After both getting ready for the day, we started off toward the train station. It's about 1 1/2 miles from our hotel, but we decided the walk would be nice to see the sun rise over the river and help wake us up. We got to the train station with plenty of spare time and checked in for our day trip. We booked a tour with Rail Tours Ireland that took us out West to the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, to Doolin for lunch, to the Cliffs of Moher, The Burren & finally Galway Bay.
Our first stop, The Bunratty Castle, was incredible. We got to go into this castle that was built in the 13th century and tour the different rooms. We went up to the guard towers, went down toward the cellar, and wandered through the grounds. The guide that explained the history of the castle taught me something I'd never heard before. He said that all the stairs in the castle are built in a clockwise fashion, the reason being that it was more difficult for soldiers going up the stairs to draw and swing their swords during an attack, but for those going down the stairs and defending the castle, well they had plenty of room. He then said that there is always at least one person who says 'what about me, I'm left handed!' To which he replies, 'good for you, it looks like you go to the front of the line during the attack!'
After touring the castle, we got to tour the grounds and the folk park. It was a collection of old homes that had been reassembled brick by brick back in the 1800s. They were exact replicas of homes and shops from the medieval era. It was incredibly eye opening, seeing what they lived like back then. We didn't have a lot of time before we were back on the bus, headed for Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher.
In Doolin we ate at O'Conner's Pub. It was delicious food in an authentic Irish atmosphere. From here we got back on the bus and drove through the Irish countryside, seeing the 40 shades of green, until reaching the Cliffs. (As a side note here: even though when we arrived yesterday, and everything was shut down for Good Friday, we could not have picked a better time to come to Ireland. It has been sunny and warm every single day!) There is nothing quite like the Cliffs of Moher on a sunny spring day. The smell of the ocean, and sheep, the breeze and the majestic cliffs. They truly were awe inspiring.
OK I'll explain why I said 'the sheep'. Ever since I stepped off the plane, and got my first whiff of Ireland... I have smelled sheep. The majority of the country smells like one big sheep farm to me. It's not a bad smell, in fact it's something I'd kind of pictured before coming here, but I swear it's true. Now my mother disagree's with me completely. She doesn't smell a thing. But I'm not letting it go.
Anyway, I digress and its almost 2 am already... After the Cliffs, we went on one of the most scenic coastal drives in all of Europe (or at least that's what I'm told). We drove along the coast and down through Galway Bay until we got to Galway. Along the way we stopped at The Burren, which is basically large slates of stone as far as the eye can see. It was very unique.
After we reached Galway, we caught the train home. Now I've gotta say, so far I really like Dublin a lot. It's my kind of town with plenty to do. Having said that, I'm very glad that we were able to get out of the city and go through the Irish Countryside today. Because even though Dublin may be the biggest city in all of Ireland, the castle's, the countryside, and the Cliffs are what I think of when I think of Iconic Ireland.
Tomorrow is Easter, so we have plans to visit a few Historic Churches, walk around medieval Dublin, and then perhaps catch the Guinness Storehouse and/or the Jameson Distillery (which I hope will be open!) Anyway, until then...
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