23 Dec
2013

Backpacking the Wicklow Mountains Near Dublin, Ireland

Backpacking the Wicklow Mountains Near Dublin, Ireland

I recently had an awesome backpacking trip to Ireland and this post will discuss my experience in the Wicklow Mountains.

You always meet the most wonderful people when traveling the world. This trip was no exception. Here are some thoughts and tips that I’ve gathered through my experience backpacking and traveling in the Wicklow Mountains of Wicklow County in Ireland.

Ireland has a population of 4 million with nearly half (1.8 million) living in the metropolitan Dublin area. Just outside of this international metropolis, one can find the amazingly beautiful oasis known as The Wicklow Mountains.

In 45 minutes, we went from this:

 

dublin street temple bar

To this:

Road from Dublin to Wicklow

 

I arrived in Dublin after taking an overnight flight from NYC. I was traveling solo and got to The Times Hostel (near Trinity College) at 5:30am local time. I was working on one hour of sleep and a ton of adrenaline and excitement as it was my first time in Europe. I wasn’t able to check in yet but the receptionist was nice enough to let me store my backpack and have breakfast upstairs in the kitchen. Almost instantly, I met a couple of backpackers (Peter and Eddie) who looked like they were still up from the night before. These guys were vastly different from each other but they seemed as though they were best friends.

The kitchen at Times Hostel on College Street. At any point in time, one can meet people from 10+ countries and hear conversations going on in 10+ languages. Love that.

 

food at times hostel ireland dublin backpacker backpacking

 

Peter and Eddie explained that they had gotten two hours of sleep but after I asked if they wanted to join me on a tour of the Wicklow Mountains, they were all for it. Like true backpackers, they shrugged off their fatigue and braced themselves for another memorable experience. The bus left at 7am and it was 65 degrees (F) and sunny — we were constantly reminded that this was not the norm. It was one of the nicest days of the year.

Eddie, we’ll be lifelong friends after traveling together for less than a week. What a terrific, unique person:

Eddie Santoni in Wicklow Mountains


Here’s me taking in the fresh Irish air in the Wicklow Mountains:

Paz Romano Wicklow Mountains backpacking traveling ireland wicklow dublin

Peter (below) was the first person I met in Ireland. His kindness set off a chain reaction introducing me to 15~20 other amazing people over that next week. Peter is an open+minded free spirit and we formed a strong connection over his future plans to explore SE Asia and meditation.

Pete in Wicklow Mountains
 

The bridge from PS I Love You

Bridge from PS I love you movie Wickow Mountains Dublin Ireland

You can see the scene here:

Before finding yoga and meditation, life moved so quickly and on New Years each year I would say, “Where did that year go?!” That’s why I like to practice yoga and meditation during my travels. It roots me in the moment and increases my awareness and presence.

Now whenever I want to, I can easily manifest myself back to moments like the one below:

Meditation in Wicklow Mountains under bridge from PS I love you Glendalough Ireland dublin

 

Photograph of Guinness Lake in the Wicklow Mountains of Glendalough County, Ireland. After speaking with locals, I gathered that the Guinness Family is one of the most successful and respected families in all of Ireland.

Guinness LakeFamily Ireland Glendalough Wicklow Mountains Ireland
 

Doesn’t the sand look like foam on top of a dark pint of Guinness?

 

Guinness Lake Ireland Glendalough Guinness Family Backpackers Backpacking


Sunny and 75 Fahrenheit, a rarity in Ireland 🙂

Beautiful day wicklow mountains ireland glendaloug backpacking


Here’s me preparing for headstand (Sirsasana). This was unique because if I had fallen two feet to the right, I would have probably died. 

