P.S. I love Ireland: Roadtrip time.

Cliffs of Moher

Just got back from Ireland. Saw a lot of green and more rainbows in that week than I think I have my whole life. Did not encounter any Leprechauns. Unfortunately. Did learn though that the Irish are HILARIOUS! And that Mexicans, are amazing, that is, when they're not telling you that a certain rock is a whale, and you don't find out that they were pulling your leg until you're home safe and sound a couple of days later.

The Whale^^

DUBLIN- day 1: Simply galavanted around the city. Discovered that Dublin has the best shopping IN THE WORLD. Except maybe China (have yet to go there.) We took a walk in the park and spotted an old timer feeding the birds who was nice enough to give me some bread so I could do the same! Went to a pub. Maybe two? Does the place we went to lunch (Brewley's) also classify as one? Hmmm.. In any case I love the 'pub' atmosphere. Warm, welcoming, live music, and lots of funny drunk people! 

Roadtrip- day 2: (Northern Ireland, an actual country apparently.)  Wake up... early? Probable. Head off to ANCIENT 5000 YEAR OLD SITE! It was called Newgrange. Historical significance: old, has a tomb, matches up with the season solstices, and was probably built by aliens. From there we went to a classic Irish town called Hillsborough and visited a beautiful church as well as its eerie cemetery. Onward we went to the Giants Causeway. Probably also built by aliens. To top the day off we drove under some really old looking trees called "Dark Hedges." Also eerie...

The roadtrip gang in front of kylemore. 

Roadtrip- day 3: (Southern Ireland.) Visited Kylemore Abbey; however, wasn't always an abbey. This estate was originally built as a gift for the wife of some (obviously) successful man. So this is what love looks like... From there we went to the tiny town of Doolin! Stayed the night in an adorable hostel that was actually a legit cottage. Attempted to go to ancient ritual stone in the night... Epic fail. Not only were there 'imaginary' guard dogs, but fences, rocks, and actually (as we found out the next day) it was the complete wrong location!

Roadtrip- day 4: GOOD MORNING! -Says the lovely Irish sun (which actually, did shine for us.) 

Random horse says hello as well...

First things first, breakfast! We all sampled a 'real' Irish breakfast which consists of ham, sausage, potatoes, a tomato, and an egg. Drove to the Poulnabrone dolmen stone (same one we had tried to go to the night before), and I got whistled at (not the 'hey you're hot!' kind but the 'step back!' kind) when I tried to get a closer look... Next stop: Cliffs of Moher. Absolutely stunning. From there to the Blarney Castle we go! And I kiss the stone that claims I am now blessed with 'blarney,' or in other words, the gift of gab. It was a difficult thing to do seeing as that when I lay upside down, I for some reason can't contain my laughter! Resulting in unpuckerable lips. 

I wonder how many people before me have
kissed this very same stone...

Departure day- day 5: Back in Dublin and decide to make the boys breakfast. Nadine and I wandered off and stumbled upon a nice Saturday morning market complete with nice Saturday morning Irish accents. Found the ingredients and back to the apartment we went! We continued the day by just walking around Dublin, watching street performers, and witnessing some older trash worker scare the life out of an unsuspecting woman just trying to throw her coffee cup out. (He was taking the bag out, she put her cup in, he shook the bag and yelled 'wah!' and then started laughing hilariously as she smacked him and ran quickly away with his "I was only messsing!" trailing behind her.)