replica of the Time Square (New York City) New Year's Eve ball at the Waterford Crystal Factory
From Wexford, I caught the 1:25pm coach to the town of Waterford. Arriving around 3:00, I sat for a moment in John Roberts Square to eat an orange and plot my next move. I then hopped a city bus, which took me around town past the concrete telephone poles and modest townhouses en route to the Waterford Crystal Factory (established 1771).
On the tour of the factory, I witnessed master blowers and engravers performing their crafts. We admired several eye-catching crystal showpieces including a replica of the Time Square New Year’s Eve ball, “Theater” (odd, colorful, crystal sculptures), and a magnificent grandfather clock.
furnace in the Waterford Crystal Factory
The gift shop at the end of the tour was full of gorgeous crystal objects of every size and configuration. It was so tempting to buy some as souvenirs, but considering such issues as breakage, the weight they would add to my pack, and price, I resisted and bought none.
I concluded my tour of Waterford on the bus ride back to the quay (pronounced “key” and refers to a road along a river), past mediaeval ruins, Waterford Institute of Technology, cathedrals, and narrow cobblestone side streets. At the bus stop long the river docks, I waited for the bus to Cork while watching the fleet of fishing vessels on the River Suir. Four pleasant French girls were boarding the bus as well and we shared a brief introduction before taking our seats. Soon we were heading west down the Southern Corridor (National Primary Route N25). Beyond Dungarvan, sprawling farmlands boasted many up-scale homes while the village of Youghal was a quaint and charming suburbia.
