http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Ireland , County Clare en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:54:44 +0000 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:54:44 +0000 I took a trip to London with my friend Megan but since I'm coming back to London next semester I'll leave most of my London stuff for next semester. However the major highlight of that trip was Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral. Westminster is absolutely gorgeous for nonhistory folk but for people who are particularly interested in English history this was absolutely incredible. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Ennis/blog-460630.html Good Morning Everybody Just had breakfast at the Dubhlinn House recommended by Rick Steves. First of all just want to say thankyou to everybody who sent me bday wishes on facebook. If anybody is interested in how I spent most of it...well most of it was on a scary road from Galway to Doolin last night. The start of our day was mellow though...we stopped at the abbey to take pics take a tour an http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Doolin/blog-451328.html Hello Well as you have likely noticed I got a bit behind on blogging. However now that I am sigh back in California I have a lot of time on my hands and therefore I can now fill you in. First thing's first below is an email I sent to my family way back on October 4th. After that I'll give you a summary of the rest.Hello EveryoneEverything here is still beyond wonderful. Work http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/The-Burren/blog-451300.html Oct 13Today I had to finish packing and close down the house because tonight we are headed to Ireland. After I finsihed everything and was ready to go I had to bike about 3 miles with my 50 lb pack on me to jays house. Where we were supposed to get picked up by his friend Tom. However Tom had called and said he was running late and it would help if we could meet him on the mainland. So jay scrambl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Doolin/blog-447572.html First I'd like brag I got a comment from someone I don't know So like people other than my family and friends must be reading this and stuff. So cool Hey if you're reading this and you've never actually met me and you'd like to make my day leave a comment .Anyway down to business. Here is another email I sent to my fam and friends. EnjoyHelloThings are still goi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/The-Burren/blog-439453.html We hope you enjoy seeing some pictures from our first week in Ireland. If you want to read more in the blog it was from June 30 July 6. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-438801.html Since I don't have internet where I'm staying I can't do a prpper blog with pictures and the like but what I can do from this internet cafe in Galway is post a copy of the email I sent to my family describing what I'm doing so far so everyone can be informed if they'd like to be. Read on...Hi EveryoneIt turns out I don't really have internet access at the place where I'm living so up http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/The-Burren/blog-434014.html Today I took a drive from Bunratty to the Cliffs of Moher. I stopped off on the way at St Bridgits Well a quant little cemetary with a room whereby you could leave gifts in memory for the departed. There was a stream running through and it made a nice memorial. Drove to Moher and the cliffs were stunning. It was a little windy some points you were stopped in your tracks and had to hold hard n http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-431680.html The Cliffs of Moher were named one of the world's New Seven Wonders and thus packs in a lot of tourists each year. They raise to about 394 ft and are at the highest point 702 ft...needless to say they are quite impressive. I don't really have a lot to say about the day other than we explored the cliffs and saw some of the most spectacular things we'd ever seen. We broke the rules and walked along http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-431417.html After staying the day with Richard and pitching our tent in an old famine warehouse we tried to hitch to Clonmel again. But it wasn't going too well....the traffic was bare and no one stopped. We waited for about thirty minutes before we said Okay let's get a bus. It is not that we can't take a bus it is just that they are expensive to do all the time...but the longer the distance the less you http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-431404.html We actually spent a good couple of months in Ireland but only did a little bit of touristing new word thanks Garry.We rented a car for a few days and headed south west to Co Clare and Limerick. We spent a few nights in a small town called Doolin and while there we checked out the Cliffs of Moher. We got our first glimpse of the cliffs which are pretty impressive. By the time we got to the ne http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-424753.html Today was day two in a row of nonstop Irish rain. After a lovely breakfast at the castle definitely the nicest place wersquove stayed at this whole trip and a bit of playing with the resident castle dog who liked to fetch rocks we drove up the N69 to the N67 and crossed the Shannon Ferry to ward the Cliffs of Moher. To say that it was wet outside is a bit of an understatement. Irsquo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-420427.html We are back in Corbally for our last night before we leave for Dingle tomorrow morning. We had a lovely weekend in Galway with the Nolan family. I donrsquot have time right now to write about the whole weekend but I will try to provide a rundown of Friday when we drove to and arrived in Galway.Friday July 3Trip to Galway After Dean did his pool routine we were on our way to Galway. We st http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Ennis/blog-415515.html Thurs July 3 Today we stayed local and did the Cliff Walk in Kilkee. It was as beautiful and much less touristy than the Cliffs of Moher. The town had constructed a paved walkway running along the cliff edge for a mile or so leading from town. Mary advised us to walk it backwards. So we parked along the road at the top and walked down to town. The views were spectacular. At one point we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Kilkee/blog-414689.html Wednesday July 1 Last night even though we were tired after our flight and drive from the airport we stayed up to watch the sunset at 1000 over the Atlantic. Irelandrsquos not the land of the midnight sun but Irsquod never experienced a day as long as this before. Today is the best weather until the weekend rain and showers only PART of the day clouds otherwise so we drove http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-414302.html Thursday June 25 Kilmacduagh Kilfenora and other Kool Keltic Celtic NamesTwo days in Galway was barely enough yet we were forced to hit the road once again to drive to Dingle today. Along the way we had grand plans to stop at the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren. The long drives between destinations were definitely cutting into our sight seeing time by now and even sapping our energy but we h http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-414178.html Tuesday June 30 We are in Ireland finally Our plane took off on time without event. We had 4 seats together in the center of the plane. We all took ldquoNo Jet Lagrdquo tablets and they really have seemed to work so far. We all feel a bit tired but not totally exhausted. For this blog entry Irsquove learned my lesson and will not put ldquodot dot dotrdquo anywhere. I saw that http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Kilkee/blog-413782.html Rainbow Garden CentreKilmlihil Ireland near EnnisVery Early Monday June 22 2009I think I might be the story behind a new saying in this area of Ireland see the title of this post. You see even though I really don't act much at all like someone from Texas people around here definitely have an idea of what a Texan is. And today I got to live up to one of those stereotypes. This weekend i http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Ennis/blog-411490.html Kilrush Public LibraryKilrush IrelandThursday June 18 2009That's how I was greeted by one of the customers at the Kilrush Farmer's Market today Where did you come from with your pants Um the same place I came from with the rest of me...Texas. Which is something I try not to get into too much as people are really quite opinionated about the ways of America. And I really don't like to g http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Kilrush/blog-411489.html Rainbow Garden CentreKilmlihil Ireland near EnnisMonday June 15 2009A bit early in the trip to be doing gear reviews I know but I have one I need to get out first. The Leakproof Travel Bottles sold by REI are complete shit. They are advertised as 100 leakproof which is not true. On the trip over one of the bottles opened up and spilled all over the place. I had it in a bag but that http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Ennis/blog-411488.html