15 Things I Learned in Ireland

Despite having to battle a persistent cough, I was determined to enjoy my time in Ireland, rain or shine. For those of you who don't know, my ancestry almost entirely Irish, so I had always wanted to go to Ireland. I mean, I also wanted to go there because it's beautiful and has great music and just seems like a cool country filled with cool people. But my desire to visit the land where my great grandparents's great grandparents lived and breathed has always been a strong one.

So here I am, sitting in Dublin, trying to find a way to tell you about the last week in Ireland.

It has been a great week, seen some beautiful places and met some great people. And if there is one thing I've figured out, it I that I will come back.

I woke up the first morning to the sound of the fire alarm going off in the room next door to mine. After a minute or so it stopped, but it was enough to get me up and out of bed. That day I visited the Aran Islands. Probably my favorite part of the trip. The islands are beautiful, and an easy trip from Galway.

In the next days I was able to visit and explore Galway, the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. All beautiful places.

After that I visited Dublin for a few days. Got to lay eyes on the Book of Kells and Trinity College, the Dublin Castle, plenty of Cathedrals, and several museums.

1. Some houses in Ireland still have thatched roofs. What? But they're actually really cool and last a surprisingly long time. And each thatcher has a different design they build ini their roofs to differentiate their work from others.

Source

2. Tombs dot the landscape. Well, old tombs and graveyards. Some are called wedge tombs because on end is wider than the other. The picture below I of a massive wedge tomb--the top rock wights several tons. How did they get it up there all those thousands of years ago?

3. Dublin, and Ireland in general, has a rich literary history. I sort of knew that, but I didn't realize exactly how many great writers were born on the Emerald Isle. There's an entire museum (yeah, it's on the small side, but sometimes those are the coolest museums) devoted to these writers.

4. The Aran Islands might just be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. These are three islands near Galway. The people there speak Irish there, too. The Islands are criss crossed with ruins and dramatic cliffs and picturesque stone walls. 

5. Ireland is filled with nice people. People willing to give directions, lend a helping hand, or just talk for a bit. 

6. If it looks like it will be sunny all day, bring an umbrella anyway.

7. Hostels are pretty cool places. Never in my life have I seen such a diverse group of people together in one place. If you choose the right one, you'll still be in a fairly comfortable sleeping situation, and often there's free breakfast. But the best part is the meeting people. People just passing through for a night, people staying for a while. People from all over. There is always something to talk about.

8. Book of Kells. Made sometime in the 800s, it's an illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels. Also, these illustrations are kind of gorgeous. I can't imagine making them, even today with our good pens and helpful tools. 

9. Sheep and cows dot the landscape. Llamas are few and far between, but can be found if you know where to look. Just ask one of the locals where the Sheepcows can be found. 

10. A species of elk once roamed Ireland. The Giant Elk is indeed giant. Probably the size of a moose. They have the biggest antlers known to have graced the head of an animal. Most of the fossils are found in Irish bogs, and they are dated to be at least 7,700 years old. The skeletons are an amazing thing to see. 

11. Turkish delight is weird. Have you ever seen those boxes of turkish delight in stores and been VERY tempted to buy one just to try this treat you've only ever heard of in The Chronicles of Narnia. Welp, finally did that. Verdict? It's weird. 

12. Nearly everything in Ireland can be described as beautiful.

13. While riding a bus to visit the Cliffs of Moher, I watched three experienced travelers meet. One was from Alaska, the other Australia, the other I don't know--but he was a redhead. They talked, exchanging stories, exchanging advice. And when the bus got back, the got off together, walking in the direction of town. I'm pretty certain they were going to a pub together for the night. I guess travelers are attracted to other travelers like magnets. 

14. Guinness is interesting; cider is better. Yes, okay, I did it. Ordered a Guinness. But I was in Ireland, right? I can't not order a Guinness. 

I know, I know, this isn't Guinness. This is the cider, alright?
 I couldn't find my picture of the Guinness. 

15. How do you meet knew people? Ask them questions. Start off with "Where are you from?" or "What's your name?" and keep asking questions. (Yeah, Dad, this bit is from you, but it's something I'm still learning every day).