Author Archives: Brittany

• Lake Angeles

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on August 29, 2017

  I used to be extremely active. One season of my life I was training for my third half marathon while completing the Insanity DVD’s, and this was completely normal for me. I was never not doing something intense. Then I lost my period, and it would take another few years for me to realize perhaps it’s time to take things down a notch.

  

  Don’t get me wrong, I love the euphoria that comes from an extreme cardio session, but my body has been trying to tell me to take it down a few notches and I’ve chosen not to listen. It amazes me how loud and clear our bodies will communicate to us if we listen, the problem is that we’re usually so focused on other things we don’t hear the warning signs.

  The go go go mentality comes into play for me whenever I go for a hike as well, the mountain has to be bigger and badder than the one before or I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished much. The mountains aren’t close to me, so I’ve always had a certain rule when choosing trails.

  

  I LOL’d at this sign, if you look closely next to the 3.7 someone wrote “More like 5.”

  My rule is that when it comes to a hike, I need the time spent on the trail to be longer than the time it took to drive there. On average, it takes me about two hours to get to a good hike meaning the actual hike will ideally take 3 hours or more. This means the trail needs to be at least 7 miles RT or more. 

  I realize how ridiculous this all sounds. I can’t say all my marbles are straight, but I’m actively working on pushing them closer together in a somewhat uniformed line. I don’t hike as much these days in an attempt to re-balance my body (still no consistent periods, but I feel we’re getting closer) and I really don’t enjoy running so that had to go too, but if I find a friend to tag along on a hike I’ll go.

  

  Before setting off to conquer Lake Angeles, I found myself slipping into old habits. Originally when my friend asked if I wanted to go for a hike, I got onto the Washington Trails website to find a big and bad hike to conquer. I must also mention I’m not at all in the shape I was when I was running half marathons and doing Insanity, meaning big bad hikes are more painful than enjoyable these days.

  

  I originally chose a different trail to explore. Higher elevation, and longer distance. Because, why not. I woke up at 3am the morning of the hike with a lump in my stomach telling me this was not the trail I wanted. I was dreading the adventure, and that’s no fun. I remembered that I’m trying to respect my body and not destroy it, and made the change to Lake Angeles last minute.

  At 7.4 miles RT with an elevation gain of 2350′ this was more than enough. It kicked my out of shape butt in all the right ways. This also happened to be the week that Washington was hit with a shitton of smoke that was pushed our way from the BC wildfires, as you can see in all of these photos, so taking it easy was ideal.

  The smoke gave me terrible headaches. I can’t imagine what it was like in Canada. 

  

  The point of this post is to remind me, and to encourage you to listen to our bodies. When things are out of balance it’s for a reason and the only way to know is to slow down and listen. It’s a challenge for those of us with obsessions or addictions to certain lifestyles, but without challenges we will never grow.

  We are constantly bombarded with people telling us that we are lazy if we don’t want to workout, or unhealthy if we want to eat the cake, but at the end of the day only you know what’s best for your body and soul. For too long I told myself I was lazy if I didn’t go for a run, or climb a bigger mountain, but you can only force something for so long before the joy is zapped from it.

  

  Hiking is meant to bring peace and calming (with some blood flow) and satisfy my urge for exploration. It shouldn’t be just a way to sweat. I’m reminding myself to stop and smell the roses, not just view them from the top. Hiking is so much more enjoyable when you savor the journey, and it just so happens this is a metaphor for life too.

  Rest if your body tells you to rest, move if your body tells you to move, eat the cake if your soul tells you to eat the cake, or avoid the cake if your body tells you the sugar is not working for you. Listen to your body, it’s smarter than any media article or science guru combined. The key is learning what to listen for.

  

  Life is not about perfection, all we can do is strive to improve who we are today from who we were yesterday. Just be sure to give yourself grace along the way. 

  Q: What activities are you not enjoying lately that you used to love? For me it’s running. So now I bike!

  

  | 63 Comments Tagged Hike, Lake Angeles, Life, Mountain, PNW

• Isolation

  Posted at 12:30 PM by Brittany, on August 4, 2017

  When I was a wee little lass, I never liked to be alone. I know, I know…those that know me would tell you otherwise. I thrive on solo adventures, I prefer being alone, and I’ve become an expert on isolation.

  Younger Brittany felt anxious being in public without a friend by her side. Heaven forbid someone see’s her alone, and thinks she has no friends. Heaven forbid someone tries to talk to her without the buffer of another human being to act as a deterrent. Younger Brittany wouldn’t dare to go on adventures by her self.

