Author Archives: Brittany

• The Ring of Kerry

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 26, 2017

  “To holiday in Kerry and not explore the Ring of Kerry is like visiting Ireland and not trying a pint of Guinness: there’s just something missing.” – I would have to agree with this, and would even take it a bit further by saying to visit Ireland in general and not visit the Ring of Kerry is wrong, so very wrong.

  

  Never in my life have I driven a more beautiful road. “It’s a road that takes you through 10,000 years of dramatic history. It’s a road that takes you from deep forest to the crashing waters of the wild Atlantic. It’s a road through rugged, majestic landscapes: where wild stag roam and where tumbling waterfalls crash into crystal streams teeming with wild salmon.”

  

  

  We drove the first half of this route as we headed towards our B&B (where we would stay before visiting Skellig Michael), and upon leaving to head towards Cork we drove the other half. This route can be driven all at once of course, but we stopped for a night in between.

  

  

  The road is a 179km circular route around the South Western peninsula of County Kerry with castles, parks, and other attractions along the way. We were able to visit Portmagee, the Skellig Islands, Ross Castle, and drove through Killarney National Park.

  

  

  

  Ross Castle

  

  To describe this route in words or photos is nearly impossible, this is something you must experience in real life. Around each corner is a view more beautiful than the last. If that wasn’t enough, there are sheep.

  Everywhere. 

  

  

  

  The route took us from the heart of Kerry to our next destination of Cork. As the driver, I found it was difficult at times to focus on the road. I had to pull over a few times to snap these photos, and to soak it all in. There are plenty of pull out spots for drivers to stop and savor.

  

  We went counter clockwise on the route, because that’s what coincided with our destinations, but also because we wanted to avoid coming head on with any tour buses. Fortunately we didn’t see a single bus, and overall the road was mostly desolate.

  We gave ourselves a few hours to travel at leisure, and this turned into my favorite drive of the trip. If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, the Ring of Kerry is a spot you cannot miss. There are plenty of shops along the way for a snack or a souvenir. We stopped at a few, my favorite being Avoca.

  The view from the parking lot of this shop was enough to get me to stop.

  

  

  I can still see the green rolling hills and smell the sheep. I was driving in my home state a few days ago and was driving behind a truck with multiple bales of hay. The smell immediately took me back to this day, it is a forever memory I will associate with the smell of farm land.

  I’ve never loved the smell of animals more. 

  

  Travel Tip: Visit Ireland at the end of May/ early June to avoid the masses. This is still early enough in the travel season to not be overwhelmed by tourists, but late enough you can still experience decent weather. 

  

  | 4 Comments Tagged Ireland, Ring of Kerry

• Skellig Micheal

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 23, 2017

  Just under two years ago I accompanied the masses and spent my afternoon at the movies to watch The Force Awakens. Twice. I confess, before 2015 I hadn’t watched all the Star Wars movies back to back, and could hardly remember the older ones.

  I decided it was time to become one with the force. 

  

  

  Along with finally jumping on board the Millennium Falcon with the rest of the world, I added another location to my list of “must see’s.” Similar to when I first saw the Cliffs of Moher in an online photograph, I saw an island in the final scene of The Force Awakens that stole a part of my soul.

  Also similar to the Cliffs of Moher I had no idea where this island was.

  

  

  It just so happened, that this island was located off the coast of Portmagee in South West Kerry, you know…in Ireland. The place I was planning to go. The islands were identified, and became a “must see” for our trip. This adventure didn’t come easy though, it took months for us to secure a spot. Thanks to Star Wars this island has become very popular.

  Plus, the place is covered in puffins. PUFFINS.

  

  

  

  

  Stepping foot onto Skellig Michael was like stepping into a time machine. I went with the hopes of walking where Luke Skywalker walked, but left with so much more. Before Star Wars was even a flicker in George Lucas’s eye, this island was occupied by monks dating back between the sixth and eighth century.

  Their monastery still stands. 

