To end out the year of 2012, we went on a trip to Ireland! It was the Taste of Ireland tour, through Triple A. This turned out to be the trip of a lifetime!
We arrived on 12.10 in Dublin, at Dublin Airport. At the airport, we met up with our tour guide and bus driver, Martin. He dropped us off at the Burlington Hotel so we could freshen up. Around two, we met in the lobby of the hotel and met the other 18 people who would be in our tour group for the rest of the week. We boarded the bus for our tour around Dublin, stopping at the statue of the Potato Famine on the harbor, and at Dublin Castle for a tour of the building, and at St Patrick's Cathedral, and finally a Statue of Oscar Wilde. At night they took us to the Merry Ploughboy Pub to see a traditional Irish Music Show. It was a lot of fun, and we got to know our tour mates better!
12.11.12 We left Dublin for Killarney. Today we stopped at the Rock of Cashel, the town of Cashel, and Blarney Castle. I loved the Blarney Castle,(I love all castles, I think they are mysterious and romantic!) even though it was treacherous to climb(in flip flops!) I wasn't about to kiss that Blarney Stone though! People in my tour group did, but no thanks! We also went to the Blarney Woollen Mills too. Dinner that night was at the Killarney Avenue Hotel.
12.12.12 We went on the Ring of Kerry today. We stopped at the Killarney Golf Course where we had a group picture taken. We also went to see Brendan Ferris, a sheepdog farmer, who did a demonstration of how his dogs herd sheep. We stopped over at the Skellig Experience, where the monks carved a home out of rock, as well as 650 steps to the top. We also went to the village of Sneem, which was a cute village with brightly painted houses. We also stopped at some points along the way for beautiful scenery. Dinner that night was also at the Killarney Avenue Hotel, and then we went to explore the village of Killarney.
12.13.12 We left Killarney today for Shannon. We crossed the River Shannon on a boat...the whole bus drove on to the boat for the ride over! We also went to a village in County Clare with a gorgeous church! We went to Spanish Point and to the Cliffs of Moher. At night, we had dinner at Bunratty Castle and medieval Christmas show. We stayed at the Bunratty Castle Hotel.
12.14.12 I begin my journey back from Shannon to Dublin. Before I left, I had some extra time to explore Bunratty, and the cemetery on the hotel property. I saw some nice scenery and clouds on my 5 hour bus ride back.
12.15.12. So I didn't make my flight. I was so incredibly sad to have another day in Dublin. I rebooked my hotel and went off to explore the city on foot. I went to Trinity College and saw the book of Kells, and then just walked around the city.
12.16.12
I finally got on my flight today and headed home. It was a long journey, and while I was happy to be back in the States, I loved Ireland and will definitely go back!
