Puffins!
I know. I know. There are many reasons to go to Skellig Michael. I labeled the Celtic Invasion Vacations this year, the Invasion of Star Wars because The Last Jedi was filmed there.
And it was brilliant. To climb those steps. To see the spectacular views both up the mountains and off to sea. It set my Jedi heart on fire. It lit my internal lightsaber. Backwards speaking it made me do.
But the puffins…
One of the guides said that the puffins fly around the world. But they always come back to Skellig Michael. If you go late in the summer, you would miss them entirely. We were fortunate to meet quite a few. EVERYWHERE!
What beautiful birds!
The boat trip out to Skellig Michael was a bit rough. We had to escape the waves. There was a lot of tossing and bouncing on the boat. It took about an hour. I confess I was a bit miserable. My stomach was threatening to lose the little bit o’food it ingested at 5 am on Tuesday, June 11, 2019.
We arrived at the island. The captain of the Force Awakens boat, or as Neil called him, The Pirate, was not too friendly. He made sure to repeatedly emphasize that we had to be back by noon. No later. Or we would be left behind.
We disembarked the boat and raced up the smooth path, to the foot of the old steps made by monks centuries ago. We suffered through a safety guide. Walk carefully. Pay attention. Leave nothing behind.
All great advice except for the 15 minute talk cut into our excitement to climb and see what history had to offer. But it served us well.
It was supposed to be a thirty minute climb. I don’t know how long it took us. Because of the puffins. They were everywhere. I took pictures and video. No clue how I will use it. I just had to capture images of these beautiful birds.
Then we made it to the first stop where the rocks divide. It’s one of those memorable pictures that everyone sees when you talk about Skellig Michael. It was just as stunning in person.
Back up the steps we went, all the way to the outer grounds of the monastery. Over the wall we saw the behive huts. They told us this was a good place to have lunch. I wanted to make sure I didn’t lose my lunch so I stopped to eat…and to sing.
Yes. I brought my autoharp. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. But I brought it nonetheless. I sang my own tribute to Star Wars and Ireland, “Jedi Mickey” from the Brobdingnagian Bards upcoming album (Kickstarter in July:).
Finally, we entered the main area. I settled in Luke’s hut and played his them song followed by the “Jedi Drinking Song”. Then more pictures and videos.
The view from up there was incredible. The intensity of history and legends was alive and vibrant. My only complaint is it was all too short. The guides hadn’t even finished their stories about the monastery when we realized we had just thirty minutes to get back down to the boat. I wanted more.
So down we went. Taking pictures of ourselves and puffins. A little sad to leave.
When I arrived and as my stomach settled, I told my friend Steve that I wouldn’t be back to this island. The waves were just uncomfortable. Why subject myself to that?
Then I saw the puffins. I sent videos to my kids. I realized I was wrong. If they ever wanted me to take them to see the puffins, I’d be proud to do so.
