The Grand Seiko SLGH021 “Genbi Valley”, henceforth simply “Genbi”, awakes from his slumber on the 1st of April in the 2025th year of our Lord amongst the breathtaking cliffs of the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland. A travel day, Genbi needs to haul himself to a small town in Ireland called Ballinasloe by nightfall. A titanic task. The journey starts straightforwardly: Genbi takes a few trains to Interlaken Ost station, where one last train awaits that would slingshot Genbi straight to Zürich Airport. Easy!
But alas, not easy! About an hour and some change into the journey the PA comes on to regretfully inform all passengers that an “external event” has occurred closing an entire section of track and that all must alight at Olten station. Genbi disembarks, unsure of his fate. But then, Genbi checks the departures board at the station duly providing a local alternative route to Zürich. Easy again! Minus the hoards of rerouted travelers overflowing the poor local trains not designed for this sudden spike in capacity, Genbi is glad he budgeted ample time for this journey and still reaches the airport with an hour and a half to spare.
Genbi is a light-green timepiece, intended by his makers to be reminiscent of the crystal clear waters of the Iwai River through the Genbi Valley. Japan is a bit too many time zones away for little Genbi today, so he is settling for the Irish alternative: rolling hills and pastures full of sheep. Rough life.
With no further unpleasant surprises, Genbi finds his seat on the plane and twiddles his thumbs (his escapement) through an otherwise uneventful flight to Dublin. Genbi also meets a Black Bay 58 on this flight and holds a short but lovely conversation with Mr. BB58 about the joys and woes of being a fine mechanical timepiece in the 21st century. Genbi also notices a lot of Apple Watches, but does not attempt conversation with them.
Bidding adieu to Mr. BB58, Genbi is pleasantly surprised to learn Alamo Rent a Car has upgraded him to a BMW 530e. But Genbi is immediately afterwards unpleasantly surprised (again!!) when he accidentally smashes the passenger sideview mirror into the pillar whilst leaving the rental car garage. Blame it on the whole left side of the road business, he thinks. A day full of twists and turns it’s been.
As compensation, the night’s stay at the Shearwater Hotel & Spa in Ballinasloe proves quite comfortable, as was the journey getting there, simply cruising down Ireland’s M6. The night’s rest comes not a moment too soon as the perils of the next day would demand no less than a conked out 8-hour sleep session.
“Perils” is definitely an exaggeration, as Google Maps sure has a knack for making navigation challenges trivial. The day’s adventures, decided at 8:30am the morning of, was to go anchors up to Inishmore! After a short hide-and-seek session with the parking lot (sorry, carpark) of the ferry terminal, Genbi is well on his way across Galway Bay to the Aran Islands.
After anchoring ashore, Genbi decides that relying on Google Maps would make things too easy/boring and decides instead to up the ante by simply asking for recommendations at a local crafts store. Talking to locals? The horror!
Fortunately for Genbi, it’s apparent the locals are indeed quite proud of their little island and in fact revel at any opportunity to show it off. Nary a moment after a short geography lesson about the island, the first stop of the day is decided: a lovely bike & hike to the Black Fort (Dún Dúchathair) with some sheep g(r)azing on the way.
Genbi feels at home in Ireland. I mean, a pastorally themed watch feeling at home among green pastures…oh the shock. Riding a bicycle through the island, catching the cool ocean breeze, and saying hi to all the livestock along the way; this Grand Seiko knows its place, and its place is here.
After the second objective of the day, a round-trip ride plus hike to the top of Dún Aonghasa on the other side of the island, it is almost time for the return ferry back to the “mainland”. Cue a sea shanty.
Overnight lodging that night is a bit of a haul from the ferry terminal, but Genbi dictates that Irish fish & chips for dinner is a non-negotiable, thus mandating a stop at Guy’s Seafood Bar in Clifden town. Stereotypical Irish pub? Check. With a live band playing traditional Irish music? Check. Chatting up the bartenders with their melodious Irish accents while chowing down on some chippies? Check, check, check.
Genbi then figures that is enough for a day. Onwards to Leenaun and the Portfinn Lodge, but obviously not before snapping a nice roadside shot of the sunset hanging over Connemara National Park’s neck of the woods. As one does.
Genbi only wants to do one thing the next day. Look at Sheep. Hang out with Sheep. Be one with the Sheep. Sheep sheep sheep. But first, since Killary Sheep Farm doesn’t start their first demonstration until 11am, Genbi decides a stop by the Kylemore Abbey wouldn’t hurt anybody. But because Genbi didn’t come to Ireland to look at nice buildings, it didn’t exactly bless anybody either. It is building.
Sheep sheep sheep. As emblematic of Ireland as Guinness and the Shamrock, this alone is worth the price of entry. For Genbi at least. And by Genbi I totally do not mean Genbi’s owner. After a Border Collie shepherding demonstration and the adorable opportunity to bottle-feed young lambs, Genbi’s time in Ireland is made complete. He can now return to Dublin in peace.
And with that it is indeed time to wind down this Grand Seiko’s Great Galway Gallivant. The last night’s stay is at Malahide, not far from Dublin Airport, and with a few hours left in the day, why not take a train in and romp around the streets of Dublin? When in Ireland.
And with that, a happy Genbi returns to Switzerland, just in time to change gears for Watches & Wonders weekend. As Genbi stares at his reflection in the train window en route to Lausanne, he tries, in his mind, to replace the Irish hillsides inundated with sheep with Swiss alpine pastures sprinkled with cattle. Or in this case, lakeside slopes graced with an endless chain of vineyards. One set of natural, peaceful beauty for another. Cue Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Pastoral.
And this night as you sink into your slumber, may your dreams also be filled with such, surrounded by the soundtrack of a glacier stream gleaming against the high afternoon sun intermingled with the chorus of sheep’s baas and cowbells. And somewhere along that stream, you might encounter a Genbi, ticking away at 5Hz almost as steadfastly as those refreshing waters. If only in your dreams.