  If others couldn’t go, neither would she. 

  

  Solo bike ride.

  Then one day, a little over four years ago this all changed. Gone was the girl that needed a friend to go to the movies, gone was the girl that needed a guy to feel complete, gone was the girl that did anything and everything “with someone else.” Most importantly – gone was the girl that put her life desires on hold because no one else wanted to do the same things she did.

  Taking time to learn how to do things alone is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, until that gift has the opposite affect and you get uncomfortable being around other people. Human beings are social, and we were meant to be with others.

  As with anything in life having a healthy balance of isolation and connections is key. 

  

  Solo hike.

  It occurred to me a few weeks ago while I was on the above photographed solo hike, that I no longer thrive off of hiking alone all the time. I no longer prefer going on every adventure alone, and I am craving human connections like never before. I am constantly in awe of the human body, and when one aspect of our constantly working internal makeup is out of whack, the rest crumbles with it.

  

  Solo ferry ride. 05:20. Who can spot the moon?

  I’m also in awe of the fact that when we do not follow our hearts true desires, life starts to get difficult. Two years ago I made a transition with my job that I felt was “the right thing to do.” I hated what I was doing and almost instantly my health started to crumble. A year later I made another transition that I felt I should do, but didn’t really want to do and my health not only didn’t get better, it worsened.

  It was in these moments that I started isolating more, and more, and more. 

  

  Last week I left my job in corporate America and transitioned back to working in a cafe for Starbucks. I took two steps backwards while most people strive to take one step forward in any job transition. I knew in my heart this job was not right for me, nor was any other position within those walls. So I stuffed the voices from society, and went back to stage one.

  The key factor in this transition is that making coffee and connecting with people makes me happy. I won’t be a barista forever, but while I finish my last 9 months of school this is the right fit. More importantly this is what my heart was telling me to do.

  This is what my heart was telling me to do for two years, but I ignored it. 

  

  Book reading cats always listen to their hearts.

  So here I am, 28 years old, still in college, and working as a barista at Starbucks. And you know what? It feels right. I feel calm, and I feel happy. My lifestyle needs a job with flexibility, my lifestyle needs a job that allows for last minute travel, my lifestyle needs a job that has me moving non stop.

  Life is not a template created by society that has a one size fits all tag, so why is it that so many of us care about how we are perceived if we are doing things we’ve labeled as not good enough? I isolated myself because I felt like I wasn’t good enough, and cared too much what others thought for far too long. I’m here to tell you that shit is exhausting, and in the end the only person you’re going to effect is yourself.

  

  NON solo hike

  

  I’m actively spending time with others again, but in all honesty it was hard to surround myself with people when physically I never felt well. It’s also hard to find quality friends as you get older, but no excuses. With a stronger grasp on dietary tweaks, and relief of job related stress I’m confident I’m on the right path.

  I still very much enjoy being alone, but I’m finding the balance between solo time and time with others. Working in a cafe is not about making money for me right now (plus, I get paid more as a caregiver through WA state) it’s about making connections, meeting people, and allowing myself to thrive as a human being.

  

  LAST DAY AT CORPORATE. So happy.

  

  Blog BFF’s

  The point of all this is to challenge and inspire those that read this to take an inward look at your life. Are you happy? I mean truly happy. Is there something that you could be doing that would make you happier, but you feel like you shouldn’t do it because you fear what others would think? Are you also experiencing health problems?

  The mind body connection is strong my friends, and when your mind is toxic with fear and unhappiness your body will suffer the consequences. Stop living your life for other people, be selfish. You only get one, might as well enjoy the ride!

  Oh, and we only get one planet so throw away your damn trash! 

  

  One of TWO trash hauls within a 15 minute walk. Shame.

  Q: Did you know that those with a strong circle of healthy relationships live longer than those who don’t? Are you living an authentic life?

  

   

  | 51 Comments Tagged Life, Starbucks

• Playing Catch-up

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 10, 2017

  Well. Although I’ve been home from Ireland for over a month now, ya’ll have no idea what I’ve been up to eh? I wanted to knock out all the Ireland recaps (to keep them in order #OCD) before adjusting back to real life. Real life isn’t nearly as exciting, but I’ll do my best to conjure up a readable post.

  • First and foremost, I said the most difficult goodbye of my entire life. 

