Wednesday, October 14, 2009

There and Back Again...Ireland Concluded

Even though I have been home for over 2 weeks, I have been told by MANY people that my blog lies unresolved as if I am stuck in Northern Ireland. So, with this in mind, I write a concluding entry to my trip over the Atlantic, but not a conclusion to my blog, as my entire year is to be documented.

Ireland will forever be a place I will want to return. Something has always called me there and continues to even though I have hiked its cliffs, drank its beer, and wandered with its sheep.

Since my last entry, Michelle and I made our way down the West Coast through the counties of Donegal, Galway, and Dingle. Here are some of our favorite moments:
Going to the Dingle Spa for Michelle's Birthday!

Reading by the fire in our B&B's sitting room on the one and only rainy day we had.

Walking by the sea and hearing the Celtic movie soundtrack to life in the background.
B&B's!!! I have officially outgrown Hostels's!
Tea time!!!! Favorite...something I have definitely brought home with me.
So we have walked along 200 foot ocean cliffs with me caution signs, but here with a 2 foot drop, authorities have made sure that we are aware of the "danger"....

Green, green green....sheep sheep sheep...quaint, quaint, quaint

Our route around the island.
Exhausted in Heathrow, London...making our way home.

Favorite Nature Outing:
* Hike from Carrick-A-Rede Bridge to Giants Causeway
* Walk to Kinsale Fort
* Bus Ride to Dingle from Tralee

Favorite Outing:
* London
* Cold Play
* Spa

Favorite Pubs:
* Temple Bar, Dublin (Great dancing)
* Dingle Pub (Great local music)
* Cork

Favorite Foods:
* Fish and Chips
* Amazing food for both of our birthdays
* McDonald's after Cold Play (standing in line for 45 min after walking 10 miles)
* Rhubard Pie in Kinsale
* Guinness Beef Stew (with a pint of course)

Favorite Drinks:
* Bulmers (Apple Cider)
* Smithwicks (similar to Alexander Keiths)
* Carlsburg (Danish light Ale)
*Vodka, sparkling water, with a dash of blackcurrant concentrate

Favorite Breakfasts @ B&B's:
* Breakfast Bruchetta
* Poached eggs on a toasted bagel with a chive cream sauce
* Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon

Favorite Places we stayed:
* Cloisters B&B, Kinsale
* Clontarf Castle, Dublin
* Seamist B&B, Clifden

So I am now back at home...In Altona...AND LOVING IT!!!! Stay tuned for this year is sure to bring more stories!