#ThrowbackThursday to August 2010 when my friend Heidi and I traveled to Ireland Our initial conversation Me: Want to go to Ireland? Heidi: Yeah! Me: I'm being serious Heidi: ...So am I! We visited Dublin and Galway, but this post focuses specifically on Galway and the surrounding areas that we explored. I adored Galway. The countryside in Ireland is actually as green as it looks in photos. We were able to enjoy the slower pace of Galway by wandering around, stopping at street markets, purchasing food and eating it by the river, and having a drink at some of the pubs. We ate fish and chips at every opportunity - the fish was always fresh and delicious, since we were right near the coast. Galway is small and charming. It was easy enough to explore the city on foot, which gave us the opportunity to go at our own pace. In the evenings, we met locals in the pubs who bought us Guinness and showed us pictures of their dogs, in an experience straight out of a novel. In this post, I included photos of the Galway highlights, as well as a little information about our experiences. One of the excursions we took from Galway was to the Cliffs of Moher. We stopped at Poulnabrone Dolmen, which is a portal tomb, dating back thousands of years. We also visited the Ballyalban Fairy Fort, where it is rumored that leprechauns live, and saw Celtic High Crosses. The highlight of the tour was the time we had at the Cliffs of Moher. They were breath-taking, stretching in jagged lines toward the horizon. Standing on top of the cliffs and listening to the ocean crash below was truly awe-inspiring. I know I said this above, but one of the things that really stood out to me about Ireland is how vibrantly green the grass and the foliage actually is. It makes everything feel very alive and fresh! That includes the grass on top of the cliffs, which provided striking contrast to the dark rock of the cliffs. We were able to spend a couple of hours at the cliffs, which gave us ample opportunity to explore both north and south of the visitor's center. Heidi and I also took a ferry to the Aran Islands. While Galway had a laid-back charm and the Cliffs of Moher were breath-taking, the Aran Islands might have been my favorite day of the trip. Specifically, we visited Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. The Aran Islands are a Gaeltacht, or an Irish-speaking region. This designation indicates that the Irish language is the language of the home. In many regions, the Irish language is fading from use, so it was very cool to visit a place where the traditions and language have been preserved. On Inishmore, Heidi and I rented bicycles to travel around the island. It is easily bike-able. I cannot express how peaceful it was to pedal through gorgeous scenery with the sun shining on us. We were able to stop whenever we wanted and take our time, since we had planned to leave on the latest ferry that evening. We biked to an ancient fort on the island, Dun Aengus, which is on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. We stopped at a cemetery and explored some ruins that we happened across. It was amazing to see thatched roof cottages, which are so picturesque. I also loved that signs on the island were written in the Irish language, as opposed to signs we had seen in Dublin and Galway, written in English. Heidi and I both bought claddagh rings in Galway. We both had owned versions of claddagh rings before our trip but wanted to get new rings in the place they originated! Claddagh was a small fishing town that is now part of Galway city. The heart on the ring represents love, the crown represents loyalty, and the hand represent friendship. The way the ring is worn tells about the wearer's relationship status. I have worn my claddagh ring from Galway every day since the trip. Ireland was one of my favorite places I've ever been. It offers scenic natural beauty, centuries of history, and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. I must admit, as I look through my trip photos on this #ThrowbackThursday, I'm feeling a little nostalgic. I think that means another trip to Ireland is in my future!
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. -Irish Blessing
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#ThrowbackThursday to my honeymoon in November 2014 Picture a dream tropical getaway. Can you see the clear blue water? Can you hear the rustle of palm trees waving in the breeze? Can you feel the sand under your toes and sun on your skin as you lay in lounge chairs? Can you feel the gentle rocking of kayaks and stand-up paddle boards as you circle the island? Can you taste the fresh tropical fruit and coffee from beans grown only a couple of hours away? Ok, stop picturing this and just go to Coco Plum Island Resort in Belize. On our honeymoon, Brett and I got to spend five days here! Coco Plum is on a private island, nine miles off the shore of Dangriga, Belize, meaning that the only thing on the island is the resort. We took a boat to and from the island, for arrival, inland tours, and departure. The island is situated near the Belize Barrier Reef, which offers fantastic snorkeling, diving, and fishing. There are options for zip-lining, cave tubing, and touring Mayan ruins on the mainland of Belize. The people who work at Coco Plum are some of the friendliest, most welcoming, and most thoughtful people I have ever encountered while traveling. The island is very small and intimate, offering only fourteen cabanas that accommodate two people each. A fun fact about Belize is that the official language is English, so you shouldn't have any problems with communication if you're monolingual. Unless you're my husband, who had a ten minute conversation about mangoes with our driver from the Dangriga airport, who was actually talking about mangroves ("We're not allowed to cut down the mangroves", "Good, I love mangoes!"). I could write more, but I think the pictures I took speak for themselves. It's not hard to make this place look beautiful! |
AuthorMy name is Alyssa Good and I have a passion for travel, adventure, culture, and new experiences! I focus on budget friendly travel, trip planning resources, and seeking out new experiences. Archives
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