On the road
Burn burn burn
“…the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” ― Jack Kerouac, On the Road
For fans of Mad Men, the long wait is nearly over. The seventh and final series is into its final two episodes as it ties up loose ends. Where will that great anti-hero, Don Draper, end up is the big question? Last week saw him walk out of staid McCann Erickson’s offices and get himself on the road, having a chat with his dead boss, Bertram Cooper, and picking up a mysterious stranger to the sound of Bowie’s Space Oddity. It made for gripping viewing. Outside bets say Don’ll end up as a hairy session fiddler in West Donegal – stranger things have happened!
We’re told to expect the unexpected; the trailer below reminds us how exquisite the whole production of it is from the wit of Roger Sterling to the complexities of Don Draper/Dick Whitman. Then there are the plush sets, the verisimilitude, the layered stories, the soundtrack, the outfits – it’s a series of Edward Hopper paintings brought to life. Put simply, it is the best thing on television in a post-Breaking Bad world.
Getting it right
The final series, like Breaking Bad has been delivered in two sets – each of seven episodes, with the grand finale now just days away. Creator Matthew Weiner has hired in some big guns such as Oscar-winning script writer, Robert Towne, to get it right. Fans of the series Lost still shudder at how badly a well-loved series can end when not enough time goes into wrapping up those loose ends. Expectations are higher in this case.
Our flagship native app, the free Donegal App, has saluted Don Draper with its very own video, juxtaposing his easy charm with the wonders of the county. The video takes a minute to get into, but listening to how Draper reels in his ‘catch’ is always a pleasure to watch.
His message in the piece appealed to us and with all apologies to copyright holders AMC and Lionsgate, we took the rather large liberty of mixing it with our own brand. Technology is indeed a glittering lure which can give a sentimental bond to the public – we believe that for fans of Donegal, our service offers emigrants a chance to remember the many wonders they left behind and for visitors, it serves as a reminder of a very special holiday. We’d like to think it acts as a portal to a host of happy memories – both delicate and potent.
The great thing about Donegal though is that it will always be there – in our hearts and in our heads. But don’t just reminisce about the place; plan your next trip, whet your appetite by looking at the myriad sights and sounds we have conjured up and crafted into one handy smart travel guide for your pleasure and then book it. Open up our app today on your smartphone or tablet, watch one of the many YouTube videos on offer and ‘favourite’ a dozen or so places for that Summer 2015 trip. Relish the frisson of excitement as you discover another hidden gem and savour the fact that by doing so, you are in a way already there.
“We need the sweet pain of anticipation to tell us we are really alive.” Albert Camus
