I am currently studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland. In honor of my time away, I have been asked this week to switch things up and step out of my role as a film critic. Living near the city is exciting, but the countryside is incredibly charming and it is so worth going out to see. A couple of weekends ago my friends and I went on the school-sponsored trip to Glendalough, “the valley of the two lakes,” and to Powerscourt Estate. Going to Powerscourt Estate was like walking into a dream or into a movie (which does make sense because many movies and television shows have been filmed there). Powerscourt Estate is probably the most gorgeous, exquisite place I have ever been; its beauty was completely surreal. Leading up to the trip, anyone I told that I was going said how lovely Glendalough was and how much I would like it. Going into the day I was mentally prepared to witness the beauty of Glendalough, but I had no idea of the wonders that would be held for me at Powerscourt.
Powerscourt Estate is an example where continuity of settlement has existed despite major historical transitions. The land was first Gaelic land but it was confiscated and subsequently developed. This country estate, with others like Kilruddery House (also in Co. Wicklow), grew out of a transition from wildscape to designed landscape and formal gardens, as landscape architecture came into being and evolved. There are seven parts to the gardens and each part seemed more stunning than the last. My friends and I worked our way through the gardens on the trail laid out, which takes one through them clockwise starting at the six where the house is. It is very difficult to pin down one aspect of the gardens as my favorite, but the Italian Gardens and Triton Lake (from the pictures I took) are what one sees when they first enter the gardens and they completely blew me away. If you ever visit Dublin, I highly recommend seeing Glendalough (bring your hiking boots!) and Powerscourt Estate. My next trip out of the city is this weekend when I go to Cork, where I am sure there will be many adventures and sites to report on. Until next week, I am signing off from Dublin.