(Blog 12)
Eyre Square/Galway: For my final week I decided to go on a few last minute adventures. I've realized that the sun is setting on my time in Ireland and there is still so much I feel like I haven't had the chance to do. I took the time last week to sit in Eyre Square in Galway and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and the comfortable atmosphere. I will seriously miss this place so much. I ended up meeting my friend Paul (as you may remember from a previous post). We grabbed some smoothies, sat by the water, and watched the swans try to swim upstream. It was a moment of absolute peace. I realized that this place has become my second home and with every beautiful moment I enjoy here my heart grows fonder.
Dingle: For our final weekend in Ireland we went on an overnight trip to Dingle. On the first day we romped around the Cliffs of Moher. A few friends and I crossed the barrier so we could see right up to the edge. This is where a few scenes from Harry Potter were filmed! It was definitely worth taking a closer look and as with so many things in Ireland its beauty captures your breath from you and makes you feel so small. We did however have an unfortunate casualty to the Cliffs. While as we sat enjoying the beautiful setting, Siera's had decided to soar to the water below! We spent time climbing the small hills, taking pictures, laying down and looking over the edge and enjoying the afternoon. Absolutely worth the visit.
Boat Museum: While this was one of our more random stops, it was still pretty interesting to go inside one of the old luxury flying boats. They were some of the first aircrafts to actually travel across the ocean and with class I might add! It was interesting to note that although Ireland wasn't involved and remained neutral in the World Wars, the port in Dingle was used as a stop off point for many important missions and transactions. It also so happens that the site of the boat museum was also where Irish Coffee was originally invented! We were showed a short demonstration of how to make the perfect Irish coffee and after we all got to have a taste. It was delicious! After we left the boat museum we took a driving tour around the edge of County Claire. It was a solid hour of beautiful ocean views on a very narrow road. Although our bus driver was a bit wild, if you ever find yourself in this part of the country, GO!, you won't regret it!
Dingle Night Life: After we finally reached our house for the night (which was spacious, beautiful, and had a wonderful view), a few girls and I decided to go for a girls night out! All of the pubs in Dingle are within a short walking distance from each other and the people, for the most part, were a lot of fun. We went to a bar called Dick Macs which had a very busy and interesting atmosphere and followed it up with dancing in the upstairs room of a small bar. It was a night to remember with so many good friends!
Blarney Castle: The next day we went and visited Blarney Castle. It was nice to see a castle in Ireland that hadn't been restored or repaired but that was true to its age. We also took time to kiss the Blarney stone (hopefully, as the story goes, I will become more eloquent soon! :) hah). We walked the grounds of this beautiful place and cast our wishes by walking up the wishing stairs backwards. Next we moved on to the poison gardens and read all about plants that can kill you just by smell! In all it was a full and interesting day and I thoroughly enjoyed Blarney Castle.
Class: Our final week of classes was wrought with Tests, essays and final papers however on Monday we spend the morning looking at plants and sea critters with our Professor David and his wife. He showed us how to trick sea anemones into opening up during low tide and how to find starfish and crab. His wife showed us various plants and flowers and the different uses each one has in everything from herbal remedies to beers and gins. We followed our wonderful morning of discovery by attending a final banquet, performing tin whistle and dancing, and ending the night with drinks and dancing in the hotel bar. What a wonderful send off! Such a fun day and an amazing night! The next day we suffered through a history test and the following day, we spent our last Irish Literature class going to Coole Park and learning more about the poetry genius W.B. Yeats.
Spiddal Friends: To wrap up my time in Ireland I met up with a few friends to sit by the pier and watch the tide come in and the sun go out. It was a beautiful evening full of laughter and good times. I am so blessed and so lucky to have met such wonderful people in my time here. I have truly had experiences that will last a lifetime with people I will never forget. Sitting by the pier and listening to the ocean for the last time in a long while was bittersweet but I couldn't imagine doing it with a better group of people. Saying goodbye is one of the hardest parts to ending this trip and I am so thankful for all of the opportunities it has allowed me to have.
Final Thoughts: As I sit in my cottage writing this blog, packing, cleaning and flipping through many of pictures from this trip I can't help but feel an overwhelming feeling of gratefulness, sadness, excitement, and gratefulness. Opportunities and moments like this are ones that shape who you are and who you will be. It's been an absolute privilege to experience all that I have here and I'm so thankful that Ireland has helped shape my view on so many things. Truly a life changing experience. For all that helped me get here, helped me get through being here, and that made me fall in love with this place, THANK YOU! Now to not miss my flight!