  

  

  I was blown away by the history. The monks began a life on this island and built their huts by chipping away at the rocks on the cliffs. They received a few big ticket items from the mainlands, but lived almost completely off the gardens they built on the island.

  The huts are still completely in tact.

  

  

  

  

  Getting to the monastery requires a trek up over 600 steps, but with the surrounding views it almost feels like a walk in the park. Almost. The climb went quick, shout out to the Washington mountains I frequent that made these steps feel like just another hike.

  

  

  

  The boat ride to the island left at 9am and took about 50 minutes. There are no bathrooms on the island, so plan accordingly. Our captain advised us when to be back to the boat for our departure back to the mainland, and then we were on our own for about three hours.

  I loaded up with Irish pancakes to keep me full. They fueled me for over six hours. 

  

  

  

  

  It’s places like this that put perspective to just how large this world is. Here I was, thousands of miles from home, stepping foot onto a large part of Irish history. It was monumental, and I’ll never forget it.

  

  Who see’s the dinosaur?

  

  

  

  After hours of exploration, we made our way back to the boat for our trek to the mainland, but not before one last stop. Our captain took us to “Little Skellig,” just around the corner from Skellig Michael. We didn’t get off the boat, as this island is home to the largest bird colony in Ireland.

  

  The bird colonies includes the illusive Gannet. You couldn’t pay me to go on that island.  

  

  

  Little Skellig on the left, Skellig Michael in the background.

  Where to stay: About 15 minutes away from the Portmagee Marina, sits an adorable B&B called The Klondyke House. The breakfast was great, and the room was adorable. Very easy drive from here to the marina.

  Where to eat: There are plenty of options in the town just down the road from Klondyke House. We chose The Lobster Bar and Grill. The service was phenomenal.

  Portmagee is an adorable town, even if you don’t make the trek to Skellig, it’s a must see.

  

  Travel Tip: Specifically in regards to Skellig Michael, if you’re unable to book a spot, still show up. It’s said that if you get there early enough and there is a no show you can snag their spot.

  

  | 20 Comments Tagged Ireland, Skellig Michael

• Cliffs of Moher

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 21, 2017

  A handful of years ago I was minding my own business online, probably checking my Myspace or sending an IM through AIM, when I stumbled across a photo of these green winding cliffs. The image was immediately burned into my mind.

  

  

  Having no idea where the cliffs were located, I tucked the image into the back of my mind to be revisited at a later date. For years I would revisit this memory every so often telling myself, “one day I will go there.” I eventually discovered where the cliffs were located, but it would be another few years before I finally got to visit.

  

  Dream became a reality as I stepped foot onto the Cliffs of Moher, and the memories of the internet image have forever been replaced by the images of seeing these cliffs in real time.

  

  There are some places that no matter how touristy they are, you must visit. This is one of them – another beautiful example of mother nature at her best. A natural wonder for all to see. If you want to play it safe you can view the cliffs from a safe zone, but for brave souls you can venture past this zone and walk to the edge of the cliffs.

  Disclaimer: I do not advise you walk right to the edge.

  

  RIP Kenny. Be careful everyone. 

  The path goes two separate ways, and I recommend going both ways. Even if just for a bit. The central hub is marked by a castle, because why not? You can pay a tiny price to walk up the stairs to get a view from the top of the castle, but I don’t think it was worth it. The views you encounter from the walk is more than enough.

  

  

  The further away from the castle you get when going to the left, the better the view of the cliffs become. My copilot got to see me in my element, taking photos of the same spot from slightly different angles. She was a trooper. ❤

  

  

  

  

  I just couldn’t help it. I was enamored. I was here. I had made it to the location I dreamed of for years. Plus, there were cows. Everywhere. Grazing on grass – go figure. A fellow American walked by a handful of people snapping photos of the cows (myself included) and made a snarky remark.

  Him: “What, you guys have never seen a cow before?”

  Me: “Not one that eats grass instead of being pumped with bullsh(%#* hormones.”

  I was a little sassy.

  

  

  

  We were blessed with amazing weather, but it was quite windy. Bring a jacket, or a scarf.

