Day 156: Viking History

Day 156 - Thursday, September 13th 2018: Tramore to Waterford 12 km / Total 3214 km, &6°C, cloudy My initial plan wasn't to go directly from Tramore to Waterford but to spend a night in Dunmore East instead. Unfortunately, if I wanted to stay only one night at Waterford's hostel, it couldn't be on a Friday or a Saturday night. That's why I had to get there earlier on Thursday evening.  So as it was only half a day of the walk, I decided to wait until check-out time to leave my hostel. And as I opened my bedroom door, I found myself in front of a group of teenagers who suddenly invaded the hostel. That explained why the hostel was full on that night, while it was empty the night before.  Sun was shining, and the sea was deep blue along the very long beach of Tramore when I left. I took a little road along an equestrian park to reach Waterford. Just as I arrived in town, as I was walking on the grass (softer than the road for my feet) I stepped in dog poop. I've been walking in many sheep's and cow's poop, but in six months, that's the first time it happened to me, because most of the time, people clean after their dog. Apparently not here. At least it was with the left foot, which means luck! I dropped my bag at the hostel and went to visit the city, the most ancient of Ireland, founded by the Vikings. I went to the Medieval Museum, which presents the history of the city, its wine trade, and its rivalry with New Ross. It also has some treasures, some very well preserved priest dresses, very precious. It was a very interesting museum and for once the local history wasn't about emigration or the Great Famine.  Then I went to visit the Reginald's Tower, first in wood, made by the Vikings, then turned into a stone tower. That's where I learnt that Waterford came from the Viking name "varadfjord" which means winter haven. I spent the evening at the hostel in order to get my clothes washed. In fact, it was a guesthouse, with a hostel in the underground and B&B upstairs. The hostel part was full and very noisy. Such a contrast with the empty hostel on the coast, and the city one.