IRELAND DAY SIX - BELFAST

We head off to the ancient medieval walled city of Derry, the home of Bloody Sunday is probably what it is know for all over the world.  When we get here we are given the opportunity to go on an award winning walking tour around some famous sites. The tour was great, learnt a lot about the battles between the Protestants and the Catholics and saw places where lots of the turmoil unfolded. It's so sad to see but good to see that things have been pretty good there for a while. However it still looks segregated tho. In the Protestant area we saw some famous murals that were painted on the sides of buildings in memory of certain events. Walked past the Bloody Sunday Memorial as well as a plaque and flowers in memory of an 11 yr old boy that was killed by rubber bullets during fighting, so sad. It was a very interesting tour. Back on the bus and heading for The Giants Causeway the 8th wonder of the world and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. The Giants Causeway is it Giant or Science is how Carroll put it to us, it was for us to decide. There r an estimated 37,000 basalt colums whose tops form stepping stones leading from the clifftop and disappearing under the sea. The then reappear in the island of Straffe. This is where the giant legend comes in. Did the giant Finn McCool build a road across to Scotland then run back tearing it up leaving the gap in the middle???? All I can say is that it was an awesome site and can see why it's known as the 8th wonder of the world. Off to the rope bridge now, this crosses a gap 20m wide and 23m above rugged rocks and the ocean. Hmmmm a rope bridge hey!!!! How bad can it be??? We had the perfect day we could actually see all the way over to Scotland and Mull of Kintyre. The bridge was good, got a little hairy when someone decided to bounce on it but other than that it was OK :) and yes more pics . In the bus and heading to Belfast. Nice a night out in the big smoke, dinner and drinks then back for a card game and drinks with everyone at the hostel. Such a good day.

IRELAND DAY FIVE - ENNISKILLEN

More amazing photo ops and traveling on bog roads (gross, so bumpy) as we head into the area know as Connemara, it's an amazing rugged looking area described by many as the REAL emerald of Ireland. We stop at Matt Molloys (from the Chieftans) world famous drinking house for a beverage :) and a photo op to of course.  Here is Killary Harbour, one of 3 glacial fiords in Ireland, it forms a natural boundary between Galway and Mayo. It's 16km long and over 45 m deep in the centre. We also visited Cong, a romantic Ashford Castle. John Wayne's movie The Quiet Man was filmed here. We have now crossed into Norn Iron or Northern Ireland as the rest of the world knows it as :) A night in Enniskillen and yes more Irish music and dancing and of course Guinness to be had. 

IRELAND DAY FOUR - INIS MOR, ARAN ISLANDS

Man a bit over these early starts but they have all been worth it so far. I'm sure Inis Mor will not disappoint :) Took a 45 min bus ride to the Ferry. Now this was one ferry ride that I was so happy to see finish. The sea was so rough and I was so sick, I got off that thing green! I settled pretty but swore black n blue that I was now a permanent resident of the islands :) We had choices here, we could either hire a bike, a horse n carriage or just walk around the island for the day. Me Julie and Chelsea decided that the best way was the horse n carriage as someone couldn't ride a bike eh Chelsea ;) Turns out it was the most fun way, had a cool guide and our horse was called Dolly :) We were taken to an area where we had to get off and walk about 20 mins to  Fortress Dun Aonghasa, this place is a 3000 yr old iron aged ring fort perched on the edge of a 300m cliff above the water .  You could actually lie on these ones and hang right out over the water depending on how brave you actually were. I did a little but Jatini, man she went all out :) The horse n cart was waiting for us once we got back to the drop off point.  We were then taken on a tour of the rest of the island.  We saw some seals, old ruins, miles n miles of stone walls,  3000 miles of them  in fact. The locals of Inis Mor speak fluent Gaelic, it's pretty awesome to listen to. Not one I think I would have a hope in hell of learning ever :) Dolly out horse could smell home and close to it she bolted, she couldn't wait to get home. We still had some time before the ferry was going back, yes I changed my mind I was ready to face the wild seas and risk looking green again :) We stopped into a restaurant and had a good feed of a massive serving of Fish n Chips, so delicious but seriously it was massive and boy do the Irish know how to fry an awesome chip!  However much to our horror some weird chick had decided it was a good idea to strip down to her underwear and go for a swim in the harbor,  it was freezing, but i guess as the saying goes "no brain no pain" Now time for the ferry ride home and yes is was a good one, the seas had calmed down so I felt ok. Got back to the hotel but no one was very hungry so we decided to just go to a pub for some good Guinness and some good Irish music. Had a good night chatting and laughing with new friends.

