Our "First" Trip to Ireland

We finally did it! After spending the last few months settling into our new life and relaxing through the holidays, we booked our first trip outside the UK. We decided to visit Ireland because: a) it's a short 50 minute plane ride from Bristol to Dublin making it an ideal destination for a long weekend; b) hotels and flights are super cheap during the off season; and, c) we felt like going!

We planned a four-day, four-night adventure and after dropping the dogs off at the farm (where they have their own little holiday when we travel), we were ready to hop on a morning flight that would get us to Dublin and on the road by 7:30 AM. Woo hoo!

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. It doesn't snow much here, but when it does the city goes into a panic and shuts down. A few inches of snow was enough to close the airport for several hours, turning a short plane ride into a long day of cancellations and delays. We finally made it to Dublin around midnight, leaving us with a good three days to explore the country.

I titled this post “Our 'First' Trip to Ireland” because we had an amazing time and have already decided to return at some point during our tour. Three days (or even four) is not enough time to truly enjoy all that Ireland has to offer. We can’t wait to go back for a longer trip, possibly with guests!

I now present, our "first" trip to Ireland . Enjoy!

You know you’re not in Colorado when… two inches of snow shuts down an airport. This is considered "extreme" weather here in the UK.

Making the best of it! I look pretty bored here, but the day wasn't that bad (thanks to good company and airport bars). It would have been nice to leave the airport for a few hours, but dealing with British drivers on unplowed roads was a risk we were not going to take.

We arrived in Dublin around midnight and immediately crashed at our hotel. The next morning I was hangry and needed food ASAP. We hit up this Chipotle knock off in Dublin which hit the spot. Our house is sadly nowhere near a Chipotle, so I have no shame admitting this was our first meal in Ireland. I'm sure my fellow Coloradans understand.

Rested and refreshed, we were ready to hit the road. Driving in Ireland is an experience in itself. It’s beautiful, lush, and green; even in January! We stopped quite a bit en route to take pictures and enjoy our surroundings. Here are some cool abandoned structures we saw along the drive. 

 I love this overgrown one just right off the road.

Here’s a pretty run-down tower nestled into the rolling hills.

A gorgeous structure just off the water.

We saw a lot of beautiful cemeteries along the drive. This one was my favorite because of its elaborate headstones, decorations, and individual gardens honoring each person’s memory. 

Both English and Irish translations are printed on road signs. This one made it to the blog as a tribute to our hometown, Littleton! Or "An Baile Beag" in Irish.

Not sure what the symbol in the center on the left is trying to tell us. No nothing?

Classic car self-portrait. Weeee!

Justin in the right-side driver's seat. 

We arrived in Cork by late afternoon; just in time to check out Blarney Castle. The Castle dates back to the 15th century and is located on an estate with elaborate gardens, picnic areas, streams and ponds. It is home to the famous Blarney Stone, where legend has it that kissing the stone endows the “gift of eloquence.”

It was a little cold for a picnic, so we headed straight for the castle.

If you plan to make the journey to kiss the stone, prepare yourself for dark, cold, and uncomfortably narrow passageways.

Photobomb.

Clearly not designed for a size 13 foot.

We made it to the top of the castle! What a breathtaking view.

It was time to kiss the stone. I walked up and was unexpectedly told to sit with my back to the parapet’s edge and bend over backward. Come again?! Perhaps a little internet research would have better prepared me for this moment.

Justin completing the ritual. He needs all the "Blarney" he can get. Just kidding!

A great shot of Justin inside the castle.

See that little hole in the top of the castle? We were just dangling from that.

Next, we took a stroll through the Poison Garden which contains toxic plants from around the world. Most of the plants are labeled with their toxicity as well as information about their traditional and modern uses. No sampling.

The Blarney House sits just south of the castle. It's closed during the winter months unfortunately.

We checked out the underground passageways as it got dark.

They didn't take us anywhere exciting. Just a dead end. Oh well.

Just before leaving, Justin took some stunning photos of the castle at night.

Farewell Blarney!

We stayed at the Garnish House in Cork which I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the city. The host greeted us with hot tea and a selection of scones and other sweets on arrival- perfect after a cold visit to Blarney. The room was great, the breakfast was outstanding (and reasonably priced), and it’s located within walking distance to the major shops/restaurant area. The house is located just off the river.

Cork is truly “the City of Welcomes.” The Irish are filled with hospitality, especially in Cork. 

We hit up a trendy restaurant for food and drinks later in the evening. Justin enjoyed some of the local brew.

I topped the night off with a few Cosmos.

Next stop: Galway, a beautiful coastal city rich with Irish culture. We had lunch at the local chippy and spent the afternoon walking around the city.

A city street in Galway.

The street performers in Galway (and in Cork as well) are incredibly talented. This duo was performing some type of modern-Irish music. It was really good!

We picked up some coffee to-go and took a riverside stroll through the city.