  

  The drive from Galway to the cliffs was around 50 miles. From the cliffs we were to head another 150 miles to our evening destination. This was the longest day of driving (just under 6 hours) we had done yet, but the break in the middle spent at the cliffs was perfect.

  I drove the final 150 miles to Waterville (our destination for the evening) with a head full of new memories, and a soul full of life. This is what life is all about, living, exploring, and replacing thoughts of what you think something will be like with the real deal.

  

  Travel Tip: Find an image of something that speaks to your soul. Print it, make it your desktop background, and don’t stop looking at it until you see it in person.  

  

  | 44 Comments Tagged Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

• The Latin Quarter, Galway

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 19, 2017

  Galway. Oh Galway. Multiple songs have been written referencing this quaint Irish town, and when you visit the cobblestone streets you understand why. The city is on the coast, with long stretches of beach. I’m not a beach fan usually, but even the beaches in Ireland are unique.

  The real attraction in this town is known as The Latin Quarter, where Galway comes alive. With shops and restaurants around every corner you’ll want to spend an entire day here. And that’s just what we did.

  

  

  Where to stay: Abbeylee B&B. The hosts of this B&B were wonderful. The bedrooms were clean and felt like home. And the breakfast. Yup. The location was perfect, just a 35 minute walk to The Latin Quarter.

  We stayed here two nights, and I met the most adorable American couple that was on their honeymoon. We became instant friends. Have I mentioned how much I love traveling? Those that travel have unique spirits, and it’s easy to make new friends this way.

  

  

  With a belly full of a traditional Irish breakfast, we took the beach path to the heart of the city. Walking into the entrance of The Latin Quarter is something I cannot put into words. Any thoughts, worries, or unpleasant emotions are quickly erased and replaced by feelings of joy, excitement, and enthrallment.

  Not that I was worried or upset at all on this trip, but you get the idea. 

  

  

  I can still hear the sounds reverberating off the stone walls. Musicians played everywhere you turned. Galway made you feel like nothing was impossible, that as long as you believed it, you could be whoever you wanted.

  Spoiler alert: this is actually how life works, we just get so caught up in thinking we “can’t” and where our minds go, we follow. 

  

  

  It was here in Galway we had planned to spend an evening at a local pub to be serenaded by the sounds of the locals. It was here I decided I wasn’t living my life the way I wanted. It was here I fell so deeply in love with a culture that was not my own, but that I longed to be a part of.

  It was here that I gave myself a permanent reminder of my first trip abroad, a trip that broke my soul and rebuilt it into something new.

  

  

  Our tattoo artists name was Charlie, and he was equal parts rigid as he was sweet. His lady friend worked alongside him and she had a strong resemblance to Anne Heche in Six Days, Seven Nights.

  They were adorable, and not in the sickly kind of way. 

  The original plan was to get a four leaf clover. Because we’re basic. Alas, Anne Heche schooled us on Irish culture and advised the clover was not native to Ireland, but the shamrock was. So shamrock it was. I didn’t even need a Guinness before being inked.

  

  

  Thanks Charlie, I hope you and Anne Heche live happily ever after. 

  Where to eat: The Kings Head is the oldest pub in the area, racking up over 800 years of existence. We ate lunch here and also spent the final stretch of our day here listening to local Irish men sing American songs. Go figure. I’ll never hear Ring of Fire the same again.

  Nothing like grown men referencing explosive diarrhea through a Johnny Cash song.

  

  

  I was on a mission to find the best mushy peas in Ireland.

  Fat Freddy’s Restaurant -I didn’t come to Ireland planning to find good pizza, but I assure you I found it. As always, potatoes as a topping is a must.

  

  

  

  Murphy’s Ice Cream – I can’t remember the last time I had “real” ice cream, but #wheninGalway. In all honesty this was a bit much for me, and I realized I might have been going a wee far with eating all the things I typically avoid, but for the sake of transparency I’ll share it.

  What sold me was the fact that they hand make the ice cream nearby, and one of the flavors showcases sea salt from the Dingle peninsula. When you can see the cows roaming free and grazing on grass it makes the decision of taking a lick much easier. Alas I’m becoming an expert at the whole, “listen to your body” concept.

