Wonders

[trinityofone]

I just got back from a truly incredible day in Boyne Valley, where I saw, among other things, the tomb at Newgrange, the preserved head of St. Oliver, and Tara Hill. Katrina took pictures, so I'll post in more detail when she sends them to me and I'm less close to total physical and mental collapse--hopefully tomorrow? [/insane optimism]

Now, though, I just really have to recommend an SGA story to you all:

Things You Never Did by godofwine [McKay/Sheppard, PG]

This story tore me apart. The style is beautiful and spare, and godofwine doesn't pull a single punch. I read a lot of fic, but this is one of the few stories I'm pretty sure I'll still be thinking about in ten years' time. It's left me breathless.

Comments

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh, God. I feel all sniffly just thinking about it. It's a great idea, but I don't know if I could write it. (You should write it!) I'll be thinking about it, though.

That story - which is quite beautiful, btw, even if it's not yours -

I'm amused by the implication that my stories are the only ones that are allowed to be beautiful. Thankfully, that is not so. *g*

[wychwood]

Newgrange! That's so cool!

And yes, that's a good (and a hard) story. I think you and godofwine are quite similar in style, in some ways - you both do so much with style and with word choices, as much as with the actual plot you're telling. And you both have that emotional punch right there.

[ilgattopardo.livejournal.com]

Newgrange! One of the only archaeological sites in the British Isles that is actually cool! Tara, on the other hand, left me cold (as a ten year-old, the last time I went there!), although it's possible the visitor facilities have had an upgrade since I was there. (On the other hand, perhaps not: it's a good thing you saw it now, since
it'll look a bit different soon (http://www.archaeological.org/webinfo.php?page=10245)!)

Da Boyne Valley is more famous Up North, however, as the site of the Battle of the Boyne (1690), which pretty much defined the subsequent history of Ireland, particularly Ulster. But you probably knew that, and more power to you if you didn't go visit the battlefield! There are times when too much (selective) historical consciousness is a Bad Thing.

I'll send you an e-mail with my phone numbers in Ireland before I leave Greece (FYI, in case lj didn't notify you, which I hear has been happening a lot lately, I put details of my Ireland trip in a comment after your "Major Ted" post, whenever that was. I don't care if you don't have time to reply, I just want to make sure you were aware of it, 'cos I don't feel like retyping everything...).

[taurendur.livejournal.com]

So what have you visited that you liked the most?