A series of essays....
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| DRUID COTTAGE, A TRADITIONAL IRISH COTTAGE LOCATED ON THE RING OF KERRY AND OUR HOME FOR THREE DAYS! |
....as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E. Hughes
Every journey tells a story and if we look inside each one of those stories, we can find a hundred more. Each story comes with a different narrator and each story contains the personal charm that each narrator provides, “....as seen through my eyes!”
How I perceive our stay at Druid Cottage in Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland, for three nights may be similar to my fellow travelers, but with just enough of a personal twist as to change how the light plays off of the whitewashed, sunroom walls or, favor my own version of how the voices, layered in happy tones and seasoned with the spirited sounds of laughter, were summoned like magical echos of instant camaraderie flowing smoothly between the guests!
This particular story is prompted by that voice....those deep, throaty tones and a laugh, bright, deep, and resonant between sips of coffee and snippets of his own stories, that initially attracted my attention....
We’d arrived shortly after dark to meet Phil, our delightful host, at the front doorway of his quaint Bed and Breakfast, Druid Cottage, located on the Ring of Kerry itself, right outside the village of Kenmare. Dan and I fell in love with this small town located on the Wild Atlantic Way over twelve years ago when we discovered that it meant ‘little nest’ in the traditional Gaelic language of Ireland. We tend to return to it with each visit to Ireland. Its kindness and charm, smiling faces, stone circle, whitewashed buildings, and energetic soul live within us....drawing us back into the fold each time.
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| WE PARKED OUR RENTAL CAR IN THIS COZY SPOT |
After Phil had shown us to our rooms at the top of the steep, winding staircase, we were exhausted. Even so, hunger won out in the end, along with our continuous quest for a pint of Guinness, and we found warmth and solace in Davitt's Bar and Restaurant, right in the heart of the town.
If one can truly find deep, soul quenching sleep in a strange bed...we did! In the morning, after the hustle and bustle of showering and dressing for breakfast, I began to slowly descend the narrow staircase amid the inaudible conversations that preceded the booming laughter emanating from the sunroom to the right of the petite foyer.
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| DRIVING INTO KENMARE CITY WITH DAVITT'S BAR ON THE LEFT |
Being quite interested in placing a face with the laughter, I tried to imagine it before turning the corner and entering the breakfast room.
I pictured an older, white-haired man in need of a shave (with a mad scientist’s profile) who hails from Dublin City. I saw a slightly pudgy American from Miami wearing an Hawaiian shirt with bluejeans and heartily laughing at his own jokes. And, I visualized a mild, timid looking gentleman in khakis and a Polo shirt whose voice far outweighed his physical stature. My imagination failed to discern his particular nationality.
Finally, I entered the bright sunroom and discovered....Ben!
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| BEN SORENSEN AND OUR FIRST MORNING AT DRUID COTTAGE |
Well, I quickly learned that his name was Ben, Ben Sorensen (with an ‘e’), because he instinctively stood up as I turned into the sunlit annex and thrust forward his hand to shake my own and to let me know that his name was Ben. If we hadn’t met Phil, owner of our comfortable accommodations, last evening, I would surly believe our host would be this tall, bearded, bubbly, young man standing opposite of me on the other side of the breakfast table!
Ben had been seated near a couple hailing from Alabama and celebrating their wedding anniversary. Apparently, their conversations with Ben had been quite jovial and produced the cheerful and friendly atmosphere that enveloped this small, glass-walled room.
By the time Dan, Michael, and Marsha joined the breakfast revelry, shortly behind me, it was clear to all of us that Ben’s engaging personality had infiltrated our lives, bringing with it a certain civility within an Australian accent and a lumberjack persona. Who could resist a full salt-n-pepper mustache and beard engulfing a charming smile and eyes that sparkled when his smile conjured ‘wisdom creases’ surrounding their dark, penetrating gaze? Not to mention his captivating accent that invoked images of a sweet joey snuggled in his mother’s pouch and a fuzzy, adorable koala bear munching on eucalyptus leaves.
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| DAN, BEN, MICHAEL, AND MARSHA.... WE WERE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE! |
Ben became our own guru of sorts that sunny morning in Kenmare. An influential teacher and popular expert, he turned out to be a life management guru with an answer or, at least, a story and opinion on almost everything we talked about, questioned, and attempted to make sense out of. Certainly, we offered our own ideas and blended in with the conversation as we ate Bernadette’s (Phil’s better half) delicious rashers, eggs, and toast with homemade jam. And, after several cups of robust French-pressed coffee under our belts, it was becoming increasingly difficult to even think about leaving this comfortable cocoon of newfound friendship we’d willingly established ourselves in.
It turned out that Ben had just arrived in Kenmare from his hometown, Melbourne, Australia, to host the wedding of two good friends who would be getting married the next day. As information was shared (this is when social media is at its very best!), Instagram accounts connected to, and promises made to ‘keep in touch,’ we learned so much more about Ben Sorensen.
Ben is a well known public figure Down Under who travels world-wide seeking business ventures and opportunities for himself and others. He emcees large social occasions including music concerts, conventions, and exhibitions, and has his own popular Ben’s Trivia Question of the Week program in Australia where he promotes local businesses and encourages your participation with the incentive of prizes to be won if answered correctly.
Yes, that charming face does get around! Ben describes himself as, “Quirky, eccentric, bearded, media personality, voiceover guy, writer, music lover, presenter of stuff, and unable to leap tall buildings....” He came to Ireland at the request of his friends on their ‘Special Day’ and was leaving for Dublin and then off to Germany for several weeks before returning to Melbourne.
We ended up spending three breakfasts together with Ben. Although, Michael and Marsha had run into him at the local library in town as he was ‘discovering’ what made Kenmare tick and successfully enamoring the population of the town by enchanting them with his appealing personality.
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| PHIL, OUR GRACIOUS HOST, GIVING DAN DIRECTIONS TO LOCAL SITES. |
Saturday, the final morning of our stay with Phil and Bernadette (much more about them in another story), we met two amazing ladies from Germany, Christiane and Juliane, who were spending one night at the cottage before continuing their travels throughout Ireland. Ben was more subdued around them. However, his boyish charm was evident and certainly not lost on them as witnessed by their side glances and coquettish smiles. Ironically, we met up with Christiane and Juliane four days later while touring Kylemore Abbey located just north of Connemara National Park and a little over an hours drive from Galway City. Once again, information exchanged and new friends tucked into our hearts forever!
Seeing Ben on Instagram and following his generous activities on his Facebook Page (including videos) helps to keep his legacy alive for me. At least I get to hear his voice, accent and all, and see his magnetic smile whenever I wish. Thank you, social media.
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| VIEW OF THE BACK COURTYARD |
This story is all about the benefits of travel; the new friendships, happenstance encounters, sharing of ideas and beliefs, and the better understanding of people from all corners of this magnificent world we share with so many others. Years ago you may have become (pen pals) in order to continue a relationship with someone beyond your travels. Today we have social media to thank. Yes, life has become less complicated in this regard and much more open to instant responses from those we meet along the long, winding road of discovery!
Aussie accent and charm, a plethora of knowledge and advice, a propensity for laughter...these will always remind me of Ben. Nevertheless, it will be his kindness and deep love of coffee that will set him apart from everyone else for me. Ben, I sincerely hope we really do get to meet in person again....one day!
Copyright © 2018 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
Photo Copyright © 2018 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