  Body said no mas ice cream.

  

  Sitting in this city, surrounded by people from all over the world I felt at peace. These are the moments and memories that stick with you forever. Besides, even if I tried to forget I’m reminded every time I put on socks and see my tattoo.

  I smile every time.

  

  Travel Tip: When wandering a larger city (think Dublin, Galway, Cork) go into a pub if you need to use the toilet. Otherwise you will likely be charged around 20 cent. 

  

  | 45 Comments Tagged Galway, Ireland, The Latin Quarter, Vacation

• Ashford Castle

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 16, 2017

  Have you ever wondered if the castles from Disney movies were real? I’m here to tell you they are, and I know where you can find one. BUT FIRST – the drive from Northern Ireland to Galway. We departed our farm house B&B and headed south east.

  

  

  The final destination would be Galway, but before checking in for the night we were to have tea at Ashford Castle. Oh yeah, put your pinky’s out. The drive was around 220 miles total, and would be the first of a few “longer treks.”

  It was on this drive I was introduced to Bewley’s and when I decided Ireland was going to steal a large part of my soul.

  If the gas station coffee is better than most “real” coffee shops, you’re home. 

  

  The drive was long because of distance, and long because we stopped a few times along the way, but in the grand scheme the distance between most anything in Ireland is similar to a day trip to the mountains for me.

  You know, minus the whole random castle on the way there thing.

  

  

  Ashford was not at the top of my list to visit, when looking at the website it was much too bougie looking for my “I rarely wash my hair and don’t wear deodorant” lifestyle. Plus the castle is rented out as a hotel for up to $4000 a night – HARD PASS.

  Alas, I was open to visiting because compatible travel partners compromise for each other, like when I wanted to walk to the end of the Cliffs of Moher. More on that later. With all that said, this was one of the highlights of the entire trip for me.

  Just goes to show you can NEVER judge a book by its cover. Or by its size. 

  

  The outer grounds of the castle are never ending. Miles and miles of exploration. I still can’t justify that nightly price tag, but I can spend 40 euro for some kick ass tea and tiny sandwiches on fine china. Are your pinky’s up yet?

  

  

  

  

  Our waiter was French, and so unbelievably sweet. He even tried to be modest with his shock when he saw how quickly we consumed our food. I think he thought we were joking when we initially asked if there was another tray of food coming.

  #Americans. 

  

  

  

  

  

  The top two and bottom left photo were split between the two of us, the scones were all mine. The plates came out on a three tiered display, and the scones came a short while later. Initially the amount of food didn’t look like much, but I left Ashford in euphoric pain.

  It’s a good thing they have so many acres, because I needed a walk before driving the rest of the way to Galway. 

  

  

  The castle was once home to the famous Guinness family, and according to one of the castles many employees, it was later used as a “party house” for the royal families. Must be nice to have a castle of this size as your getaway home.

  

  If you want to experience royalty, but would rather spend your euros on gas station coffee and deep fried Irish grown potatoes, skip sleeping here and just go for the afternoon tea. It was worth every euro cent.

  

  Americans – we might eat a lot, but we also tip well.

  Travel Tip: Budget extra time in your schedule for unplanned stops. Some of the best sights are unplanned.

  

  | 32 Comments Tagged Ashford Castle, Castle, Ireland, Tea

• Causeway Coastal Route, N. Ireland

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 14, 2017

  We said our goodbyes to Dublin, and headed to HERTZ to pick up our rental car. This was the moment of truth, just how bizarre was it going to feel flipping my driving muscle memory? Renting a car allows for freedom you cannot get when on someone else’s schedule.

  

  I’d say it only took me the entire first day to become comfortable with the driving situation. My copilot might tell you otherwise, but I successfully drove the entire trip and dare I say miss driving opposite?

  From Dublin we were to head north for a few days, starting in Belfast and settling down for two nights at Glendona House – the B&B that would forever change my views on quality food, and allowing someone else to make my breakfast.
  