Getting up into headstand yoga asana in wicklow mountains ireland glendalough backpacking hostel


Eddie getting in on the fun:

eddie santoni handstand in wicklow mountains ireland glendalough


Here’s me climbing up a field in the Wicklow Mountains. For each stop the bus made, the driver allotted a certain amount of time for us to explore. The tourists usually stayed on the bus or texted on their phones but the backpackers, Peter, Eddie and I pushed it to the limit every time:

Paz Romano wicklow mountains climbing beautiful day


As they say, the river runs through it:

Wicklow Mountains view from top ireland backpacker


Peter and Eddie taking a lunch break. The restaurant is run out of the owner’s home. There is a bathtub in the bathroom that customers use. New meaning to the term “family restaurant.” 😉

restaurant in Wicklow Mountains ireland backpacker

After hiking all day, it felt amasing to take a break by walking in the cold lake on smooth massaging stones:

paz romano restaurant in Wicklow Mountains ireland backpacker


Eddie being Eddie 🙂

backpacking wicklow mountains ireland eddie arms spread guinness lake


This prompted Peter to ask me about meditation and how he can get started. Here’s me taking in another unforgettable moment in the Wicklow Mountains. God’s Grace was surely shining on this day.

 seated meditation wicklow mountains ireland backpacking paz romano traveling


A celtic cross high on top of a hill:

Cross with blue skies wicklow mountains ireland


Me hugging an extremely old (10th century) cross:

Paz Romano hugging cross in wicklow mountains ireland backpacker


Peter, Eddie, and our tour guide. Don’t remember his name but he’s a great guy. Called us “The three crazy lads.”

tour guide with pete eddie wicklow mountains cross ireland glendalough


A waterfall that Peter scaled in about 6 seconds flat:

waterfall in wicklow mountains ireland glendalough


Me impersonating the infamous aerial Rio shot:

imitating famous rio picture wicklow mountains ireland glendalough


Looks the same, right? 😉

Rio Lucid Practice ireland wicklow photo romano


Eddie took this shot of me as we stopped for a break of tea and biscuits:

 Wicklow Mountains Ireland Dublin Glendalough


The beautiful Wicklow Mountains in Glendalough County. Glen means valley in English. Glendalough translates to: the Valley with two lakes. Here’s a shot in black and white with the beautiful shrub called Hedder depicted in yellow:

Glendalough Wicklow Mountains Dublin


In our travels in the Wicklow Mountains, we came across an enormous amount of what the Irish call, “turf.” The land here in the Wicklow area is raw and not good for farming. But there’s turf. And a lot of it. The turf is 100% natural and comes from the ground like this:

Wicklow Mountains Turf used for compost fertilizer incense backpacking ireland


The turf is one of Ireland’s biggest exports — it’s shipped mostly to other Western European countries. The harvesters stack it like bricks of hay:

turf ireland dublin glendalough backpacker backpacking insence heating


The turf is used it as fertilizer and compost. *Note: The compacted version of this turf gives off tremendous heat when burned and it’s used as an incense (interesting fact for our yoga readers.)

Ireland Exports turf burning for heat incense compost gardening fertilizer


The turf is also used for heating homes:

turf wicklow mountaints backpacking ireland dublin glendalough


Me practicing wheel pose overlooking a valley. There’s no doubt that the experience was more lucid after a wee backbend 😉

Paz Romano yoga Wheel pose in wicklow mountains ireland dublin
Backpacker Conversations in the Wicklow Mountains

One of my favorite parts about traveling is conversations that matter.  I’m passionate about discussing important issues with people who come from different countries, cultures, and perspectives. On this day, the conversation in the Wicklows was centered around language.

I’m learning Mandarin and Spanish. Eddie is fluent in French, English and Spanish. Peter speaks Italian and English and our tour guide spoke English and Gaelic. We taught each other a few words and phrases and then changed the tune of our conversation to the importance of language in term’s of a country’s history, culture, and future.

Only 15% of Ireland speaks Gaelic although there’s been a recent push to revive the language in the interest of strengthening the culture. In Jim Rogers’ book Adventure Capitalist, he criticizes the Irish for teaching Gaelic, calling it a waste of time and referring to it as a “dead language.” I disagree with Rogers.

It’s true that as a result of globalization, English, Spanish, and Mandarin are encroaching upon other languages effectively “killing” other languages.

But I feel that a country’s language is so crucial to the nation’s identity. It is the DNA of a culture. Learning Gaelic helps:

  • Promote the history of Ireland
  • Increase awareness of native identity, giving students a foundation to know their roots
  • Encourages people to be more artistic and creative (write books, make music, create art in Gaelic)

It’s no surprise that countries that deeply care about their culture (such as Israel) emphasize the importance of learning the native language.

