January 28th-30th

Hello family!!

This past weekend was a total hit! As you probably have seen on facebook, I have added tons of pictures from hiking in Killarney. Let me just say, pictures don't do it justice. To kick off the weekend Melissa and I went to the wrong terminal for our train, and power walked to the other side of Dublin to catch a different one! We were wearing only the most subtle gear while crossing some of the top shopping streets! haha. A green jacket, hiking shoes, big backpacks; it was priceless. Then when we met Matt in Naas, hopped in the car and were on our way to Killarney. We got there around 9 at night and I was in charge of finding the Hostel we were staying at, Neptunes. I called the manager probably 4 times asking for directions because we were lost! He said, "Good lord child how did you get yourself to Ireland!?" haha The next day we miraculously found the mountain the guy at the front desk suggested for us to hike at and park the car, Mangerton Mountain. It was perfect! A little bit of a thigh burner but nothing we couldn't handle. There were two false peaks though, we thought we had made it to the top but just over the ridge there was ANOTHER peak and ANOTHER lol. To our surprise though there was an amazing lake in between the highest ridges and frost on the tips of the mountain. When we finally got to the top we were frolicking around like we had conquered the world. IT WAS GORGEOUS! You could see the highest peak in Ireland, and all the rest of the mountain range, the large lakes at the bottom, to infinity and beyond!! 

Later that night we went out and went to a little pub called Murphy's. I tried the Irish stew.. it was literally Mary's little lamb, cut up in a bowl with chunky brown sauce on top. Fabulous.. NOT! The lamb was very rough and the sauce was very bland. Worth a try though! After that we went to a couple pubs with live music and met some great lads who wrote down other places in Ireland to definitely see! 

The next day we drove to find the Gap of Dunloe. Miraculously we found it and WOW.. it was a tiny road no wider than a single bed, and it went up and down and over hills through this gap in the mountain ranges. There were rivers and lakes in between and it was another sunny day. We were so lucky. This road lasted for almost two and a half hours!!! The air was so crisp I can't even describe it. The freshest air I've ever breathed in. 

After that we drove back to Dublin and even on the way home I was astonished by the roads. They were really small but also framed by tall brush or stone walls on each side. It was as if I were in a movie this weekend. I'd have to say it was better than I had anticipated. The newspaper article from the New York Times travel section from October Julie saved for me was what triggered my desire to go to McGillycuddy Reeks. It wasn't listed in Rick Steve's "Ireland" book but I got some friends together and it was the best unplanned adventure thus far. As seen in the article, I hiked a mountain even bigger than the one listed, found the Gap of Dunloe that the author couldn't find, danced to three Irish singers, walked the streets of Killarney pictured, and even ate the Irish Stew. 

This next weekend the entire CEA group has a planned excursion to Galway, the Aran Islands, and the Cliffs of Moher (the background of my blog)!!! Should be amazing, I'll keep you posted!

xoxo