Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Ireland - Day 1 (photos & videos)

One of the highlights of our time over here in UK was a trip we took earlier this month with Jason & Krista to Ireland. We found cheap flights for a long weekend, and drove a car all over the southern half of the country. It was incredible! The landscapes were breathtaking, there were animals everywhere, and the people had an infectious sense of humour (yes, I used a 'u') that always made you smile. I was expecting everything to be green, but my jaw still dropped a few times seeing the cliffs, valleys, and so on. It was also fun to see so much wildlife and farm animals--a nice change of pace after living in one of the biggest cities in the world for six months.

The Cliffs of Moher are awe-inspiring. I was in serious disbelief when we got there. So majestic. We got a good tip from the lady at the rental car desk to drive past the touristy part. You basically hike through a little bit of farmland and get a better, quieter view for free. Glad we heeded her advice. Brittany also had a couple mini-adventures of her own. At one point when we were on one of the more dangerous parts of the cliffs, she forgot where she was and skipped from one rock to other... casually leaping over a crevasse in the rocks that dropped hundreds of feet straight down... in sandals. (After a few years, I still have not convinced her that sandals are a bad idea for hiking.)

You can see the rock in the video--it's the one that looks like an upside-down pyramid. After she did it, it was quiet for a few moments, and then Krista (the first one to realize) asked, "Brittany, did you seriously just do that?!" Shocked at her momentarily lapse in awareness, Brittany hugged me really tight and started shaking. I wish I had gotten it on film. As a consolation prize, I did get some footage right after half her leg sunk down into the ground in a cow pasture. Somehow she also stepped on a big frog all in the same motion. At least she found something to distract her nerves from her brush with danger.
We found this old church in ruins on our way to the Cliffs of Moher.
It was really peaceful up here on the hill, and the cemetery had every Irish name you can imagine.
Lots of open, green fields like this in Ireland. This one happened to be right next to the Cliffs of Moher.
The "VIP" entrance we took to see the cliffs.
Postcard
I inadvertently wore a green shirt, so you probably won't be able to find me.
There was an older couple that also found the VIP entrance, so we got to take each other's pictures.
Ironic that Brittany took this photo right before her leisurely leap.
Even getting this close to the edge kind of gives you the willies.
Just seconds before the leap. She skipped over toward where I'm standing with the camera.
Check out what I can do.
Success!
We spent the rest of the day driving around to find whatever looked fun. We drove through the Burren, frolicked with horses, and admired some of the ruins on our way down to Blarney.

This is how the burren looked for miles!
Jason doing a bit of light rock climbing
Posing in the Burren
Poulnabrone Dolmen
Beautiful scenery everywhere you look!
There were so many old stone buildings (whether they were old homes, churches, or castles) everywhere along the side of the road!
Bunratty Castle
We were driving and saw these charming, old priory ruins. Just past the ruins were a bunch of beautiful horses, just waiting for us to pet them!
That horse REALLY liked Jason and Krista.
The priory ruins

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