  I was sold on staying in bed and breakfasts because I wanted to meet locals. The hosts of this house were so kind, and the food was delicious. The house was in the heart of the country, you can’t get much more Ireland than this.  There were horses, and pigs, and cows, OH MY.

  The real selling point though? The swings. 

  

  

  

  Our plans for Northern Ireland were to visit a few of the destinations on the Causeway Coastal Route. In writing this post I’ve discovered there are so many stops, which just means I need to go back. I will highlight the Six that we visited.

  Belfast

  I recommend starting the route in Belfast. There are a few ticket items you can do here, but the big kahuna, and the reason we went was to visit the Titanic Exhibit. I am a history novice, and had no idea that the Titanic was built in Belfast. Learning more about the process of this historical ship was surreal.

  Not to mention looking at the exact spot that it was built and sent off? Yes. 

  

  The building was meant to replicate the actual size of the ship. Woof.

  

  The exact location the Titanic was built, and sent off. Surreal.

  Dunluce Castle

  Because a historical castle the size of a small town on the edge of the coast? Done. Plus the drive there was full of green rolling hills. With cows.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Giants Causeway

  Unique rock formations, 100% nature made. With large green cliffs. Must I continue?

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge

  Built to assist fisherman in catching Atlantic salmon many moons ago, this rickety rope bridge is open to the public for brave souls to walk across. It’s only a 100ft drop. No big deal. Oh, and the walk to the bridge? Breathtaking.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  The Dark Hedges

  Any Game of Thrones fans out there? These trees were so legit. Plus per usual – the drive there was full of sheep and greeeeeen.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Caves of Cushendun

  Another GOT filming location, I’m glad my copilot Sam is a fan of the show. Regardless of if you watch the show (I do not), the caves were cool and the town was cute. Cushendun even has a town goat. Like a pet. Because, why not?

  

  

  

  

  When nature calls….top two coolest places I’ve ever…yea.

  Aside from the Titanic Exhibit which we visited on the drive into N. Ireland, we were able to hit the other five locations in one fell swoop. We planned a driving loop in the order listed above – it was perfect. Needless to say we were pretty hungry by the end of this day.

  It was here, in Northern Ireland, that I had the best fish and chips of my life. And of the trip. I warned you all, I ate EVERYTHING. I went plant based for ethical reasons, but in Europe the standards are much different. I’m also rewiring my brain after a two year journey of disordered eating.

  If you’re interested in hearing more about my views on ethical agriculture in Europe and why I chose to partake in foods I wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole in the states, I’ll be sharing more in future posts. No this is not my new norm, but in Europe I made a conscious decision to eat it all. 🙂

  

  Mushy peas both sound and look like something you’d find in an infants diaper, but I assure you the taste is astronomical. Who’da thunk it. This plate of finesse was found at Harry’s Licensed Restaurant. Worth the wait, I can still taste the quality.

  Travel Tip: When given the option of GPS or WiFi for your rental car, choose GPS. WiFi doesn’t work in all county’s. We chose WiFi, were not told it didn’t work up north, and momentarily panicked when we had no idea where we were (yes we had a real life map, but we’re also millennials.) HERTZ to the rescue with a complimentary GPS. So we had both. Still, get the GPS.

  

  | 53 Comments Tagged Ireland

• Howth, Ireland

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 12, 2017

  After 10+ hours of traveling, we laboriously flop into an airport taxi. Initial laughter and shock commence after seeing the steering wheel on the opposite side of the car, it’s much different mentally envisioning what it might look like than actually seeing it.

  My copilot Sam sits in the front seat, after initially approaching the drivers side out of habit. Our driver asks us where we’re going, and away we drive. A short few minutes into the drive Sam asks the question. The question. The question that is imperative when traveling to a new location.

  “Where do you like to go around here?”

  

  With minimal hesitation our adorably accented cab driver spits out the word “Howth” followed by instructions on how to get there. “Take the DART to Howth, go to The Summit Bar, and walk to the back of the pub. From there you’ll see a grand view of Dublin.”