IRELAND DAY THREE - CLIFFS OF MOHER BEFORE HEADING TO GALWAY

Ok another early morning, heading to the famous Cliffs of Moher today. Looking forward to another awesome day filled with even more spectacular scenery. This place is one of Ireland's top visitor attractions. They stand 241m high and go for 8km around the Atlantic Ocean.  On the cliffs stands O'Briens Tower.  We were told that if we were lucky we may see the Puffin bird, we didn't :( But James and Janelle did come away from there engaged :) That was pretty awesome.  After here we head to Burren, this place is freaky, Ireland is known for its green lushness - well not here, it looks like a lunar landscape and home to fairies and leprechauns.  Carol has already told us some pretty amazing tales about these as well as Giants. It's actually quite fascinating listening to them all. She is an awesome story teller, when she has kids they are gonna love her. It's hard to believe that the scenery over here can get better but by the end of every day it just gets better. Hmmmm now for a night out in Galway, started out with dinner then drinks at The Kings Head with live Irish music then off to what I would have to say the worst night club in the world - Coyote Ugly - OMG it was horrible, needless to say we didn't last long :) Inis Mor one of the Aran Islands in the morning, pretty excited about that :)

IRELAND DAY TWO - KILLARNEY TO ENNIS

Well a good night was had in Killarney but it was an early start.  Heading for Ennis today passing through the Dingle Peninsula. Dingle is the home of Fungi the resident famous Dolphin. Apparently he's been around since 84. They say it's the same one and he even has wrinkles lol. We also stop in at Lahinch Beach which is apparently famous for its surf, too bloody cold to surf if you ask me but hey there were dudes there doing it. We also visit Coumeennole Beach which is the set in which parts of Ryans Daughter was filmed. It was beautiful.  We also pass what is known as the Beehive huts. These date back thousands of years and look exactly like beehives, amazing.  Time to head to the town of Ennis for the night. Apparently more good pubs - dam those Irish pubs. All in all today the scenery was unbelievable but it did remind me so much of NZ.

IRELAND DAY ONE - HEADING TO KILLARNEY

Had to be down in the foyer for 8.15 to met the tour guide and the rest of the crew going on tour.  Today we were heading to Killarney.  Carrol was our guide and as we were to find out she knew her stuff. Born n raised in Ireland she had all the history, knowledge of the locals, stories of Giants and Fairy's ready to entertain us over the next week. 1st one was about the Kerry Men.  Apparently there was a ratio of 3 men to 1 chick in Kerry.  The girls got a little excited with this news then there was the BUT!!!!!  These guys have a love of check shirts and high wasted jeans, they also like to tuck their shirts into their high wasted jeans.  We all had a little giggle and were looking forward to seeing these Kerry Men for ourselves.  The drive to Killarney was pretty cool, the scenery is amazing.  It actually reminds me so much of New Zealand.  We stopped at Tipperary, reminded me f the song mum used to sing when we were little.  There was the ruins of an amazing castle there.  Further down the road we stopped at Cashel.  Here we found Cashel Castle, here we were going to be able to Kiss the Blarney Stone and Kiss it I did, I wonder If it was going to give me the gift of the gab like they say it does.  Man good luck everyone if this is the case, i dont shut up now so imagine how bad I will be after this lol  We get time also to look around the grounds of Blarney Castle, they are amazing.  You wander around these gardens that are so magical complete with wishing steps, whitchs Cave, Whitches Stone, Druids Stones and so much more.  Off to the town where the Kerry men are famous for things I guess most men would not want to be famous for and out for a big night lol.  We have 2 questions that we have to ask the Kerry me 1) What sort of Tractor do they have and 2) How much frontage do they have lol

DUBLIN - IRELAND

Arrived in Dublin after a long ferry ride but it was pretty cool, meet a couple of Irishmen on it, made the trip over fun and go very quick.  Got my first taste of an Irishman and I hadn't even hit the ground yet :) Got to my hostel after a walk through the Temple Bar area, now that was pretty cool.  So many people around.  I as per my normal plan I throw my stuff into my room and take off for an explore.  I saw a few sights like Dublin Castle, O'Connell Bridge and the River Liffey. It was time for a bite to eat so I thought why not hit an Irish Pub.  Im glad I did, it was very nice and so much fun.  Wasn't a late night as I had an early morning the next day for the start of my week long Ireland Rocker Tour around the Emerald Isle.