Cliffs of Moher

"It was in Dublin it started, where the group met but the bus departed, in a desperate attempt we grabbed a taxi and ran, and we're thankful to John the man. " -Erin

I start today's blog off with a limerick our driver/guide asked us to write on the ride home. It pertains to our morning, we got up early, were able to get breakfast for free at the hostel, and left in time to make it around the corner to our buses meeting place for the Cliffs of Moher. Well, despite my clearly written meet up time of 7:45, turned out they met at 7:40 and they leave on time. Well, luckily the other workers were able to text our driver and he had another stop to make which allowed for us to find a taxi and run and catch our bus. So crisis averted and we were allowed to join the tour! John our driver was actually nice and entertaining. He educated us on the history of the cities we drove through as well as sang us some traditional songs. It was a long drive but we were able to enjoy he lovely country side, ocean side towns, and finally the cliffs.

We ate at a place called O'Sheas, nice place, great good, but somehow two nights in a row we ended up getting servers on their first night of work, meaning they weren't very knowledgeable and or attentive. We are definitely fans of the apple cider that they have here and have had enough hardy meals to last us.

We made our bus!!

Castle Dunguaire on the way to Cliffs

Food Stop at a seaside town

Abbey (name forgotten)

Cliffs!!

It was fated for me to get this hat at the gift shop!

Dinner of Bangers and Mash w/ apple cider

Afternoon in Dublin

On our return to Dublin we had but a few sites to see. They were dispersed through the town in a perfect order from the station. We were able to walk through town easily hitting each spot on our way across town to our dinner. Starting with O'Connell St. a shopping row interspersed with historic buildings such as their famous post office. Mailed off my first postcards too!

Next stop Trinity College, very pretty architecture with lovely tended grounds. We even were able to sit at the edge of a playing field and watch some cricket practice, unexpected but fun. Then it was off to Dublin castle with some lovely tower structures. Plus a lovely garden with a center grass area that had an interesting brick pattern within it, which were two snakes weaving through the grass. Really those were our main sites and since we finished around 4:30p we were definitely ready to eat, especially since our last meal had been in Drogheda.

Final stop was Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Ireland, established 1198! Since it was recommended by Paul our taxi driver we got a glass of Guiness (his direct quote, "get a glass, take a sip, you might not be used to the flavor, but take another, let the flavor sit, now once you get to the 3rd or 4th sip you're good and you will probably be asking for another.") oh, and yes, I did have not 1 but 2 sips! But I found my preference in the apple cider, very tasty. Dinner choice was a bit harder though, there were so many good sounding choices. It was narrowed down to me and Lisa getting the fresh cod in beer batter and Becca with the bangers and mash. Both were AWEsome! Now we don't have anywhere to go so we decided we were just gonna camp out and enjoy our food, the atmosphere, and take in some drinks. O'Connell St.

Trinity College

Dublin Castle

Dinner At Brazen Head

The Walk To Station To Take Us Back To Our Hostel

Morning to Drogheda

Got up bright and early around 6:30 for a trip out to Bru na Boinne to visit the neolithic site Newgrange. The train north was only ~40m and we had a nice view of the country side and ocean. During our ride I asked, "did anyone hear the crazy commotion outside our widow last night around 3am?" Becca was the conferred with, "yes, there was that lady screaming and yelling outside, possibly something about a gun and that guy who was cussing her out." It was almost like our hostel in Amsterdam with a drug exchange happening outside our window, but more violence. Of course Lisa slept through it, but I don't know how because it was extremely loud.

Once we arrived in Drogheda we knew we wanted to take a taxi to get to the visitors center as soon as possible. Got a taxi number from the rail worker and gave it a ring, no answer, went back in and asked the guy again about a taxi, first thing he says to me is, "don't know why Paddy didn't answer?" Of course the persons name was Paddy, we cracked up, how cliche. Anyway, we headed out with another taxi service with a lovely man who was doing his best to engage a tired group in conversation -"now don't you all talk all at once."

Our experience with the workers of Ireland have been all great so far. The ladies at Bru na Boinne were quite friendly. We got to the center before it opened and were lucky to be the first arrivals to start the cue, this is one of the locations that there is now booking ahead of time and the tour groups are very small.

We were graced with the sun today, it made for a beautiful day out in the countryside where the Neolithic site Newgrange is located. All I can say is gorgeous, unique, amazing, picturesque, and pastoral scene (sheep!). The history of the site is incredible, it's over 5000 years old and known for many aspects of its construction that not only dazzle visitors but are famous in the archeological field as well.
Newgrange & Surroundings

The Walk Back To Visitors Center: Lovely View

Becca Being Her, Waiting For Bus