Anyway, back to the task at hand. My Ireland trip was amazing. I would love to move to Ireland. I fear these pictures just don't do justice to the amazing beauty of the country. Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula were my absolute favorite.
Day 1:
When I arrived at the hostel there were two other girls hanging around in the room, so we decided to go out together. We wandered around and ended up in Temple Bar.
The actual Temple Bar:
Mine is the one in the middle. I'll just be honest and admit that it's a half pint. I tried to do some tricky work and make it look like it was a full pint, but just behind, but whatever. I'm a lightweight...not much of a drinker, honestly.
This is the pub we were drinking in. Some drunk French guys started chatting us up a bit, which was funny. Also funny, this guy who's in the picture ended up taking the following picture of us while telling us that he'd spent 24 hours in lockup in the crazy house, but the feckers won't give him his papers. oooohhh kayyy, bruv.
The blond is Shannon, she's from Australia, and Amy is from the US but has been living in Germany.
AMAZING street performers, Salante, and a very drunk woman dancing. I ended up buying their CD. They were that good.
Dublin
The big needle thing is the tower of light that was built in 2000 for the millennium. It's also known as the 'stiffy on the liffy' the 'stiletto in the ghetto' and simply 'the needle.'
DAY 2: Dublin to Galway
This is at some bog...I can't remember the name of this particular one, but it's the largest one. The structure things are to celebrate the lunar cycle.
Phil, the most amazing tour guide ever, had a goal for us that we'd see one white horse each day. It actually happened. This was the first...there were actually two in the same pasture so double the good luck on that one. The farmer came out and started talking to us and telling us about his life and such. Nice guy.
The white horses ended up being quite shy, but these ones were nice.
Our first stop was at Clonmacnoise. Here's some more info on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonmacnoise
These are two of the girls that were on the 3 day tour. I was on the 6 day, so it ended up that the people on the 3 day split from the rest of us on the third day (fancy that). The one on the left is Carolyn from Sacramento and on the right is Nat from Australia (I actually met up with her last night in London. We went to dinner and a movie).
This dog was hanging around the cafe waiting for people to give him food. He had the head of a big dog, but a small dog body. Funny, but very cute.
Galway
I started hanging out with Samantha a lot starting in Galway. It ended up that we got along really well and have a lot in common, so that was nice. She was also on the 6 day.
This cathedral is new. It has amazing stained glass windows, though, so it was a needed stop.
Decorative sewer cap.
crreeeeeeepy!
The King's Head Pub. It's worth a gander at the history of the place: http://www.thekingshead.ie/history.php
Sam and me.
Kayakers. This ones for you, dad.
If you see pictures online for Galway (or postcards) you'll likely see this view. This hostel was the best we stayed in, in my opinion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galway
My dinner. Kopparberg...the best cider ever. Lana, you're proud I'm sure :)
Irish stew with homemade brown bread...delicious. I wanted to eat it sooooo bad, but beef and I aren't very good friends. This is Nat's bowl.
These are the people I was traveling with:
Vicky and Josh (couple from Canada, 6 dayers)
From left: Victoria and Natalie (friends from New Zealand), and Katie (from Canada)...all on the 3 day trip.
From left: Luke (6-day from Australia who I ended up hanging out with a lot...amazing guy), Carolyn (3-day from Sac), and Sam (6-day from Phili/Maine, studying in Scotland)
from left again: Anne (3-day from Australia), Maire and Brad (6-day from Canada who ended up renting a house for a week outside of Cork...very jealous about that one), and Nat (3-day from Australia).
Monroes is where we had dinner in Galway. The music was good. The guy on the right apparently has some music out on the radio...John Holland, I think?
Sam with her baby beer. Murphys...ended up being my favorite. I hope we get it in the states.
DAY 3:
Dungire Castle (I think....there's a lot of them)
Corcomroe Abby. I'll take this little moment to just mention that there are a lot of ruins in Ireland. Ruins of old castles and abbys and homess. A lot of these were made ruins by the lovely Oliver Cromwell (who was not lovely at all)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell
Sam...oh, Sam.
ME!
That mid-morning was so lovely. There was mist around and everything's so green. It was beautiful. The pictures just don't do justice.
This is a wishing well where two young girls were hid...during the famine...so they wouldn't be sent to Australia as young brides.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_famine
The most flattering picture I've ever taken...but it's me making a wish, so I had to share. No, I'm not telling you what it was.
Sam making a wish
This is at the Burren. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burren
There are plants that grow here that are native to only that area in the world that have been found to have cancer curing properties. It's also amazingly beautiful. This view is away from the burren, though, and the actual burren is rocky. You'll see. Scroll down.
It was so amazing to see and smell the ocean again.
You know I love snails. :)
We stopped for lunch in Dulan and had some delicious seafood chowder.