The French are similar. L’exception culturelle (Cultural Exception) is a policy that was introduced in France in 1993 to promote French language and culture. This is one of the reasons that the French resist speaking English (I’ve noticed this while making friends with the French while traveling Asia) unless they absolutely have to. Can you imagine France and French culture without the French language?

I believe that out of gratitude, you owe somewhat of an allegiance to wherever you’re living and working. Out of respect, we can learn about the country’s history, speak the language, and enhance the culture.

On Friendship

It’s six months later and Eddie, Peter and I are still connected. Both Eddie and Peter read Lucid Practice and we share ideas and thoughts on traveling, yoga, meditation, and life. It’s incredible how you can meet someone and spend just a few short days together but form such a strong lifelong connection. Then, there are other people who maybe you’ve known for years but have never been able to connect with on a similar level. Interesting.

I think back to our travels and what resonates the most is the people we’ve met and the connections we’ve made. Whether it’s been China, Southeast Asia, Europe, or wherever, meeting and connecting with locals and other travelers has been so impactful.

I remember reading a quote in Backpacker Magazine that sums it up perfectly:

“Some of the best times traveling are when it doesn’t go to plan and you end up in a random place having a random conversation that leaves a real impact on you.”

Conclusions on Traveling the Wicklow Mountains

I strongly suggest venturing outside of Dublin and visiting this incredible area. The countryside offers a refreshing contrast to the bustling city.

The air is crisp, the rolling hills and mountains are breathtaking, and the people are friendly, knowledgable and engaging. I recommend renting a car or traveling with a tour bus but make sure it’s an all day tour — otherwise you might feel rushed and it will be difficult to be present. And mix in a few asanas (yoga postures) and seated meditation sessions along the way. 😉

Another option is hiking. There are close to 100 marked trails, many of them along streams, up rivers, and alongside beautiful natural shrubbery. I’ll leave you with a quote that sums up how I feel about our experience in the Wicklow Mountains:

“My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing.” ~Aldous Huxley

Has anyone had a similar experience in the Wicklow Mountains or in any location?

8 comments Paz Romano
22 Dec
2013

Natural Insomnia Cure: Beautiful Song for Yoga, Meditation, and Relaxation

This song may serve as a cure to restlessness and insomnia. This beautiful song, Angel’s Prayer, by Ty Burhoe is great for meditation, yoga, relaxation. I enjoy listening to this song during restorative yoga and recommend it to anyone who has problems falling asleep at night. Enjoy 🙂

0 comments Paz Romano
20 Dec
2013

What is YogaLagniappe.com? Our Conversation with Brooke Bailey

Yoga Lagniappe

What is YogaLagniappe.com?

Last week Paz and I had an awesome Skype conversation with Brooke Bailey from Yoga Lagniappe. We learned about Brooke’s company and how they are making a major impact in the New Orleans area through their online platform.

Brooke and her team have compiled experiences from most of the yoga studios within New Orleans to help local residents connect with local yoga studios and teachers.

Brooke’s aim is for each of us to enjoy the lagniappe (Louisiana French for “that something extra“) that yoga and wellness bring through the cultivation of a thriving local community. It was great connecting and learning from her experiences. Brooke beams with passion for the practice and with love for New Orleans.

Check out her site and connect with Brooke personally on Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for her exclusive emails at www.sbrookebailey.com, or via her Facebook page. She has created an awesome resource, so if you live in, or are traveling through the New Orleans area and want to practice, check out her site for where to go.

Thank you for sharing your story, Brooke, we applaud you for building such an amazing platform and wish you continued blessings!

If you’re doing similar work as a blogger or business owner in the yoga, wellness, travel, or art space and would like to connect with us via Skype, leave a comment below or contact Lucid Practice here.

0 comments blevine32

The Eight Limbs of Yoga Explained

Via YogaJournal 

8 Limbed Path, Ashtanga, Yoga

A deeper meaning of yoga….

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9 Dec
2013

What is Svadhyaya? Words from our teacher inspired by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sadhana Pada, Sutra 43

What is Svadhyaya? Words from our teacher inspired by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sadhana Pada, Sutra 43

This article was inspired by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sadhana Pada, Sutra 43: 

Svadhyayat istadevata samprayogah

(Translated) Self-study leads towards the realisation of God or communion with ones desired deity.

