You guys...Ireland was AMAZING. Seriously. Like the coolest thing I have ever done. I would go back in a heartbeat. I won't go into all of the crazy awesome details, because there are a LOT. I'll just give some highlights. :)
*The people are so incredibly nice. I did not meet one single grumpy, unpleasant, unhappy person there. Everyone sooooonice and willing to help in any way possible. Every time we got lost, someone was there to give us directions with a smile. Any place that we went, people asked us where in the US we were from and how long we were going to be on holiday. I loved them.
*They have the most delicious hot chocolate over there.
*Driving is TERRIFYING. You're on the wrong side of the road, on the wrong side of the car. The lanes are insanely narrow. No one has any regard for the speed limit. The roads curve and bend and twist in crazy ways. Semis will pass you on a curve going 20 KM over the speed limit and won't give a second thought about it. There are no street signs. There are an excessive amount of roundabouts (which are actually super helpful when you are lost and work really well, since people know how to use them). And you never drive on the same road twice. We traveled the whole country and only drove on the same road once.
*The food. Not my favorite. Although anyone who knows me shouldn't be surprised by that. I ate a LOT of chicken. There was even one time I had to make a request for chicken at a fancy restaurant. And let me tell you...they were not impressed by that. And they don't care if you don't want a side of mushy peas with your beer-battered-deep-fried-chicken-tenders-that-was-actually-supposed-to-be-fish and chips. They bring them anyway. And you pretend to eat those mushy peas while trying not to vomit by the look and smell.
*Everyone eats at LEAST two courses for every meal, but normally three or four courses. These people can pound. it. back. I saw old lades eat more than any person I have ever seen. And they don't have leftovers...no to-go boxes, no saving it for later. You finish your food. All of it. Every course. And it's not light food either. It's heavy, full of starch and fat food...potatoes, meat, chocolate desserts. It's outrageous.
*Speaking of the ridiculous amount of food...I did not see one overweight person. Not one. People are petite over there. Not even a beer gut. I don't know how they do it with all of the food and alcohol they consume.
*The landscape is honestly one of the prettiest things I have ever seen. And so diverse! It's not just the green that you see in the movies, although I have never seen anywhere greener. But there are mountains and lades and rivers and the ocean and shrubs and trees and rolling hills and bogs and brush and rocks and cliffs. It's amazing.
*It rains. Like a lot. But you probably already knew that. Did you know that is snows in March over there? And that people don't know how to drive in the snow? Reminded me of home.
*Gaelic is the strangest language I have ever heard. I could not catch on in anyway.
*We once had a hotel room that was a "double". Which over there obviously means one queen bed and two twin beds.
*Dessert is delicious and incredibly rich. Did I mention delicious?
*One of my favorite things was going to church over there. I love how consistent the Gospel is. It was humbling and amazing.
This is just a few lovely details from my AMAZING trip. I loved every part of it. I would go back again in .00938 seconds. Next trip...Scotland. Or Switzerland. Or Italy. Who knows?! But somewhere! Now for some pictures... :) (these aren't in any type of order...blogger makes it too difficult to organize pictures)
 |
| One of my most favorite landscapes we saw. |
 |
| Hi! I'm in Ireland! :) |
 |
| I kissed the Blarney Stone! Here's hoping the legend comes true... |
 |
| Hot Chocolate and cheesecake. YUM. |
 |
| Melissa and me on the Ring of Kerry tour... |
 |
| Cliffs of Moher |
 |
| It's the ocean! |
 |
| That's about as close to the edge as I could get...so scary! |
 |
| The closest I got to kissing an Irish man... |
 |
| Wrong side of the car...wrong side of the road. |
 |
| Pierce Brosnan got married here. My dreams of seeing him there were crushed. |
 |
| St. Patrick's Cathedral |
 |
| Yes. These are the mushy peas. |
 |
| Um...HELLO! So pretty. |
 |
| Rock of Dunamase...also known as a crumbling castle. |
6 comments:
I read every word and am greatly intrigued! I wonder how everyone is so thin? Maybe it's the quality of food - no fake food ingredients, just real stuff maybe? Hmmm... Did you look like you were from the states or fit right in? Do you have to kiss the Blarney stone upside down? Looks like you had a blast! I am secretly (psh, not even secretly, VERY OPENLY) jealous of your banging trip. I want to go with you next time!
SO FUN! I want to travel so bad, but Ireland is never one of the places I'd cared to go. But, it looks so awesome!!! I love that you went to church too.... yay!!!
Looks so so fun!!! I'm so glad you had such a great time and returned safely.
One word - JEALOUS
I am SO JEALOUS!! I studied abroad in Ireland in college. It is the most AMAZEBALLS country I have ever been to! I've been back twice. I would totally move there if I could! Your pictures make me SO JEALOUS! (I know I already said that but I really am so jealous!)
STOP IT! this looks uh-mazing! i think i woulda ONLY had dessert for every meal.:) also, i miss you. that is all.
wait. you should go to switzerland next. for me? YES.
Post a Comment