The Cliffs of Moher. If you know the movie 'The Princess Bride' you may know these cliffs :) It was absolutely gorgeous there. There were PUFFINS!
That tower is O'Brien's Tower.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffs_of_moher
There's a link to read about O'Brien's Tower from that page.
Later that day we took a ferry across the River Shannon. I love ferry boats...like Dr. McDreamy (yeah, I'm a Grey's girl). There was a woman on a two day tour that joined with us that morning and we ended up forgetting her on the Ferry, but it didn't take long before someone figured out that we had forgotten her. Oops.
This one's for you, Tammy.
When we got to Killarney some of us took a carriage ride through the park. It was lovely, but I kept just feeling bad for the poor horse the whole time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killarney_National_Park
Killarney http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killarney
BANKSYYYYY!!!! Banksy is a street artist who I LOVE! I nearly had a heart attack when Sam said 'oh, look! That's funny' and I saw this. Serious heart attack action. http://www.banksy.co.uk/
Yeah, so what!?
MORE BANKSY!
Word.
DAY 4
This is where the 3-day and 6-day people split off...at Blarney Castle. It's 'the thing' at Blarney castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. It's supposed to give people the gift of eloquence. It's also at the VERY TOP of the castle, and in order to kiss it you have to lie on the ground, hold two bars, scoot so far back that your booty is at the edge...since I'm best friends with the idea of heights, this wasn't the most amazing thing possible but I still did it!
http://www.blarneycastle.ie/pages/stone
You can see some original detail still on the wall up there. Amazing.
Beautiful view. Still about 2 floors from the top, though. *shivver*
There's people over there kissing the stone.
This was me trying to distract myself while waiting my turn.
THAT'S ME! See, I did it!
There's Sam. You can tell that the stone is a different texture from the rest of the castle walls.
That thing that looks like a hole way up there at the top of the tower...that's where the stone is.
Lunch stop on the battlements.
Here's the entire group of 3 and 6 day people plus the one two day woman.
From Charles Fort. This is where the Lucitania was sunk.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucitania
Charles Fort
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fort_(building)
Kinsale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsale
I love that this sign says 'sometimes.'
We stayed in Killarney again that night. When we rolled up there was this...right across the street from the hostel. I could see it from the window I was sleeping next to. I swear it wasn't there the day before....Sam and I had even gone on a Banksy hunt, so I'm sure we would have noticed this. I'd like to think that maybe he saw us and thought it would be perfect since someone would really appreciate it. So, Banksy's gift to me. lol. I'm going to keep telling myself that.
See it there? I would have noticed this the day before if it had been there.
DAY 5
Ring of Kerry Day:
http://www.ringofkerrytourism.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Kerry
First stop was Killarney National Park where there was the most amazing scenery.
Tree hugging is good for the soul. Luke and I were both hugging this tree at the same time, so it must have felt amazingly loved.
You just can't imagine the green. My camera couldn't even comprehend it.
Sam and me again.
More ruins.
Ladies View. Beautiful.
http://killarney-ireland.info/ladies-view-killarney
Sheep crossing
Phil. Crazy Phil. He was (is) so amazing and fun. (the more I write the more I realize that I say 'amazing' a lot)
The Stone Circle in Kenmare
http://www.stonepages.com/ireland/kenmare.html
Somewhere in or outside of Kenmare
Sneem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneem
word
Staigue Fort. Beautiful with beautiful views.
Here's me, once again conquering my fear of heights by clambering up the rock stairs to the top, where the rocks aren't that stable.
http://www.stonepages.com/ireland/staigue.html
some amazing view
This is in Waterville, I believe. That's Phil.
Army barraks in Cahirciveen
Still in Cahirciveen. This is a statue for Brendan the Navigator who was the first ever to sail to the Americas, before the Vikings even. The trip took 7 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_the_Navigator
Right around the corner is a statue of the bust of Daniel O'Connell. I meant to put in the picture, but I don't know what happened.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_O%27Connell
Mountain goats.
anoter ruins of a castle. I can't remember the name of this one. I have it in my journal as Carpentry Castle, but I can't find it online...maybe online has had a brain fart.
Inch Beach, where Coldplay's video for 'Yellow' was filmed.
That night we stayed in a village called Annascaul. There's only about 250 people in the village, but it's very close to Dingle. We stayed in 'The Randy Leprechaun.' Its the most over the top place ever.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annascaul
I didn't take a picture of the Randy, so here's one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevefe/34308413/
Sam and me.
From the left: Luke's first Guinness, my new favorite beer, and Sam's Guinness.
Luke with his first Guinness
Luke after his first Guinness.
Brad and Maire bought everyone Irish Car Bombs. They're strangely delicious.
