Castle Dublin:
Dublin Museum:
After our field trip with Sister Mary was finished, we separated into our own groups for the hostels we were to stay in. Finding our hostel in Dublin took some time, due to the mass amount of people in Dublin for the weekend (for the hurling match) and also our unfamiliarity. Needless to say, we found it. Staying in a hostel for the first time was definatly a unique experience. I enjoyed it, but it was definately a different way of living. We met some cool people from all over the world there.
The next day we toured the Jameson Brewary in Dublin, which was awesome. We got to see how the Jameson whiskey is triple distilled, and had a free go at a shot of Jameson. Afterwards, we got lunch and caught our bus for Belfast. Once in Belfast, we only had time for a delicious burrito before heading off to bed at our second hostel. Since Belfast is in Northern Ireland, its owned by England, and therefore only accepts pounds as currency instead of the Euro, which we can use in southern Ireland. Finding a place that exchanges was hard, so we decided to use an ATM.
Once we awoke, we headed off on the Paddywagon Tour of Giant's Causeway and Carrick-A-Redde. It was quite a hike to actually get to each one of these places, but it was breathtakingly beautiful. I will say, that even though I love photography, pictures do these places no justice at all, and to fully capture its beauty in one photograph would be impossible.
First we stopped at Carrick-A-Rede, which was both terrifying and amazing. The bridge is so high up over rocks and ocean, and it sways with both the wind and from the people walking on it. Although I do get spells of vertigo during heights, I was really persistant to accomplish walking across the bridge and back. I don't regret the desicion at all, it was amazing.
Carrick-A-Rede:
After we got back to the bus, we headed off to Giant's Causeway, which was even more cool than I thought it would be. There is a long fairy tale of a story behind it, which I suggest you look up...but the truth behind why it actually exists is just as interesting. Apparently, a very long time ago, a volcano had erupted underwater, forcing the lava to cool very fast in the ocean water, forming rock. Afterwards, a Tsunami occurred, which pushed the rock upwards and out of the water, forming what we currently call, Giant's causeway. It was absolutely spectacular, and unlike anything I've ever seen in the entire world. While I was sitting watching the ocean pound against the rock, a tiny, beautiful butterfly landed on my hand, which made the experience even more magical for me.
Giant's Causeway:
Making our way back from Belfast to Carlow was quite a series of bus rides, but it was totally worth it. I will say that although I felt battered and exhausted beyond all belief, it was an AMAZING trip. Worth every penny. Worth all my energy. I'd do it again anytime.
That's the thing that I'm beginning to realize here in Ireland as opposed to the United States. There is so much history here, so many exciting opportunities, so many things to see and learn about, you could plan years of traveling and still not experience all of it. Either way, I had a blast, and I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to visit such unique places this weekend.