  Knowing nothing of what a “DART” was, I quickly wrote HOWTH in the note pad of my phone, after asking him twice to spell it aloud due to his unique pronunciation (of which we discovered everyone said slightly different, and I’m still not sure of the correct way to say the word.)

  

  After a little bit of research, and lots of asking for help/directions we figure out how to get to Howth. We spend the morning exploring the tourist attractions of Dublin, and head for Howth around 2p.

  The DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) is an electric rail system that takes you all over Dublin, and into other cities as well. The ride itself was grand, giving views of other areas, but upon pulling into the final stop we were greeted with a view we were not expecting.

  Howth is located at the outer edge of Dublin, and is the last stop of the DART. The peninsula views were breathtaking. 

  

  We had no plans on this peninsula, other than finding The Summit Bar. Until we saw the island in the above photo. We sat, we stared, and then we saw the ferry boats.

  “You guys want to go to the island?” 

  

  Ten euro later we stepped foot onto Ireland’s Eye. No second thoughts. Impromptu adventures to accompany the already impromptu trip to Howth. The procedure for getting from the boat to the island was simple. Just climb up the rocks like a spider monkey.

  

  The instructions from the captain were straight forward, “be back before the boat leaves, and watch out for the Gannet nests.” I thought nothing of the last instruction partly because I had no idea what the hell a Gannet was, and partly because I was so enamored by the castle.

  

  

  That’s when I saw them. The illusive Gannet. A bird that looks much like a Seagull. And they.were.everywhere. The nests were like landmines, one wrong step and the Gannet would cry a sound that haunts your dreams.

  Rightfully so, this island is where they breed and raise their young. I tried to communicate to them that we came in peace, but they didn’t quite understand human language.

  

  

  Every step became a calculated equation. Don’t get too close, and don’t make eye contact when the mother starts gurgling at you. My focus was turned to the top of the island, I wanted to step foot on the summit of it.

  Uncertain of why no one else seemed interested in climbing the island, we found two other brave souls to follow. The four of us carefully avoided being blown up by the landmines and headed towards the summit.

  

  Look close – upper right of the hill. A GANNET FACE.

  The closer we got, the harder it was to find a designated path. Not that this has stopped me before, so I attempted my own. I momentarily deviated from the pack, and when trying to catch back up I slipped on a rock. And fell. On my ribs. Hard.

  Too concerned with reaching the top I pushed the pain out of my mind. The pain never went away. The entire trip. In fact the pain is still here as I write this post. Over two weeks later (albeit they’re not as painful as they were at the beginning.) I definitely bruised them, and my luck would cause this to happen on the second day of the trip. HA.

  

  Pain aside, we discovered the summit was LOADED with nests and the four of us decided to head back to the center of the island where the smart people were. But not before one of the other guys was DIVE BOMBED by the part of the equation we forgot.

  Daddy Gannet. 

  Walking turned to jogging as we tried to avoid a painful death by Gannet. With the luck of the Irish we made it back to civilization unscathed. Never have I seen a sight like these nests, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

  Bruised ribs and all.

  

  We made it safely back to the mainland and set our sights on finding The Summit Bar. The Cliffs Notes version of this part of the story is that the bar was far. Really far having already walked around for the entire day. Alas, over an hour and many large hills later we found it.

  

  On the walk to the bar

  I ate my body weight in potatoes, which tasted like angel tears and fireworks. Potatoes in Ireland are TOP NOTCH. From here we made our way to the “back of the pub” which turned out wasn’t literal, and we had to walk a little further to find the Cliff Path Loop.

  Worth every mile. 

  We took the scenic path back to the DART station, and I slept very hard that night. I didn’t get to thank our cab driver for the suggestion because we ended up taking the bus out of Dublin to obtain our rental car the next day, but I hope the universe somehow lets him know we appreciated his suggestion.

  Thanks, Jay.

  

  Travel Tip: Always, always ask the locals where they like to hangout. Often times it’s off the beaten path allowing you to fully submerge yourself in their culture.

