Avy and I set the alarm early Friday morning in preparation of the journey to Waterford. We used a breakfast voucher included in our Groupon for the “Early Bird Special” and feasted on fruit, pastries, eggs, meats, and more! My favorite morning beverage is the Mocha Cappuccino. Although it was an all-you-can-eat buffet, I prefer the intimacy of Poppie’s down in Enniskerry.

I cannot describe how thankful I am for Avonie’s bravery and expert driving skills. The 2+ hour drive to Waterford would have been much too intimidating for me to tackle, and I happily enjoyed the ride as a passenger. We passed the most lovely countryside, speckled with cows, horses, and sheep. Every time I saw tiny lambs with their mamas, Avy and I squealed with delight. I must have snapped over a hundred pictures out of the car window, but my camera just cannot capture the depth and the beauty of the view.

We arrived in bustling Waterford around 1:00pm and found parking relatively easily. We strolled down the cobblestone streets by the river and made our way to the House of Waterford Crystal for the factory tour. This experience was also included in our Groupon! The tour was only about 45 minutes long, and I found it fascinating! It began in the Mold Workshop, where we learned about the plugs and molds created for the crystal pieces. Thanks to my work at Regal, it was all very familiar to me and I was able to understand many of the technicalities described. Next, we watched the craftsmen place the molten glass in furnaces before blowing and shaping the pieces. The Quality Control station was our next stop, and after watching the QC technician buffer and rinse a few crystal vases, we had the opportunity to smash some defective ones! Many of the men in our group attempted to smash the glass and failed, but Avonie managed just fine!

The last area of the tour was the etching and engraving stations. We were able to get up close and personal with the etchers, watching their work from only a few inches away. They loved the attention and many of the men posed for our pictures. It is an intricate and beautiful craft. During the tour, Avonie and I had the privilege of holding one of the many NCAA Championship Trophies that has been manufactured at the Waterford Crystal Factory. It’s not every day that you get to hold one of these!

After the tour, we shopped in the Waterford Showroom and marveled at the beauty and workmanship of the crystal pieces. The staff was incredibly helpful and answered all the questions we had. I also enjoyed talking with the artist who does all of the personalized engravings on the crystal.