It has been a busy, adventurous weekend full of ups and downs (literally so many in the car), beautiful views, good food, and great memories being made with the best of friends. Alyshia arrived from Africa on Thursday and we haven’t slowed down since. I can’t believe she is already leaving tomorrow.
First off, Conner, Alyshia, and I went to tour the Guinness Storehouse. We learned all about Arthur Guinness, his family, and the history of Guinness over the years. We were able to learn how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness and drink it from the 360 bar overlooking Dublin. Afterwards we went to the Brazen Head for dinner, which is the oldest pub in Ireland. I even happened to sit right beside a signed dollar bill with a Purdue P on it!
Friday, I got to spend the whole day with Alyshia showing her around Dublin. We went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church, down O’Connell Street and Grafton Street, to Dublin Castle, and Trinity College, walked through St. Stephen’s Green, and all the way down Camden Street. Then, we headed to UCD to have dinner with my roommates, Conner, and Paul. After dinner we hung out and played cards before going to a birthday party for our friend at the campus bar.
Then we began a real adventure when we left Saturday at 9 am for our awesome 3-day Bank Holiday weekend road trip. First destination on Saturday was Galway City. We spent the early afternoon eating lunch at The Dail Bar and walking around to all sites to see in Galway. The colored houses on the harbor with the sail boats and blue sky were so lovely but nothing compares to the Spanish Arch. Conner, Paul, Alyshia and I loved it, and no pictures could capture it’s splendor.
We left Galway to head to Cliffs of Moher for the evening. The Cliffs of Moher was one of the most magnificent sights I have ever seen. I wish I could put words to it, but honestly their aren’t any. I can only say that it was breathtaking in every essence of the word. We got to walk all along the edges of the cliff and take in the ocean breeze as the sun was setting over the water. It was beautiful and I wish everyone could see that in person at some point in his or her life.
After eating an amazing dinner at The Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna and spending the night at Burren Hostel there, we made our way to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. There we spent the early morning exploring the likes of 15th century Ireland. Then, we made our way to Kilarney National Park where we first stopped at Torc Waterfall before arriving at my favorite location of the trip, The Ladies View. Paul, Conner, Alyshia, and I ventured out to a large rock overlooking the valley of the park. We spent a lot of time sitting, admiring the view, and appreciating the presence of one another. These are my favorite moments. The view looked like we were staring at a picture, yet we were in it. Nature will never cease to amaze me with its beauty and wonder.
We then drove the Ring of Kerry, jamming out in the car and loving the views. It was a scenic coastal drive where we even got to pull off and hit some golf balls into the ocean for a while. It was a blast.
Last night was spent in Kilarney after making our way back over windy, one-way roads through the middle of nowhere Ireland. We had a nice dinner at the Failte restaurant before passing out from our long day at Neptune’s Hostel.
We got up early again this morning for our final leg of the trip. Our first destination of the day was Blarney Castle. It was raining all morning but we didn’t let that stop our fun. All of us explored the entirety of the park through puddle-filled paths and mud before ending by kissing the Blarney Stone and gaining our eternal eloquence (or so says the myth!) Then, from there we drove to Cork where we hit our last destination. We spent the remaining few hours outside of Dublin at the Fota Wildlife Park. It was a magnificent facility with various animals from all over the world. After returning to Dublin, we had a celebratory dinner at the Mercantile.
Each destination we made was amazing, and I am so grateful I was able to see all I have of Ireland this weekend. We drove through so many towns and farmlands, and everything I saw and experienced made me fall in love with Ireland even more.
I’m so grateful for my friends, whom I got to experience it all with, because it’s all that much better that I was able to share it with them.
[More pictures to come :)]
First off, Conner, Alyshia, and I went to tour the Guinness Storehouse. We learned all about Arthur Guinness, his family, and the history of Guinness over the years. We were able to learn how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness and drink it from the 360 bar overlooking Dublin. Afterwards we went to the Brazen Head for dinner, which is the oldest pub in Ireland. I even happened to sit right beside a signed dollar bill with a Purdue P on it!
Friday, I got to spend the whole day with Alyshia showing her around Dublin. We went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church, down O’Connell Street and Grafton Street, to Dublin Castle, and Trinity College, walked through St. Stephen’s Green, and all the way down Camden Street. Then, we headed to UCD to have dinner with my roommates, Conner, and Paul. After dinner we hung out and played cards before going to a birthday party for our friend at the campus bar.
Then we began a real adventure when we left Saturday at 9 am for our awesome 3-day Bank Holiday weekend road trip. First destination on Saturday was Galway City. We spent the early afternoon eating lunch at The Dail Bar and walking around to all sites to see in Galway. The colored houses on the harbor with the sail boats and blue sky were so lovely but nothing compares to the Spanish Arch. Conner, Paul, Alyshia and I loved it, and no pictures could capture it’s splendor.
We left Galway to head to Cliffs of Moher for the evening. The Cliffs of Moher was one of the most magnificent sights I have ever seen. I wish I could put words to it, but honestly their aren’t any. I can only say that it was breathtaking in every essence of the word. We got to walk all along the edges of the cliff and take in the ocean breeze as the sun was setting over the water. It was beautiful and I wish everyone could see that in person at some point in his or her life.
After eating an amazing dinner at The Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna and spending the night at Burren Hostel there, we made our way to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. There we spent the early morning exploring the likes of 15th century Ireland. Then, we made our way to Kilarney National Park where we first stopped at Torc Waterfall before arriving at my favorite location of the trip, The Ladies View. Paul, Conner, Alyshia, and I ventured out to a large rock overlooking the valley of the park. We spent a lot of time sitting, admiring the view, and appreciating the presence of one another. These are my favorite moments. The view looked like we were staring at a picture, yet we were in it. Nature will never cease to amaze me with its beauty and wonder.
We then drove the Ring of Kerry, jamming out in the car and loving the views. It was a scenic coastal drive where we even got to pull off and hit some golf balls into the ocean for a while. It was a blast.
Last night was spent in Kilarney after making our way back over windy, one-way roads through the middle of nowhere Ireland. We had a nice dinner at the Failte restaurant before passing out from our long day at Neptune’s Hostel.
We got up early again this morning for our final leg of the trip. Our first destination of the day was Blarney Castle. It was raining all morning but we didn’t let that stop our fun. All of us explored the entirety of the park through puddle-filled paths and mud before ending by kissing the Blarney Stone and gaining our eternal eloquence (or so says the myth!) Then, from there we drove to Cork where we hit our last destination. We spent the remaining few hours outside of Dublin at the Fota Wildlife Park. It was a magnificent facility with various animals from all over the world. After returning to Dublin, we had a celebratory dinner at the Mercantile.
Each destination we made was amazing, and I am so grateful I was able to see all I have of Ireland this weekend. We drove through so many towns and farmlands, and everything I saw and experienced made me fall in love with Ireland even more.
I’m so grateful for my friends, whom I got to experience it all with, because it’s all that much better that I was able to share it with them.
[More pictures to come :)]