Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Ireland

So I'm finally tackling the elephant in the corner, or the Leprechaun in the shamrock field...that's not a thing

Anywho...

So I'm in Ireland, I've been here for nearly 2 weeks and am getting close to actually leaving the country but I will do my best to give you the overall experiences that I've had.









I flew from København airport to Dublin with a lovely Irish Airline (Aer Lingus) where I got excited on the flight just because of their accent.
I didn't have to try that hard to stand out as the weirdo though, because it turned out I was the only one on the flight who thought it was compulsory to pre-order a full meal on a 1.30hr flight, or to even order a meal at all. I chose an Irish breakfast which isn't quite the thing you normally would have on an 8.30pm flight. But it was yummy (I didn't touch the white and black pudding...I was too afraid)though, so who gives a...

Anyway so the entire flight I either had my nose squished up to the window, I finally got a window seat, trying to hide my inner 6 year old excitement from the overweight gentlemen next to me, lucky I didn't need to pee and it was a short flight, 'cos there was no way I was leaving my seat!




So by the time I'd touched down, found my luggage,and peed I was ready to face the unknown of Dublin. I wasn't really in Dublin for long, it was really just to have a quick snooze, and get into the city centre to get another bus to Galway, which my friends if your geography is not quite at it's best, or knowing that sort of thing isn't in your party tricks, tips and skills personal book, is pretty much straight across the other side of the country on the west coast.

I think I got a reasonably diverse introduction to Ireland on that bus, those three hours were spent listening to youths conversations and trying to (badly) mimic them under my breath... ...a habit I can't quite shake off.




I managed to sit behind a man I now think could have come straight from the county jail, so yes I think that was a diverse introduction indeed.



The streets of Galway






          The View from a window in a pub in Galway


In Galway I met the lovely Steiner family who were going to house me ever so kindly for about 5 days. They are partially-distant relatives of Lisa and Phil but are no relation of mine, so it was ever so kind of them to take me into their home, in a little town of 230 people, where one of the three Steiner schools in Ireland is. They took me partially up to Connamarra, which was amazing to say the least, I would say that part of the country is the typical irish coastline, not that I know an amazing amount about anything, but as we were drivingalong through sun and rain the marshes and little white houses seemed pretty true to what my ideas of Ireland would be like.








A Beach in Connemara


We then drove down to Co. Clare where I would be staying for the next couple of days. So far the irish weather had lived up to my expectations, it was chilly, rainy and cloudy. And it was summer.



Thatched roof in Co. Clare




This building is a still working forge.


On Saturday, we went and got our produce from the local farmers market on the main street of the town that I was staying in, Mountshannon.





This is the town of Killaloe




We went for a lovely walk along the top of a hill/mountain/steep thing and got a lovely view over Loch Derg





Due to the loveliness and generosity of the family I stayed with, I was able to see parts of Ireland, that I would have had no hope of otherwise seeing. We went on day trips out to The Burren and Cliffs of Moher, which were amazing to say the least.






The Burren



This is an ancient tomb that is older than Stonehenge!!!




The Cliffs of Moher.

I became extremely excited when I found out that Harry Potter and  the Half-Blood Prince was filmed here, soooooo cool!!







Some lovely Cows!



On the way home we saw a sight that made me laugh out loud, a group of men were carrying a rowing boat down the main road, all together, helping each other out.



I would like you to look at the name of this "medical hall" if you will. McGrotty's, yes charming makes me really feel well again, I'd deffs buy your products.


The location changed again as I moved down to Cork to stay with another generous and hospitable family.




This here is the Shanndon in Cork, I managed to time my visit nicely as they were preparing for a festival, hence the lovely flags.


A view of Cork




This is Kinsale, just south of Cork on the Irish coast. It is a truly lovely town, very picturesque and when I was there, sunny.

From the moment I got to Cork, the weather decided to pick up and the clouds were pushed away, and I've had amazing weather since. Every Irishman or woman that I've talked to has told me how lucky I am to be experiencing this good weather in Ireland.





This is a flag that flew, and I'm not joking when I say this, at the battle of Waterloo!!!!!


They have amazingly, and scarily big sea gulls here in Ireland!
It's just not normal!


I found this in an Art Gallery bookshop in Cork. I am a big lover of the Katie books, so to find out that there was more out there and a lot more (see below) was very exciting... Christmas presents anyone?? Wink, Wink.




So, that's all for now folks, I hope you enjoyed it and be sure to come back again and see some more... oh god, I've been spending too much time on tour buses!

Next stop Kilkenny and then onto Dublin.

I now feel a lot more up to date with it all. Lets see how long that lasts...

Anywho love to you all,
Love Katie G xx



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