Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Road Trip on the Emerald Isle

Never thought I'd have a chance to do a road trip with my buds again after marriage, but well, what do you know? We did it! - a glorious week driving around the very very green and oft-times rainy Ireland. Dramatic coastlines, (some of the most spectacular cliffs I've ever seen) ancient/medievil ruins scattered all around the isle, and endless fields in varying shades of green, it really is a beautiful place, when it's not raining of course. Well, they say the grass is always greener on the 'other' side; now I know where that 'other' is...

Itinerary:
Day 1: Bru na Boinne (Newgrange), The Burren (Poulnabrone dolmen), Doolin
Day 2: Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Dingle Peninsular Drive
Day 3: Killarney (Muckross Estate), Ring of Kerry, Skellig Ring, Gap of Dunloe, Cork
Day 4: Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel, Glendalough & the Wicklow mountains
Day 5: N. Ireland day tour: Belfast, Antrim, Giant's causeway, Dunluce castle, Derry
Day 6: Dublin city walk: Trinity College, Guinness Storehouse


Spectacular cliffs along Dingle Peninsular

Ladies' view on the Ring of Kerry

View from Staigue Fort

One of many fine beaches along the Skellig Ring

Same beach, different view (with fort ruins)

Green fields everywhere we go

Gorgeous coastal scenery again

Faint rainbow sighted on the Gap of Dunloe

Well preserved ruins on the Rock of Cashel

Monastic city of Glendalough

Birdies nesting high atop the cliffs

N. Ireland's star attraction - Giant's Causeway

Close-up look at the basalt columns

Amazing how they can form such shapes...

Dunluce castle ruins perched on a cliff

Revisiting old sights during the transit in London