Quite regularly I ask myself questions, what does my life mean to me? How do I feel? Is what I’m currently doing making me happy? What do I want to offer? What do I want to receive?

In doing so I’ve become increasingly aware that what I offer to myself and others will directly influence the quality and value of what I receive. To borrow an astute Indian phrase: if you plant onions seeds, don’t expect mango trees.

What have I been planting? What do I even want to harvest? And if the Buddha was right with “What you think, you become” then what will I become if I’ve ignored my own avid cerebral farming!

So how do I sort my seedbank? Over the years I’ve discovered what works (well for me at least) is quite simply self enquiry. The act of questioning myself and allowing space for unhindered feedback. Or as Patanjali would put it ‘Svadhyaya’.

Now there are varying ‘depths’ to Self enquiry, having studied and practiced the teachings of Ramana Maharishi – possibly the most accomplished ‘Self enquirer’ of our modern age, I realised (sadly not with a capital R!) that I’d most probably be broke both financially and egoically before Realising that I am indeed That….That I am. So I terrestrialised my desires a bit…opened my eyes, got off the cushion and began enquiring about and diving into life. Life is my practice.

And if life is my practice, who is my Guru? Well….I am! If I ask my body what it wants and I actually listen, it tells me. Whether that be the food I eat or the asana I next move into. If sit by a river and ask myself What am I hearing? What am I feeling? What am I seeing? What am I smelling? I become that place….I become natural….I become ‘present’. If I ask myself what makes me happy? What are the moments in my day that I enjoy the most? I can’t help but work towards expanding those moments.

A wise person once wrote – “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And go do that, because what the world needs are more people who have come alive!

Indeed.

Life as practice is a journey from pole to pole, darkness to light, pain to pleasure, ignorance to awareness, selfish to selfless. Yes we will experience darkness, yes we will feel pain, yes we will be ignorant and yes we actually must learn to be selfish. To be selfish is good, it will blossom and contentment will be the fruit for ourselves and those around. If we cannot please ourselves or cultivate our own happiness then how do we propose to spread this to others?

If we plant enough mango seeds within ourselves and reap the fruits of those actions, we will become the mango seed! Metaphorically speaking of course.

As Gandhi so wisely put – “Be the change you wish to see”.

If you wish to make a difference, firstly with yourself then become selfish and self enquire…ask yourself what makes you tick, embark on a voyage from selfishness to selflessness….life will present itself to you and you will be the present.

~Rory

We’re delighted and grateful to say that from this point forward, Rory will be contributing to Lucid Practice on a regular basis, sharing his lucid insights on yoga and life. If you’re so inclined, please welcome Rory to Lucid Practice in the comments section of this post. 

Svadhyaya explained by Rory Trollen

6 comments Rory Trollen

When did everybody stop jogging

Asana, Yoga

When did everybody stop jogging?

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30 Nov
2013

10 Awesome Health Benefits Of Headstand

Sirsasana or headstand is one of my favorite postures, and has been for many years. There was a time when I would request a headstand on every class I went to whenever the instructor asked us what we wanted to work on. To this day, I practice headstand for at least 10 minutes, 6 days a week.

This posture may seem like just a fun party trick, but it is actually so much more. The health benefits of headstand and its variations are many.

Before you begin, remember that while you are learning head stand it is best to practice with a teacher until you find your bearing. This posture is healing, but only if you are doing it properly and safely. If you have any neck or back issues, you will most likely want to skip this posture until you are recovered. It is also commonly advised not to go upside-down if you are on your moon cycle or pregnant. If you have a healthy neck and back and know this pose, here are my top ten health benefits of Headstand!

1. Relieves Stress

Headstand is known as a cooling posture, meaning that it helps you to draw your attention inwards. This posture is extremely helpful if you are having anxiety, stress, fear or otherwise worrisome thoughts. Combine headstand with long, slow breathing and you have a recipe for stress relief.

2. Increases Focus

When you turn upside down, you are increasing the blood flow to your brain. This can help to improve mental function, and increase you sense of focus.Along with helping to reduce fear and worry, this posture will improve your ability to keep your mind sharp and clear.

Click to eight more reasons why headstand is an incredible asana — YOGA

0 comments blevine32