Ireland

 

Day one: Dublin.

 

 

Sunshine greeted us first thing in the morning... little did we know that was about to change.

 

 

 

 



 

While exploring around the city we had sunshine, gray clouds, rain, snow, and clear skies again in the course of about five hours! We sought shelter at a local fish and chips place to warm up, dry off and eat some grub.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are beautiful churches and cathedrals everywhere!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Patrick's Cathedral



Day two: West Coast

 

 

 

We jumped on a bus tour for our second day of explorations. We headed West through the city of Limerick and then all the way to the coast, to the Cliffs of Moher (pronounced mo-er).

 

The cliffs were gorgeously breathtaking... like literally! Atop the cliffs it was crazy windy... huge gusts of wind coming off the Atlantic.

Thank goodness for this "guard wall" or else we would have probably been knocked off our feet many a time.

 

Next was a place known as the Barren. This is a rugged lunar-like landscape of limestone rock.

 

We then continued our journey up the coast, all the time passing through charming villages. The common theme was sheep farms, white thatched roofed houses, and dry stone walls.

 

There are abbey ruins scattered all over the countryside. During the reign of Henry VIII, it was declared against the law to worship in these abbeys. These sacred places for the Catholics fell into disrepair.

 

 

 

 

The last stop of tour was in the beautiful little village of Kinvara... then back to Dublin!

Day three and four to come!