Yesterday we were on the train to the western coast of Scotland.  Earlier that day we flew from Shannon, Ireland to Glasgow, UK.  Last night we spent the first of two nights in Oban, Scotland.  Today’s highlight will be visiting the island of Iona where St. Columba founded his Irish monastery about 548 AD.  More on the Iona visit tomorrow.

We had a wonderful experience on the Dingle peninsula on the southwest coast of Ireland. The natural beauty was breathtaking and no doubt inspired the ancient Christian devotion that is so much a part of the history of the area.  We sat in Gallarus Oratory, a 1200 year old drystone church that was  a scene of Christian prayer and worship for hundreds of years.  To bring things up to the modern period Marcia and I were fortunate to have a private meeting with Father Patrick, a very old Catholic priest who devoted much of his life to the study of Celtic Christianity.  He was the first one to translate the whole bible into Gaelic, the native language of Ireland.  What a treat!

Marcia was the designated driver in Ireland as she had the knack for driving on the wrong side of the road. (I think I scared her when I drove in from Dublin airport on the first day.)  She’s also done most of the photography and done a great job at it.  We’ve learned a lot, sampled a lot of pub grub, stayed in some beautiful places, and been moved by many of the places we have been.  More to share tomorrow!