  

  

  There are literally no words to describe the magnitude of pain that takes hold of your entire being when you loose a pet. My beautiful kidney disease fighting cat made it 20 long years. I miss him everyday. He is running free in the sky and his legacy lives on forever. Seriously…his hair will be sure of that.

  • I‘ve gone on a handful of hikes. I made a summer goal to hike at least once a week. This isn’t usually too difficult for me. 

  

  

  

  

  

  • I worked. And made more changes in regards to work. Always changing.

  

  • I spent alone time at the beach. Working on this whole processing emotions thing without using my drugs of choice (sugar and caffeine.) 

  

  

  • I spent the 3rd & 4th of July being extra social. It was good for my soul.

  

  • I started running again. Sorta. I can only manage 2-3 miles and my pace is slow as molasses. But it’s a start. 

  

  • I solidified plans for my next adventure. September can’t come soon enough. Any guesses?

  

  • I started school again. Nine more months people. Nine.More.Months. 

  Q: American friends, how’d you spend your 4th? Non American friends, who wants to let me crash on their couch so I can travel to your country? I’m a very tidy house guest and I’ll give you an excuse to tour your area. It’s a win win. Actually this goes for my American friends too. 😉

  

  | 67 Comments Tagged America, ASU, Cruise, Explore, Fourth of July, Hiking, Running, Seattle

• The Rock of Cashel

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on July 3, 2017

  The final big ticket item of my trip to Ireland was to spend a few hours exploring The Rock of Cashel, located in County Tipperary. The Rock of Cashel, more formally St. Patrick’s Rock, is also known as Cashel of the Kings.

  

  

  Who can see the frowny face?

  County Tipperary is adorable, as are all Irish towns. There is parking near the castle for a price, so we parked about a 12 minute walk away. For free. Walking through the town was more fun anyway. If I had extra room in my bag I’d have stocked up on Irish strawberries and potatoes – the two items I couldn’t imagine tasting as good as they did.

  

  The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most visited sites. “A collection of medieval ecclesiastical buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale. The 12th-century round tower is of the oldest surviving building on the Rock.

  The 13th-century Gothic cathedral is a large cruciform Gothic church without aisles built between 1230 and 1270. Also a 15th-century castle and the Hall of the Vicars is the entry point to the ecclesiastical enclosure. The Hall houses the museum where the original Cross of St. Patrick can be found.”

  

  

  I spent all of 15 minutes listening to a guided tour before wandering off on my own to relish in the beauty and detail of all the medieval gravestones. The weather was perfectly sunny with a few puffy clouds, giving the gravestones extra dimension with their shadows.

  

  

  Ireland is a very religious country, and their dedication to preserving these spots of historic significance is inspirational. They see a 5 ft stone wall, remnant of a castle from long ago and they leave it in the middle of an open field.

  In America that “rubble” would be torn down quicker than you can say “supersize me” in order to build another mini mall. Insert eye roll here.

  

  

  The view from the site was gorgeous. Endless green rolling hills. In fact, the hills were so enticing that I failed to notice when, where, and how I ended up with a glob of bird poop on the side of my shirt. And I mean globbb. The cool, wet sensation took some elbow work to scrub off.

  I then wore the same shirt all day. And the next day. Without a proper wash. 

  

  Which one of you flying trolls shat on me…

  From the castle we took a slight detour south to Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, for a tour of House of Waterford Crystal. I was neutral to this tour initially, but it turned out to be quite entertaining. There are only 15 guys in this factory that make hundreds of crystal pieces.

  

  This guy has worked in the factory for over 30 years. I got to meet him outside. He was a grand fella.

  

  And just like that, the final two items on our list were complete. We managed to hit every single place we planned, with enough wiggle room for places we didn’t plan. This trip was perfection, and I’m in awe of how much we covered.

  Until next time Ireland, you’ll be in my heart forever. 

  

  Travel Tip: Go to Ireland. The end.

  

  | 37 Comments Tagged Ireland, Rock of Cashel

• Blarney Castle and Gardens

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 30, 2017

  Wayyyy back in December, when I started planning my trip to Ireland, one of the first destinations that came to mind was the infamous Blarney Castle. While planning my trip I made sure to pick the brains of a few people that had traveled to Ireland before. As we discussed places to see, the unanimous vote was that Blarney would be OK to skip.

  

  

  Well – I’m glad we didn’t skip. I will say that waiting in line to kiss the Blarney Stone, the rock wall meant to bring the gift of eloquence, was a bit intense. Of all the places we visited, this was the busiest and the line was a bit overwhelming. Alas, you cannot come to Blarney and not kiss the stone.

