Paddywagon of Southern Ireland

Our second morning of spring break was much less chaotic than the first and we set off at 8am for our 3-Day Tour of Southern Ireland. (The tour company, Paddywagon, is the same company that owns the Paddy Palace, our hostel in Dublin). We got on a big green coach bus with an Irish bus driver and tour guide who took us all around Southern Ireland. We saw a lot of the countryside, as well as some cities and "tourist traps," and I fell in love.

We saw more than I could relate in 10 blog posts, but I'll share some of the highlights:


Day One: Kylemore Castle & Abbey. It was built by a young couple who fell in love with Ireland. The man built the Castle and gave it to his wife as a present. It was absolutely stunning and the lake at its base added to the picturesque scene. The Abbey is set further back in the woods and is still used by nuns today.



 That night we stayed in Galway. We had supper in a pub as a tour group and Gabby and I tried our first half-pint of Guinness, Ireland's national drink.

 



 Day Two: The Cliffs of Moher. These breathtaking cliffs on the edge of the Atlantic are known as Ireland's Crown Jewels. They have been featured in many movies including "P.S. I Love You," "Leap Year," and are the 'Cliffs of Insanity' in "The Princess Bride." They stretch for 5 miles and are 700 feet above sea level!



 Day Three: We spent our second night in the town of Killarney and the next morning we took a horse-drawn carriage ride through Killarney National Park. Our driver served as a tour guide of the park and pointed out different plants and interesting facts. Cars are not allowed in the park and our ride was serenely stunning.

At the Rock of Dunamase

Before returning back to Dublin, our tour stopped at Blarney Castle and the Rock of Dunamase. 



The next day, our final day in Ireland, was sunny and warm. We headed to St. Stevens Green, a park in the heart of Dublin for a picnic lunch. The weather was so nice that we spent our entire afternoon in the park, had some ice cream, and even got sunburned!

In five days I completely fell for Ireland. The landscape was so green and breathtaking. The people so friendly and kind. The history so rich and interesting. Gabby and I both agree that one day we will return. 


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