this is where i spent my day today:

www.columcille.org

it was the summer solstice celebration and it was surprisingly nice. i didn't ever know this place existed, but it's down near stroudsburg. i was greeted at the gate with a "happy solstice!" and given a map and a chocolate chip cookie bar and sent on my way through the megalith park. what made it extra nice was that there was a bagpipe and drum group there and you could hear them practicing no matter where you went in the park. as expected everyone was friendly and chatty and a bit new agey, but it was just right. at 3 o'clock there was a ceremony for the dedication of the Sword of Mannanan, which was installed at the bell tower (i'll post some pics soon), and the bagpipers and a brass quintet performed for this.

it was strange. there was an old woman with long long white hair who carried the sword and i never seemed to see her face. even when it was over, i tried to talk to her but she was a;ways talking to others and i could never seem to get in front of her. it was like one of those spooky dreams where she finally does turn around and has no face. i figured that was a sign so i stopped trying to talk to her.

otherwise, it was a really mellow experience and i'd like to go back when there aren't soooo many folks milling about.