  

  | 38 Comments

• Trinity College / Guinness Storehouse

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 8, 2017

  While gallivanting around Dublin, it was unavoidable to partake in some of the popular tourist activities you can find in the city. I like to live a life of balance, and this comes into play in all areas – including explorations.

  When exploring new places I like to balance tourist activities with hidden spots discovered from the locals. 

  

  On this day we did just that – wandered the city visiting big ticket places like Trinity College and the Guinness factory, as well as visiting a hidden gem. On this day I logged just under 20 miles of movement (I did squeeze in a short run, but most of this was from walking. I love vacations).

  This post will cover the former.

  

  

  Why Trinity College? Well initially because the Google said it would be a must see. I wasn’t enthralled by The Book of Kells (sorry), but the library was like something out of a fairy tale. Beauty and the beast to be exact.

  

  

  Rows and rows of old historical books, guarded by ancient philosophers. It was like stepping into a time warp. I tried asking one of the statues for a book on mail order husbands, but he didn’t deliver. Owell, looks like I have to return to find my Irish soul mate.

  

  

  

  If you’re not keen on wandering a hall full of old books (but you really should) the campus alone is simply gorgeous. I find college campuses to have a unique beauty. Of course they are slightly more enjoyable when I’m not an actual student, but they are lovely nonetheless.

  

  

  

  After wandering the campus for a bit, it was time to get drunk on dark, sweet smelling, smooth and balanced Irish made beer. And by get drunk I mean take one tiny sip from the sensory rooms free sample.

  Why the Guinness Storehouse? Because nothing says Ireland more than drinking beer in a pub on a Monday night (seriously, weekdays are just as busy as weekends out on the town) and every lad and lass will be drinking a Guinness.

  Hometown pride.

  

  

  We had a brief moment of, “eh – do we really want to go? Neither of us drink beer?” But oh boy O’berto I’m so glad we didn’t skip. This was a great experience for anyone. Even kids, just don’t give them your beer. Or maybe do. I don’t judge.

  The tour goes through a series of self guided levels showcasing the brewing process, the history, the passion in the product, but the coolest by far was the sensory room. I’m not a beer drinker, but the sensory room tickled my food/drink/science loving soul.

  Plus, free samples. 

  

  Of which I didn’t even finish. 🙂

  You walk into a room that smells like sweet candy mixed with cocoa. Here you learn how to properly “taste the beer” and although I don’t care much for the flavor, I appreciated the art and science of it all. We all have a niche, mine just happens to be the science of coffee.

  

  The storehouse is huge, and we spent a solid couple hours here (not including our post touring feast in one of the onsite restaurants, where our adorably kind waiter sold my friend on the Guinness infused cheese sauce.)

  Your ticket comes with a free pint of beer, but neither of us partook.

  

  Despite passing on the free beer, we still went to the Gravity Bar on the very top level. From here you’re met with a panoramic view of the city. It was beautiful. I was able to locate the spire in the city center, and realized just how far we walked.

  Or maybe it just felt far because I had to ask five people for directions on the way there. Regardless, this satisfied my travel tip from the previous post. I loved asking for directions.

  

  After hours of exploring the inner city tourist attractions, it was time to venture to the outskirts of Dublin. My next post will share why I believe it’s imperative to ask the locals where to explore.

  Travel tip: Wear comfortable shoes. The best way to explore Dublin is by foot. 

  

  | 38 Comments Tagged Explore, Ireland, Vacation

• Dublin City Center

  Posted at 7:00 AM by Brittany, on June 6, 2017

  My trip to the Emerald Isle both started and ended in Dublin. My flight left Seattle and landed in London, then from London to Dublin and vice versa. Despite the 8hr time difference, our first night in Dublin we went out to explore. This was both an attempt to get on schedule with their time zone, and because…well…Dublin!

  

  We arrived around 3pm Ireland time, 11pm Seattle time. And stayed awake until 9pm Ireland time…you can do the math.

