Ireland
Its Sunday night here and tomorrow night we board a plane and fly back to the UK. Its been a pretty full on and exciting week in Ireland as some of you might already know.
Tuesday we flew out of Liverpool mid afternoon arriving in Belfast. We picked up our rental car and met up with Renees friend Brett. We checked into our hostel and then went out for tea. We had a quick tour around Belfast and then had a drink at a bar close to our hostel before going back to hostel.
The next morning we were up fairly early to get moving and the fire alarm went off. Not for the first time on our trip, a false alarm. As we left the hostel the alarm was still going off. We drove all the way along the coast stopping at a few castles and other scenic stops. The 2 main stops were the Giants Causeway and the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. The causeway is rocks on the beach that were all hexagon in shape caused by volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. The rope bridge is exactly that, a rope bridge. Its between little islands and is suspended 90 feet above the sea. Both were really good. That night we stayed in another hostel that was really nice. Only 2 other people in the place and we didn't see them at all.
Thursday morning we left early and drove to the west coast of Ireland and drove through Donegal. We saw the cliffs of Donegal which are Europes largest cliffs. Interesting that we could see most of the cliffs but the fog at a particular point cut off all visibility. From the cliffs we drove back through Donegal and down to Sligo. In Sligo we were staying the night in a castle. We walked around the grounds which were really nice. At the castle we had a 3 course meal and bottle of wine in the grand dining room. As some of you will already know, afterwards we went for a walk and shortly after were engaged. I managed to keep the ring hidden in our 2 bags while travelling so it was nice that it was still a surprise.
The next day we drove down the coast and stayed the night in Galway. Its interesting how one second you can be driving along the coast and the next second driving beside a river with mountains all around. That night we stayed in a bed and breakfast. That was nice and equally as exciting as walking down the street and finding free wireless from another bed and breakfast. If you received an email from Renee or I it was from stolen internet.
Saturday we drove from Galway to Killarney. We saw more coast, cliffs and castles along the way. The bnb here is nice and has a really breakfast. We have our priorities straight :-)
Sunday, this morning we drove around the ring of Kerry which is circular coastal road. We had a relaxing afternoon and then went to an Irish bar and had tea. I had an nice Irish stew and Renee had some prawn dish. Pretty tasty. That pretty much brings you fully up to date with what we have been doing.
Since picking up the car we have driven about 1300km. Its nice to be driving and not relying on public transport. As Homer Simpson says.. 'Public transportation is for jerks and lesbians'.
Tuesday we flew out of Liverpool mid afternoon arriving in Belfast. We picked up our rental car and met up with Renees friend Brett. We checked into our hostel and then went out for tea. We had a quick tour around Belfast and then had a drink at a bar close to our hostel before going back to hostel.
The next morning we were up fairly early to get moving and the fire alarm went off. Not for the first time on our trip, a false alarm. As we left the hostel the alarm was still going off. We drove all the way along the coast stopping at a few castles and other scenic stops. The 2 main stops were the Giants Causeway and the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. The causeway is rocks on the beach that were all hexagon in shape caused by volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. The rope bridge is exactly that, a rope bridge. Its between little islands and is suspended 90 feet above the sea. Both were really good. That night we stayed in another hostel that was really nice. Only 2 other people in the place and we didn't see them at all.
Thursday morning we left early and drove to the west coast of Ireland and drove through Donegal. We saw the cliffs of Donegal which are Europes largest cliffs. Interesting that we could see most of the cliffs but the fog at a particular point cut off all visibility. From the cliffs we drove back through Donegal and down to Sligo. In Sligo we were staying the night in a castle. We walked around the grounds which were really nice. At the castle we had a 3 course meal and bottle of wine in the grand dining room. As some of you will already know, afterwards we went for a walk and shortly after were engaged. I managed to keep the ring hidden in our 2 bags while travelling so it was nice that it was still a surprise.
The next day we drove down the coast and stayed the night in Galway. Its interesting how one second you can be driving along the coast and the next second driving beside a river with mountains all around. That night we stayed in a bed and breakfast. That was nice and equally as exciting as walking down the street and finding free wireless from another bed and breakfast. If you received an email from Renee or I it was from stolen internet.
Saturday we drove from Galway to Killarney. We saw more coast, cliffs and castles along the way. The bnb here is nice and has a really breakfast. We have our priorities straight :-)
Sunday, this morning we drove around the ring of Kerry which is circular coastal road. We had a relaxing afternoon and then went to an Irish bar and had tea. I had an nice Irish stew and Renee had some prawn dish. Pretty tasty. That pretty much brings you fully up to date with what we have been doing.
Since picking up the car we have driven about 1300km. Its nice to be driving and not relying on public transport. As Homer Simpson says.. 'Public transportation is for jerks and lesbians'.
