The first day that they arrived was spent in the city of Dublin seeing certain attractions that they have wanted to see from their previous trips here. We started off the day going to Dublinia. It is a museum dedicated to the history of Dublin from when it was first settled by the vikings and then later during the medieval period. It was a lot of fun walking through because they had many opportunities for the public to pretend like they were in that period too. For example in the viking area, we were able to write our names with their alphabet and in medieval area, we were able to try on clothes that resembled those from that time period.
Dad in his furs!!
After the museum, we got a tour of Trinity College and a pass to see the Book of Kells and the Long Hall. Trinity College is a very beautiful school that contains a lot of history and tradition inside its walls. The first quad that you enter has some great architecture and the bell tower is something else to be seen. The Old Library, where the Book of Kells and the Long Hall is located, is something that everyone should go see. The Long Hall is majestic and grand; the books are beautiful and look fragile sitting on their shelves. They also had busts of famous philosophers, historians, scientists, etc. placed along the main walkway too.
The Bell Tower
Inside the Long Hall
After those two big events and very little sleep on the plane, you can assume that my family was tired. So, we went back to our cousin's house in Dublin and they rested (or fell asleep) for a couple hours. And that was the end of the family vacation in Ireland.
Day two was spent driving out to Killarney where we spent several days seeing the sights out there. In order to break up the drive we stopped in a small town called Cashel. The main reason that people stop there is to see the Rock of Cashel. It is a church that has seen better days. While we were there you could see the parts that were under restoration. You could see some of the original paintings that were on the walls and have since been plastered over.
Inside the Rock of Cashel
The next two days were spent in Killarney and the surrounding areas in Kerry. The first day was spent driving around the peninsula north of where we stayed. On this peninsula we drove by Inch Beach, the town of Dingle, and Slea Head. It was such a beautiful day with the sun, but the wind kept it from getting too warm out. We also stopped at some ruins out there too. There was a fort on a cliff edge that used the cliff and then surrounding walls made from stones to protect the people that lived inside. The other ruin site that we stopped at was the Beehive huts. These houses get their name because they really do look like beehives, They are only one room and are circular with the walls coming up to form a dome. the doors were small and trying to get in was interesting because you had to crouch down and walk about 18 inches before you could stand up. However, sometimes you stopped short and knocked you head on the doorway.
Dad in the Beehive!
View from Slea Head
The next day in Kerry was spent walking through the Gap of Dunloe between the mountains and by all the lakes and over to the Muckross Grounds site. If you really love nature, the Gap of Dunloe is a definite must. You start at this little cafe and then follow the road through the valley for however long you would like. Along the way, you will find farms with fields of sheep, small lakes, and the mountains surrounding you. We unfortunately did not spend much time at Muckross because of the time spent in the Gap of Dunloe and also because it was still the off season of tourists (but only by like 1-2 weeks).
The Gap of Dunloe
After spending time in Killarney as a family, it was unfortunately time to say goodbye to my sister because she had to get back to her school and friends in the Midwest. But my parents stayed a few more days and the three of us went to Northern Ireland and toured some of the beautiful landscapes there too.
The Family at Slea Head
The first thing that we went was the Ulster American Folk Park. This park shows the public what it was like to live in Ireland during the time of the famine and then showed the transition of what life was like when they moved to America. We then made our way to where we stayed for the night. However, along the way we ran into a small traffic jam on one of the small roads through the national park.
Traditional Farmhouse found in Ulster
Another farmhouse that could be found in Ulster
Log house common to Pennsylvania back then
Traffic Jam!!
The next day was full of coastline and the sun as we did the two most popular activities in Northern Ireland that most people come to do; the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and Giant's Causeway. However, my family added onto this adventure by walking a section of the Causeway Coastal Walk from the Giant's Causeway to Dunseverick Castle.
We started off by going to the rope bridge. From pictures and the description, I assumed that it would be longer and less stable than it actually was. The bridge was very stable and about 30 yards long. The bridge led to an island where you could get a better view of the water and the coastline from where the trail started.
We made it across the bridge!
The bridge in its entirety
After that we drove over to Giant's Causeway. We walked all along the trail through the causeway. It was a nice day and I fell in love with the water and the waves crashing along the cliff edge. We then moved up the cliff edge and started the long journey along the cliff edge back to where we left the car. The walk was fun, but after awhile it all looked the same and the muddy shoes were making the trip more difficult.
Giant's Causeway
Dad and I at the end
Look at that wave hitting the cliff! So pretty!!
Overall, the trip was great and adventurous, like all our other vacations as a family. We saw some new things and some old things (anything in between). It was a great start to my spring break in Ireland (and Europe too). More to come later!!
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