  Or at least attempt to. 

  

  

  I’ll be honest. My money makers did not quite touch the wall. The process was very assembly line like, and I tried to reach the very bottom (it was much harder than it looked) and then the man helping me pulled me back up. I was flustered and over it, so…I accepted getting “close.”

  Besides, the gardens of “Blarney Castle & Gardens” was waaayyy better. 

  

  

  It felt like there were endless acres of green. The views from the castle were spectacular. Whenever I was asked, “why Ireland” I didn’t have a good answer. My answer was something along the lines of, “the green!” Seeing the hills near Blarney answers this question.

  Now if I’m asked “why Ireland” I’ll just show my photos. 

  

  

  I loved walking the lay of the land, from the poison garden, to the jungle, to the bog garden there were endless places to explore. We also happened to be there on the first day of summer tours for the Blarney House – a mansion built in 1874.

  The mansion is still occupied to this day, and for three months of the year the tenants allow the public to view the interior. 

  

  View of the mansion from the castle.

  

  This was the only day of the trip with “unfortunate weather” and it was raining pretty hard. The rain added to the ambiance of the area, and it actually made the entire experience more magical.

  Only a Seattlite would say such a thing…

  After a full day at Blarney, it was time to head towards Clonmel, our launch pad before heading back to Dublin. It just so happened to be Sam’s birthday, and we were lucky enough to find a delicious place to eat right next to our hotel.

  You’ll never guess what I ordered….

  

  Where to stay: Clonmel Park Hotel, just a little over an hours drive from Blarney. This hotel had a beautiful view, and an amazing breakfast. This hotel gave me my final Irish feast before coming back to reality. It also made me feel pretty fancy.

  Where to eat: Red Herring had amazing service, and even better mushy peas. I think Sam would say they also had a great birthday dessert.

  

  Travel Tip: If you’re renting a car to get around, be aware which nozzle is diesel and if your car requires it. Also, you pump BEFORE you pay. Honor system on point.

  

  | 35 Comments Tagged Blarney Castle, Ireland

• The English Market, Cork

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 28, 2017

  After earning our Jedi certifications on Skellig Michael, we set forth to our next destination of Cork. Our time in Cork was very short, just a pit stop to rest our souls. Below you will see the out lined map of our journey thus far.

  It’s a rough sketch.

  

  We stayed in Hotels (instead of B&B’s) the remainder of our trip, and Cork was the first hotel of the trip. It was hard not waking up to someone making me breakfast, but Cork was a good place to have my heart broken by lack of food because The English Market was just around the river bend.

  

  We stayed at the Ambassador Hotel, which was OK. The staff was amazingly friendly though, and they had water at the front desk with the most amazing strawberries floating in it. I’ll never look at water the same.

  

  From the hotel to the market was about a 20 minute walk. The goal for the morning in Cork was to find some local coffee, and a scone (at the market.) I stopped into Cork Coffee Roasters, because I suppose with a name like that you can expect local coffee. I’m glad the coffee was good, because the service was not.

  Womp. 

  

  

  The English Market is Ireland’s most famous covered food market, and it reminded me so much of the West Side Market in Cleveland, Ohio. You can’t get any more fresh and local than a market like this, and although the endless rows of raw meat and fish heads were calling to me (joke) I had my heart set on doughy, carby goodness.

  

  

  I made myself sick off one of those hockey pucks in the bottom right corner. Or maybe it was because I ate mine, and half of my friends. Whoops. Either way, it was amazing and I paid like 90 cent for this. WHAT EVEN!?

  In America that scone would have been $3…easy.

  We spent less than 24 hours in Cork, but it was more than enough. The city is like a much smaller, pocket sized version of Dublin. A quick pass through is all you need (in my opinion.) Cork was the perfect launching pad for us because our next “big ticket” destination was Blarney Castle.

  Stay tuned for the next post to see if I received the gift of eloquence.  

  

  Thanks for the cheap scones, Cork. ❤

  Travel Tip: Find the destinations you want to visit, and then plan your accommodations in areas before the actual destination. This allows you to see other places you wouldn’t have normally seen, and helps to break up the travel times. 

  

  | 34 Comments Tagged Ireland, Market, Scones

• 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. 

  

  | 27 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.

  

  | 42 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.  

  

  | 50 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. 

  

  | 48 Comments Tagged Galway, Ireland, The Latin Quarter, Vacation

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