P.S I love you Ireland — blondeBEHAVIOR

Ireland

02.06.18 - 08.06.18

When I was around ten years old, what I wanted more than anything was to go to Ireland. My mom and I made a deal that when I turned 18, we would finally make the trip. I turned 18 and then I turned 19 and still no trip was in the works, so, I took matters into my own hands and decided if this was something I wanted, I had to do it myself.

When I stepped off the plane into the Dublin airport, it felt like my dream was finally a reality. I planned to spend the most time in Ireland because it was the place I had wanted to visit the most. We spent three days in Dublin, three days (ish) in Galway and then one last day in Dublin before flying home.

If you haven’t already guessed by my charm, wit and ridiculous number of freckles, my family originated in Ireland, and it was about time that I went back to where it all began.

The busy city of Dublin was filled with energy and life. The streets were lined with pubs, shops and musicians galore. Our hostel was only a 3 min walk from Temple Bar and the city center! On our first day, we did a walking tour by New Europe Tours and our tour guide was phenomenal! We visited Dublin castle, he showed us famous pubs and recommended great restaurants or where to go to get the best bang for your buck. We went to Christ Church Cathedral, a beautiful church with well-preserved architecture and stunning stained glass. Our guide told us everything from old folk lore to the history of Ireland’s Independence. It was a great way to get to know the city!

We spent a lot of our time just walking around and taking in the sights (and shopping). The real fun happened at night, when the city really came to life. Everyone that has been to Dublin knows of the iconic Temple Bar. On our first night out Sydney and I were walking around Temple Bar (the district, not the actual bar- although they are in the same place) trying to find the best pub to go to, when we stumbled into Temple Bar (the actual bar). It was overly crowded and a pint of Guinness was close to 20 euros, which was ridiculous. So, we stayed for a song and then left… turns out we walked in through the back door and we left through the front door to see a HUGE line for people waiting to get in (so I guess if you want to go in, but you don’t want to wait in line just do what we did). Luckily, across the street was a pub called The Quays, which was less crowded and seemed really energetic and inviting. We went in there and had the best time! The live music was incredible, it made the atmosphere so exciting and alive. We danced all night and sang until our voices hurt.

After our first few days in Dublin, we took a bus to Galway City. As much fun as Dublin was, this little gem, was picturesque. Our first night in Galway we ate dinner and went to a bar to listen to live music. Our hostel was situated on top of a cute pub and we were given a free drink with our room! For our second day in Galway, we did a day tour on a bus that took us to the small fishing village of Kinvara to see Dunguaire castle and The Burren; a 5,800 year old Ballyalban Fairy Fort said to be the home of leprechauns. The tour then stoped at Kilfenora to see the Celtic Crosses and finally it took us to the iconic and breathtaking Cliffs of Moher.

Standing on the edge of the cliffs of insanity (if you’ve seen the Princess Bride, you’ll get the reference) was surreal. Pictures do not do it justice by any means. The tall cliffs rise high above the ocean to form beautiful grass fields and hills. Along the edge is a path for walking, with even smaller paths that bring the brave hearted closer to the edge.

The cliffs are ominous and spectacular; a once in a lifetime view

Our third day was spent riding busses to and from Cork and then aimlessly exploring the small town surrounding Blarney Castle. We had planned to visit the grounds and the castle, but we did not have the time after all our misdirection, so that day was a bit of a letdown and it felt like a waste of time. I always say that everything happens for a reason, this just gave me another reason to come back to visit again. For our last day in Galway, we did a walking tour with New Europe Tours and it was really well done! We took a stroll on the old Long Walk and then along the coast to search for the pub where Ed Sheeran filmed his Galway Girl music video- it was a successful trip. We then took the bus back to Dublin for our last night in Ireland and of our incredible, stressful, unimaginable journey across Europe.

Once we found our hostel, Sydney and I got dressed to go out for our last hurrah! Our roommate was from Japan, and I bonded with her instantly because she was a nurse too. She told us that she had been out all day, but had been too nervous to ask for a beer so we invited her to come along for our last night to get her that beer! So, the three of us took to the streets of Dublin for one last epic night. We of course went to The Quays, where we ended up having the wildest time of our lives. We danced and laughed and drank…a lot. My camera ended up with some random people and the video footage was hilarious to watch the next day as we pieced our night together. We met so many people, some that I am still in touch with today! We made friends with an unexpected stranger that we named Sean John (or John Sean- really the same thing) and he walked us back to our hostel as the sun was rising.

Ireland was more than I could’ve ever imagined. It gave me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime and experiences and stories that I will tell for years to come. I know in my heart of hearts that that was only the beginning of my Ireland adventures, and that there will be plenty more to come. For my first time there, I wouldn’t have changed a thing and I was so happy to have shared it all with Sydney.

Thank you, Ireland, I’ll see you again soon.

-blondeBehavior