Like most people, I listen to up-tempo music to help me keep pace during a workout. Serendipity provided a pleasant music memory during my workout a few days ago. The album I had chosen to play on my trusty old ipod ended too soon, so I quickly hit the next one on the play list. A pan flute melody flowed from the earbuds. I was immediately transported back to a day Cúpla Sister and I spent in Tralee, County Kerry.
Cupla Sister in Tralee Rose Garden
Tralee Rose Garden
The Tralee rose garden behind impressive St. John’s Church on Castle Street was past its summer peak on that day – but still lovely. We took some photos for Mom who has fond memories of her father singing “Rose of Tralee”.
We felt pampered by tea and pastries at the historic Grand Hotel where we were treated ‘grandly’ despite our backpacks and hiking boots. It would be great fun to attend the traditional Women’s Little Christmas celebration at the Grand Hotel. Women’s Little Christmas is celebrated on January 6th, the traditional Feast of the Epiphany Day. On that day the ladies celebrate together sans gentlemen and take well deserved R & R. There is something fun to add to our Bucket List.
Streets in Tralee city center meander like bent spokes. We meandered with them and began to hear a distant melody – like the wind through bamboo chimes. It drifted around corners, sometimes close and other times more distantly. It drew us like it was the Pied Piper until we located the source. Two lads from Ecuador were playing pan flutes and other wooden pipe instruments to advertise their Sacha Runa band CDs. I believe Sach Runa means something like forest spirits, but I am not fluent in the Quechua language. I purchased Time to Say Goodbye and my sister purchased The Best of Sacha Runa. Both are ethereal but don’t equal the quality of pan flute melodies drifting around the street corners of Tralee.