  

  The city center itself reminded me of a slightly smaller, less busy Seattle. That is if Seattle had random castles and cathedrals at every corner, and if Dublin had 10x more Starbucks locations. Dublin was the only area I saw a handful of Starbucks locations until I reached Cork nearly a week later. I didn’t mind though, who wants Starbucks in another country?

  Not I.

  

  Dublin Castle

  

  

  The city itself is very walk-able. We chose not to get our rental car until leaving Dublin, which was a good move. There is limited parking, and I can assure you I would have been 5.76% more stressed if I had the car. We chose a hotel close to the city center and covered over 30 miles on foot in the first two days.

  

  

  

  There is a pub on every corner in Dublin just like there is a Starbucks on every corner in Seattle. You don’t have to worry about getting thirsty, or hungry. We stopped into the iconic Temple Bar, but didn’t stay long. Just enough to say we went. 😉

  

  

  

  After wandering the city and grabbing a bite to eat, we retired to our hotel for the night. We chose hotels and B&B’s for this trip, all of which were fantastic aside from the two Dublin locations. They weren’t terrible, but they weren’t great either. The following morning after day one in Dublin I went for a run around the city.

  

  

  

  Irish people seem to come alive a wee bit later than I’m used to, and it was great to run through the city with minimal people. The weather was cooler than the previous day giving perfect running temps. I ran by the city river, through the streets, passed cathedrals, and donut shops. Mmm. Donuts.

  

  

  

  I didn’t worry about getting lost because on day one we located a large spire that quickly became a point of location. No matter where we were, we could always see the spire, and from there it was easy to find our hotel. Navigation level expert.

  Even if I did get lost, the people in Ireland are so friendly. I lost count of how many times I asked for directions in Dublin. Without a cell phone to navigate location we relied on good ol’ fashioned verbal directions. It was fun.

  

  The spire

  

  Doors of Dublin

  Where we stayed: Nights 1-2 we stayed at Hazelbrook House B&B, but we were disappointed to learn that we had to pay extra for the second B. No breakfast, small room, and uncomfortable bed. Alas the location was perfect so it was fine.

  

  Night 10 (final night) we stayed at Dublin City University, because they rent out the dorms in the summer. It sounded awesome, but the beds were worse than Hazelbrook. The walking paths nearby were lovely though, and it was very close to the airport. Again, not so bad.

  

  

  Edible Highlights: The donut that broke the camels back was found at Off Beat Donuts. Before departing Dublin at the beginning of our trip we wandered the city a bit more. Not much was open (remember, everything comes alive later than in the states) but the donut shop was.

  This was the catalyst to my “eat everything” mantra. 

  

  

  

  Sweet mother of pearl. That donut filled my soul in ways I cannot describe. It gave me the green light to put away my food fears and just eat. Everything. My vegan friends would be horrified, but I was liberated. The food in Europe is nothing like in the states, and I felt better physically than I had in years. Yes…years.

  Cheers to that.

  

  Live music, mini farmers markets, friendly people, Dublin was a great start to the trip. My next two posts will share more of Dublin with my trip to Trinity College and the Guinness Factory, as well as a spontaneous adventure to the outskirts of Dublin.

  Travel tip: Ask for directions. The people in Europe are very friendly, and this allows you to gush at their awesome accents. 

  

  | 50 Comments Tagged Donuts, Dublin, Ireland, Travel, Vacation

• What’s to Come

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 5, 2017

  And just like that, I’m back from Ireland. To say this trip was life changing would be a severe understatement, but my mind is still a jumble of emotions so that will have to do. I am struggling with some intense post vacation blues, but I look forward to the blog posts to come in regards to my trip. This trip stripped my soul and rebuilt it in ways I cannot explain, and I am forever thankful.

  The lifestyle in Ireland is something I will continue to chase – the slow moving days, the treatment of animals, the quality of food, the friendliness of the people. And the green. OH the green. The next handful of posts will break down my trip by locations and highlights, so if this is not your preferred read then I suggest you check back with my blog in a few weeks.

  Cheers to the next few weeks of recap.

   

  

  

  | 43 Comments Tagged Ireland

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