Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Jerpoint Abbey

I am an individual who has been blessed with a deep connection to place. Not to every and any place that I happen upon about my journey through life, but specific and meaningful rest stops here and there that can be comforting, surprising, ancestral, cerebral, full of quiet beauty or energetic prose. West Los Angeles, my bustling beach-adjacent urban community home, feels this way to me. Upon first footfall in the vast expanse of the Arabian desert, it felt as if birthed from my soul. So too the deep valleys and great precipices of urbanity native to the island of Manhattan or the lonely rural highways that criss-cross Ireland's emerald rolling hills. I don't know whether this phenomena is anomalous to me or whether it is quite commonplace for it is a sensation that I do not share readily. Rather, I relish the connection, savor the sites, smells, associations and become quiet companion to my new discovery and at the same time, reacquaint myself with an old friend.

While in Ireland, traversing the narrow paved arteries from North to South, this place called out to me...



Jerpoint Abbey. Majestic and brooding, stalwart as well as compassionate, this relic my familiar.







It's breathtaking...



It's quite and contemplative...



Its details stupendous...











Utterly unforgettable, Jerpoint Abbey is my forever friend...

18 comments:

Unknown said...

That is soooooooo Awesome. I love places like that and one day hopefully in the real new future we are going to go over there. My hubby and I have always talked about it. Breathtaking... Could I save one of those pics to my computer? Please. I would love to use it as a wallpaper. Thanks....

noricum said...

I love old buildings like that. :)

Anonymous said...

Your photos are very atmospheric.

Jessica said...

Oooooooooh! Beautiful! I love old abbey and church ruins like that.

~drew emborsky~ said...

Jerpoint Abbey would be a great name for a girl!

Your writing is amazing; I love to hear you describe your travels.

Susan Schwake said...

the images are breathtaking and show your connection to this place. i really feel honored to see this view of such a specialplace.
love love love the detailing...

p.s. my two girls absolutely love your sense of style - 11 and 17. the weenie scarf put them over the edge btw...

Tami said...

Beautiful, and I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who takes pictures of ceilings and architectural detail (so many from my 2 weeks in Ireland a few years ago - drawn to the history of everything).

Anonymous said...

I can see why. WOW. What an interesting place. You must have been like a kid in a candy store. Lots to see and take in.

MonkeyGurrrrrl said...

That is so wicked cool. I can't possibly think of an adjective (or twenty) that would suffice, so I'll just go with that. Wouldn't it have been amazing if you could camp out in the Abbey?! Stare at the stars and listen for voices from the past?

Sigh.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I've got about ten rolls of that stuff called "film" that look a lot like this, from my trip to Wales.

Miri Mack said...

I know what you mean about feeling drawn to certain places. for me some places just have a certain amount of history in them such that it's nearly tangible. And they seem to speak to me. The wind finds my ears and wispers there. It's kind of unexplainable, but there's a great connection of heart.

Great photos :-)

Bri Ana said...

Yeah, um, wow.

Anonymous said...

So very Ireland. I absolutely love it. I've been to Ireland twice, and would like to return again. I hear you. It's one of those places that calls my name, stirs my soul. I have no idea why. *sigh* So beautiful. So far away.

vicki said...

regina, those pictures of the abbey are truly awesome, what a wonder to see, all that history and passion of those old buildings thanks for sharing

LG said...

It's like being back in the Middle Age! Beautiful abbey.

stuffed said...

Awesome. I love the details.

Anonymous said...

Cool pics! Visiting places like that makes me think of all the people that have walked through those halls.

Tandi said...

Wow, what beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing!