The Learning Curve

A man in Golden Indian Restaurant in Kilcar told me that every place has a Bundoran. Having booked a place in Bundoren, County Donegal only to find the promised ocean view obliterated by the "Crazy Mouse" roller coaster, I thought back to my own "Bundorans". In the coastal town of New London, Connecticut, Ocean Beach Park is such a place. Beyond the boardwalk, there are frozen custard stands, arcades, and rides. But my wise Irish friend also told me that there are two Bundorans. Walking beyond the golf course, I found the fairy bridges and the path to Tullen Strand, a beach with sea caves and blue-green waves. There were surfers in multi-colored wetsuits because it never really gets too warm here. From the cheesy chip shops and arcades, there are hidden vistas and rugged cliff walks. It wasn't enough to keep me there a week, however. I have moved on to Kilcar--a sleepy little town with a music festival happening this week. My host has given us two places--one for Kira and her visiting friend Jenny (who took way too many buses all the way from a farm in County Cork) and one for us. Both have turf fires and a lovely view. It is walking distance to this town which has one of the best Indian restaurants ever. It is also close to beautiful cliff walks and historical sites. More on that later. I will post pictures when it is possible. Internet access is dear in this town. I should have plenty of time to write. I had a wonderful day on Saturday with poet Ted Deppe and his wife, the poet Annie Deppe. His help with my collection was invaluable. We also shared both lunch and dinner in their lovely new home. I feel lucky indeed to have had time to go over my work with a poet I so admire. I also made a connection with my hosts in Connemara. Their children attend a small Irish speaking school and two of them are the same age as the children in my project for second graders. I hope to find a few students willing to have some Irish pen pals. I was sad to leave the stone cottage in Carna. Barbara and Josie were grand hosts and the environment was wild and unspoiled. I hope my time in Kilcar will be similar.