Blogs from County Clare, Ireland, Europe - page 4

Geo: 52.7107, -8.87897After our flight to Chicago and a six hour layover, we boarded our international flight for Ireland. It was a short night at 35,000 feet and we landed in Shannon excited and ready for the adventure to begin! We were greeted by our tour director Andras who pointed out essential airport features to begin our trip successfully including the restrooms, the nearest ATM, and places to buy bottled water and snacks for breakfast. Then we boarded the bus and set out for Killarney, the quaintest Irish town with multi-colored storefronts, Celtic crests visible in shop windows, and street performers and musicians to add to the bustling scene. Fresh air and sunshine did their best to keep our jet lag at bay and we even enjoyed a horse drawn buggy ride around the city and ... read more

Saturday, January 10, 2015 - My roommates (Carly, Carla, and Sarah), Amanda (a girl from our apartment complex), and I decided to take a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher which is about an hour and a half south of Galway. We booked a tour through Galway Tour Company which picked us up at a bus station that is about 15 minutes from our apartment. Our bus driver/guide's name was John and he was very comical and shared a lot of information about Ireland and the various towns we passed through. Along the way to the cliffs we stopped for pictures at a few castles and light houses, and had lunch in Doolin which is about 10 minutes from the cliffs. It was a gorgeous drive and I felt like I was in a movie ... read more

As an Irishman you sometimes get lost in all the beauty of Ireland. But sometimes you miss out on one of the great's location for travel in Ireland, Europe and the world in my belief. At the age of 28 was my first trip to the cliffs of Moher. Traveled on this trip by bus, a tour company. Leaving my home town of Cork @ 08.30a.m. As we traveled to the cliffs the driver informed the group about historic facts, most I knew but some where new to me, can't know everything now can I. Travelling along the Atlantic coast, there was some amazing views. The Aran Islands for one as we stopped by the baby Cliffs. As the Atlantic crashed against the rocks below one could get lost in all the incredible views and sounds ... read more

Day 23 - Aran Islands - A trip back in time We started the morning with a good breakfast and some laundry before heading to the west coast and the ferry to the Aran Islands. Anne really wanted to see the islands and the nearby Cliffs of Moher, the home of millions of nesting seabirds. The Aran Islands are 3 islands off the west coast of Ireland near Doolin. The largest only has a population of 900 people. Ferries regularly travel between the islands and the mainland but the 30 min crossing can be quite rough. Today was a "mild" day but still provided a bit of chop and rocking. The ferries were nothing like the ferries across the SF Bay, being much smaller. Michelle and Tony enjoyed standing in the bow watching the waves and ... read more

Day 21 - Day Off We really didn't do anything at all today. Anne and Michelle walked, Michelle and Anne watched movies and Anne and Tony read... all day long. Oh, and we listened to the cows and watched them eat the grass and trees 2 feet from our windows. It was glorious.... read more