleside, England is the bridge house, the country’s smallest house. The stone structure spans the river and is only a few feet wide. Originally built to store apples, the water running in the river below kept the structure cool.

Bridges

The 101 islands making up St. Petersburg, Russia, are connected by 380 bridges. Each bridge is different and range from a footbridge to the high palace draw bridge Many display a variety of statuary, towers, obelisks and grilled fences. The wrought iron designs and work are beautiful, and the variety is amazing. They are art themselves. The bridges are as interesting as the well known sites.

 Camel Train

It is a long overnight train ride from Adelaide to Alice Springs in the Australian outback. Once upon a time, camels made the 980 mile run so it acquired the nickname, camel train.

With modern technology, the camels have been replaced with a train called the Ghan train, after the original Afghanistan camels.

Much of the ride is over boring flat and desolate terrain, so it was good to make the trip at night. The train was comfortable. Each of us had a cabin to our self, so we enjoyed a bottom bunk, a real plus for seniors!

It was a smooth train ride and sure beat a long bus ride. The train left after the dinner hour and arrived early morning, so meals were before and after the trip.

Trolls

Trolls are to Norway what leprechauns are to Ireland. Norwegian trolls live in the mountains, and stories about them abound. Children grow up hearing troll stories, many of which teach a lesson.

Trolls are popular items in gift shops. Some are pretty ugly and others are rather cute. I couldn’t resist photographing several three-foot high ones outside of various establishments.

ANCIENT SITES

                                         Something Old 

     At Craggaunowen we picked up a docent who showed us around the recreated medieval ecomuseum. She told us, “John Hunt bought the property in 1965 and initiated this project. He and his family lived in this 1550 castle for several years.  This 16^th century tower house is restored with furnishings of the 14-17^th centuries. McNamara built the castle to fortify the town and used it as a town house. Cromwell destroyed it leaving only the walls.”

      Entering the castle there was a distinct aroma of burned peat, which reminded me of the incense aroma of Tibetan monasteries. Among the utensils were some turtle shells that were used as serving dishes or as covers for others. I walked up the 60 narrow pie-shaped spiral stair steps leading to the top of the tower where there was a pretty good view of the area below. The whole setting is a lovely wooded area.

     We crossed a narrow wooden footbridge leading to an island in the lake where replicas of early Celtic–style dwellings are housed. The Bronze Age clay and wattle Crannog (Lake Dwelling) stands on a man-made island in a small lake as it might have in the 6-7^th centuries when Celtic influence dominated Ireland. Canoes provided transport to and from the island. Often rocks just under the water’s surface provided a ‘secret’ path to the mainland.

      Reconstruction of a small Ring Fort showed how ordinary farmers lived in the 5-6^th centuries. Underground passages provided storage as well as an escape route.

      We also viewed an Iron Age Roadway of oak, which was covered with peat for preservation and an outdoor cooking site. After a successful hunt the men would cook the animal in a deep water pit. A huge fire was lit behind the pit that heated stones. Enough stones were thrown into the water to make it hot to cook the meat. I wonder how well done that meat got!

      A clay storage pit was new to me and I was fascinated with a foot controlled and driven lathe for turning wood.

     One day on a drive in the countryside we detoured to see the Cahergal stone fort. This 1000 year old ring fort was in excellent condition. These forts are also referred to as fairy forts. There are some 40,000 of them in Ireland. Most of them are overgrown, but 200 have been excavated. People lived in the round stone walled forts and grazed cattle outside during the day. At night the cattle were brought inside. The forts were common in the 5-6^th centuries but go back as far as the Celts. Now the forts are national monuments and it is illegal to destroy them. People believed fairies lived in them.

      On another day we were on a narrow two-lane paved road that passed right by some beehive huts. Of course we stopped to visit. The huts were made of stone in the shape of a beehive and also date back to the 5-6^th centuries. They were in remarkably good condition and amazingly large inside.        

Sometimes life is amazing and it’s awesome to see and learn about such ancient things.

ANCIENT DWELLINGS

RING FORTS AND BEEHIVE HUTS

One advantage of traveling alone or in a small group is that you can detour off the beaten track, drive over narrow roads and  get to places tour buses cannot. There is no putting up with, “We’ll be here 10 minutes,” or “It’s time to go now.”

One day in Ireland we detoured off onto mountain roads. After traveling awhile on a narrow dirt road we came to Cahergal stone fort. This 1000 year old ring fort was in excellent condition. These forts are also referred to as fairy forts, and there are some 40,000 of them in Ireland. Most of them are overgrown, but 200 have been excavated and now are designated national monuments. Today it is illegal to destroy them.

People lived in the round stone walled forts and grazed cattle outside during the day. At night the cattle were brought inside. The forts were common in the 5-6^th centuries but go back as far as the Celts. Many people believed fairies lived in the forts.

On another day we were on a narrow two-lane paved road that passed right by some beehive huts. Of course we stopped to visit. The huts were made of stone in the shape of a beehive and also date back to the 5-6^th centuries. They were in remarkably good condition and amazingly large inside.

Sometimes life is amazing and it’s awesome to see and learn about such ancient things.