Phil doing his thing.
Me and Phil
Sam, Luke, and me
Phil singing again.
Day 6
The best day ever. Dingle Peninsula. My heaven.
This place is made entirely of stone.
Standing uphill from Dunbeg Fort. It cost to go down there, so we left it.
http://www.dunbegfort.com/
Panoramic from standing up there...where I was in the previous picture.
The little islands out there are the Skellig islands. That's Sam.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skellig_Islands
The larger ones are the Blasket Islands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasket_islands
Just a little waterfall going across the road.
Check out those beehiave huts, man! Amazing.
http://www.stewellington.com/Ireland/beehive.html
At one of the lookout points we came across this dog. She was so sweet. It was a little scary that she was just walking along the stone wall, though, so close to the cliff.
Down there, that's Comdhineol Beach. The most amazing beach ever.
another pooch. This one belonged to the cafe we were stopped at. His name was Banshee.
There was a shop in the cafe where Phil dressed me up in an easter hat, shawl, and sun umbrella and took tons of pictures, but this was the only one that turned out. :(
On Comdhineol Beach
There were a ton of these little jellies around.
Phil, Sam, Luke, and me.
Sleeping Giant Island. I tried to find the story that goes with it, but I couldn't. If you're so inclined to dig around for it I encourage you to because it's a good one.
After going around the peninsula, we went back to Dingle for a bit.
http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingle
There's a dolphin that hangs around Dingle who they call Fungie. I wanted to take a boat out to fungie watch, but there wasn't time.
We got some strange looks for dolphin riding, but it was fun anyway.
After being picked up on by a very forward older Irishman I went down to the dock to hang out with Luke and this dog sauntered up. I couldn't get a better picture.
That night we stayed in Cork City.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cork_(city)
We got in late and since Ireland is the most expensive destination EVER we went to Mark's and Spencer to pick up dinner, then ate on the steps of the Opera House.
Oh, hey!
Our hostel for the night. It was pretty nice.
By the time we were done eating dinner we were freezing, so we got Bailey's and hot chocolate and cooked it up back at the hostel with Josh and Vicky.
Day 7
The last day of the tour :(
This is the castle in Cashel. The Rock of Cashel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashel,_County_Tipperary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Cashel
Some ruins in town
It was so cold that day that I only walked a half a block up to take those pictures then went back to a cafe for hot chocolate. Luke, Vicky, and Josh ended up coming in, too, so it was nice.
Our low key tour bus.
The castle at Kilkenny. Kilkenny castle, surprisingly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilkenny
Luke and I went into the castle. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but there's one down there that I snuck from the outside.
Massive lawn. I'd love to live there so I can say 'Oh, nothing, just hanging out in the yard' when people ask me what I'm doing.
Funny sign. Sorry, but from here down I didn't flip the pictures. I had so many problems loading this blog!
Our last stop was at the Guinness factory
The gravity bar at the top of the Guinness factory where we all drank our free pints. :)
The lady in the back is Colleen. She's also from Australia.
Day 8: Around Dublin.
Trinity College. We went to see the Book of Kells.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Kells
Grafton Street
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafton_street
St. Stephen's Green
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Green
A pigeon trying to be a real bird up there in the tree. Phah!
I do love candy canes and flowers. The best of both, I would say.
Luke and I are both in love with reading. Way in love with reading. So, we decided to chill and read for a bit.
Sam and Josh hung out while we read.
Molly Malone. The 'pesky minx' as Luke calls her.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Malone
Walking in Temple Bar
Day 9
We were going to go to the National Museum that day, but it was closed (Monday) so we went around to other places instead.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Patrick%27s_Cathedral,_Dublin
Christ Church
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Church_Cathedral,_Dublin
Dublin Castle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_Castle
We went back to St. Stephen's Green to do a bit more reading and got caught in the rain. Good thing it didn't last too long.
Juggling. That's for you, Jamie. :)
I don't know about you, but this doesn't make me want to go in there and get some ice cream.
Since it was our last night together, we decided to go out for some drinks. Luke's brilliant idea while we were reading in the lobby of the hostel...and watching Harry Potter trailers on my iPod. :)
Luke's not the only one that looks good in his glasses.
I couldn't decide which one to put up, so here's both.
We topped off the evening with Bailey's. Perfection.
Day 10:
We went to the National Museum since it was open. This is the house of Parliament.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Houses_of_Parliament
Phil ended up being on airport shuttle duty, which was amazing. Seeing him again was amazing. bla bla amazing. (I've been spending too much time blogging, if you can't tell).
Sam and I had flights that were two hours apart, so we caught the same shuttle which was nice. She ran up to the line RIGHT as I was getting ready to board, so we got our last minute goodbyes.
My last views of Ireland.
Hello, England.
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