My first impression of Waterford was very positive. Coming in over the bridge and seeing the row of colored shops, pubs, and houses got me very excited for the coming weeks. It is not overly flashy or too urban which encourages me look closely at the simple beauty around every corner. Not to mention the weather differences, the distinctions between Georgia and Waterford cultures, scenery, and vibe are what really excites me. I can't wait to see more of the city and the country!
We saw this beautiful dalmatic vestment in the Medieval Museum. They were made in 1480 in Florence, Italy which blows my mind. It is made out of gold thread, velvet, and silk. Religious figureheads wore them and they depict stories of Mary, Jesus, or both. The detail of the figures faces blew me away. The fact that someone so long ago was able to stitch so carefully WITH GOLD is astounding to me. It is even cooler that they found it in some chest that no one knew about.
This old beauty is Greyfriar's abbey. It was built around 1240 and was given to the friars because of several negotiations between the Pople, Luke Wadding, Hugh Percell, and Charles I. The final stipulation was that the friar's had to pray for him every day. The abbey changed hands several times and was at one point in time a Franciscan friary, church, home for the elderly, and a hospital. Although it is partially in ruin now, it is stunningly beautiful.
The Waterford Crystal company was founded in 1783 by George and William Penrose. Since then, the company has grown to be one of the most well known and respected crystal manufacturers in the world. Several famous trophies and cultural pieces were crafted there in including the college football championship trophy, the World Cup trophy, the People's Choice Award trophy, the Times Square New Years Eve ball, and several others. It was incredibly interesting to see the master crafters doing their work so up close and personal. Seeing the process from the blowing to the diamond-saw cutting was such an amazing experience. Knowing how much time, effort, and tedious skill goes into each piece really puts the value of the crystal into perspective.
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