 A nice shot of the River Corrib.

A moss covered wall along the river.

Art just about everywhere you look.

A memorial by the Spanish Arch. It says, "In Memory of Mariners Lost at Sea."

The Galway Cathedral stands on the site of the old city jail. The view from the outside is nice enough.

But the inside is stunning.

Biblical stories beautifully expressed in stained glass.

If you look closely, you'll notice that I'm standing just below this mosaic. 

Just before sunset, we jumped back in the car and took a scenic drive.

 Destination: The Cliffs of Moher (known to some as the Cliffs of Insanity).

Justin preparing to take the perfect shot.

Nailed it. Wow!

Wind induced face lifts. It was seriously windy.

Don't blow away Justin!

We walked the cliffs in spite of the high winds, the sun going down, and all of these fun signs that advise against it. You can actually walk to the very end, but the trails do get a little dicey.

Justin setting up to take some photos from the second cliff.

Photo taken across the way from the first cliff. You can see the tower across the way.

A flock of birds settled at the base of the cliff on this large rock, and a friendly park ranger loaned me his binoculars for a closer look. I believe these were Guillemots. Puffins are also common in the area.

View from the second cliff. If you look closely you can see the tower, but it’s a lot smaller in this photo.

A closer look at the tower, with the famous cliffs in the background.

Visiting the Cliffs was the highlight of the trip. It felt like we were standing at the edge of the world, surrounded by nature both beautiful and dangerous. We basically had the place to ourselves which made the experience even more incredible.

Our very short trip commenced with a day in Dublin.

Bundling up for a cold day out.

Some sites from around the city.

Classic architecture.

Dublin is a lovely city to walk.

Picture of a pretty cathedral on a European vacation- check!

Buildings along the River Liffey.

And the River Liffey itself, which runs through Dublin.

Cobblestone streets are common in the city. I would advise against walking them in heels.

The Spire of Dublin monument. It’s nearly 400 feet tall!

Wall-E just hanging out in a Dublin shop.

My good friend Ronan gifted us tickets to the Guinness Storehouse where we spent the better part of our afternoon. I've been a huge fan of Guinness for years and dreamed of visiting St. James Gate Brewery!

The Storehouse is a vibrant museum filled with impressive exhibits covering production, transport, cooperage, and advertising. "The story of transporting Guinness Stout is the story of transportation itself" is printed on the I-beam.

German bomb recovered just outside Dublin, 1941.

Justin spent a good amount of time in the cooperage exhibit (the art of making wooden casks). Skilled coopers make airtight, perfectly sized, durable casks without the use of measurements or patterns. Everything is gauged by eye which is just mind-boggling. The exhibit featured videos and tools on display. We hope to visit an actual cooperage to see the process in action.

The advertising gallery is covered with large format prints of iconic ads from over the decades. These were some of our favorites.

The iconic harp.

Guinness labels over time.

The first Guinness advertisement, issued just over 80 years ago.  A large part speaks to the "health-giving" value of Guinness, including claims that drinking Guinness builds strong muscles, enriches the blood, feeds exhausted nerves, aids insomnia and serves as a restorative after influenza. "One of the most nourishing beverages, richer in carbohydrates than a glass of milk (which is) why it is so good when people are tired or exhausted."

A notable advertisement that neither of us had ever seen before.

This was the first time either of us made the connection between Guinness, the beer, and the Guinness Book of World Records. In the 1950's, the Managing Director of the Guinness Brewery got into a heated argument about which game bird in Europe was fastest. He realized that similar questions were asked and unanswered around the world, and that a reference book of these facts could be useful. Thus, the Guinness Book of World Records was born!

A team of artists created this giant wooden pint of Guinness titled “Made of More” for a 2012 campaign. The history of Guinness is carved around the surface, and the chandelier moves and glows. It's an extremely detailed and impressive piece to see in person, and this photo Justin took is gorgeous.

The Obama’s on the wall of fame enjoying a Guinness. ‘Murica!

We finished our visit by enjoying a complimentary pint in the gravity bar.

The perfect way to finish our tour. Yum!!!

View of Dublin from the gravity bar.

Classic stretch-arm self portrait.

Giant pint, little Christina.

We spent our evening in the lively Temple Bar area.

And no, Chipotle-style food was not all we ate during the trip. It wouldn’t have been complete without some authentic Irish fare. We decided to give the Boxty House a try.

Great beers, great food, and a warm atmosphere. The food was much tastier than it looks here… Justin dove in and later decided to take a picture. He's clearly not an experienced Instagram food journalist.

The River Liffey by night.

O'Connell Monument. Don't blink!

Night shot of the spire.

Another view of the River Liffey, all lit up.

Cool photo of the city street at night.

Taking the lift back to our room on our final night. This photo's a little trippy.

And that is our Ireland trip in a nutshell! Not too shabby for three days.

Until next time, Sláinte!

-Christina