Bestie Travels Part Four: Cork, Jameson, and The End

This is the fourth and final part of our Bestie Travels posts! It's a bittersweet farewell to L! 

On her last day in Eireann, L and I elected not to make the grueling trip up to Dublin for the night. Instead, we played around Cork City a little bit and headed out to Midleton for the afternoon to see the great and famous old Jameson Whiskey factory. 

We ended the evening with a girls' night and some Irish traditional music in the Spáilpín Fánach. This cozy little pub on South Main Street is both well-known and well-hidden. It looks like it popped right out of Pirates of the Caribbean and it features live Irish and trad music every night of the week except Tuesday. Once a month, they even host a traditional singer's session.

L and I barely landed on our feet after a week of grueling adventure, but with one last true girls' night - albeit in a totally different location than Sunday brunch in DC - we finished of the trip with a Sláinte!

I realize this post is massively late, and you probably won't believe when I say I miss her already, because it's obviously been months and DUH, you miss her! but seriously, I missed her the second she got on the plane! So cheers, L, and I hope you can come visit again soon!! xx

Saint Finbarr's Cathedral, Cork City

On the train to Midelton and the Jameson Factory

Jameson, Home of Good Irish Whiskey

Pretty sure it's the largest pot still in the world... and if it's not, it should be.

L trying to ring the bell!

A Summertime Bucket List

It's that time of year again! Even in grey, green, rainy, cold Ireland, the sun is out and all sunshiny. Busy working, hanging out with friends, and looking forward to my trip back to Virginie, I put together a little bucket list of Summertime Schtuffs that are definite must-dos. There are three editions: Irish, American, and a generic one we'll just call Summertime ("Generic" sounded awful!). 

Enjoy!

Irish

1) Host a Fourth of July party/barbeque

2) See Cork City at sunrise

3) Start a DIY project (I have a couple of little ones in mind)

American

1) Host a beautiful bridal shower and bachelorette party for one of my best and loveliest friends

2) Go hiking in the Blue Ridge

3) Visit a Vineyard

4) Go to an amusement park

5) Weekend at the beach

6) Visit New York City

7) Host a patio tea party

Summertime

1) Take a roadtrip (or several)

2) Have a pool party

3) Surf (as much as possible!)

4) Camp out for a night under the stars

5) Attend an outdoor concert

6) Make margaritas

7) Have a bonfire beach party

8) Go horseback riding

9) Eat popsicles

10) Visit a farmer's market

11) Go to a carnival

12) Hang out with friends and family

What about you, guys? Any fun summer plans or wishful thinkings? I'd love to hear them x

Bestie Travels Part One: Ring of Kerry

This is the first of four posts about L's epic week-long journey to the Emerald Isle.

 

On a windy Saturday morning - on which I decided for some reason not to wear a coat - the boy and I made the quick trek over to the airport and waited eagerly (on my part) for the flight from London to land. My bestie L, after driving three hours to Washington, DC, flying 7 hours to London, and waiting 4 hours for the hour flight to Cork, was coming!!

That chipper little twit didn't want a jet-lag nap or anything, and after a quick cup of coffee, we headed into town for some food and exploring. But the epicness of our journey was to come the following day.

I think I've expounded upon the glories of driving around Ireland before, but just in case you're new:

Ireland might be one of the prettiest roadtrips in the world. (And you all know how I feel about roadtrips). L wanted to see a little bit of the country, including the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher - her one other proviso was a castle slash ruin. So we rented a car in Cork City early Sunday morning and headed off into the wild. 

Day one of our two-day travel included a trip West to Killarney, the biggest town in County Kerry and about an hour away from Cork City. We stopped in Killarney for lunch, walked around a bit, and then hopped in the car to tour the Ring of Kerry, a long, winding road encircling the Ivereagh Peninsula, following the coast, winding through the mountains. We lucked out with the weather, and our four hour cruise was interspersed with stops, coffee runs, and photo ops.

We were wrecked by the time we got back to Killarney, and we started the drive up to Doolin, County Clare (just north of Limerick City, for those of you who know your way around), where we would stay the night before heading to the Cliffs of Moher in the morning. 

Somewhere near Limerick, our starving bellies made us eat two whole pizzas from Pizza Hut (the first I'd ever seen in Ireland, so I guess I went a bit crazy). We finally made it to the hostel at about 10:30PM, after making the poor innkeeper wait up for us. 

We stayed in the Aille River Hostel, and if you're ever up in Doolin, please consider staying here. It's one of the nicest hostels I've ever stayed in. Set up in an old stone house, it has a huge and welcoming kitchen facility, the dorms are comfortable and spacious, and it literally sits on the river across from town. Picturesque, affordable, friendly. 

Wanna travel the Ring of Kerry with L and I?

Enjoy....

Finally made it to the hostel (this picture was taken the next morning... when it was no longer sunny)

 Stay tuned... we're going to the Cliffs of Moher next.

Getaway: Favorite Irish Adventures

Announcement: my best friend is coming to Ireland! 

At the end of March, the Ravishing L from Richmond is making an enormous trek from Virginia to Cork City for the week, and I have no words to express my enthusiasm. 

We've been talking on and off for weeks about what we should do with her short time here, keeping in mind of course the bestie hibernation that will occur and revolving around her tourist goals and my insider's perspective. I think we finally have a plan, but it's flexible, and I think we're both gearing up for an adventurous week in which snap decisions are made and last minute left-right-or-straight turns are taken. I'm excited.

With all this travel on my mind recently, I had begun working on an Irish bucket list. Just because I live here now doesn't mean that
a) I'll live here forever, and
b) that I can't be a travelling touristing kind of person as well! 

But as I build the bucket list, I have to acknowledge all the beautiful and wonderful places in Ireland that I've already travelled to. So in preparation for my Irish bucket list (which I will hopefully share with you in the next couple of posts), I'd like to share just some of the favorite places in Ireland that I've travelled to thus far.  In no way is this list comprehensive (please see my old blog for more!), but it is reflective of how awesome travelling and adventuring around Ireland can be.

Enjoy! x

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

The Cliffs of Moher are the perfect tourist destination, but just because they're typical doesn't mean they're not worth the trek! When my mom visited me here in 2010, we took a mini-roadtrip to Clare and Tipperary. The Cliffs are absolutely beautiful, especially in this light. But I think more than half of my love for them stems from the adventures we had on our way!

Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

On a field trip in 2010, we drove up to Belfast for the weekend. We got a great tour of the city, and we even got to tour the murals on both sides. This wall separates the two residential sides of the city (traditionally, Catholic and Protestant). But on this side of it, people from all over the world have made a mural of peace. Visitors come and write messages of hope, prayer, and peace for Belfast along the wall.

Dingle, County Kerry

This picture was taken when my friends and I trekked out to Dingle for the weekend (we didn't walk there, just when we got there). We had a great adventure in this tiny Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking territory) town. Little did I know that my future housemate would be from Dingle herself. I've been back a few times since x

Giant's Causeway, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

On the same field trip that took us to Belfast, we drove an hour or so outside the city to the Giant's Causeway, a huge natural phenomenon caused by glacier movement thousands of years ago. The walk was crisp and hearty, and the world was beautiful up there. You can see Scotland from the cliff.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree, County Sligo

Ever read Yeats? Well, I wrote my undergraduate research thesis on Yeats' appropriation of the medieval Irish Táin. But I spent a few days driving around Sligo on my own and I saw this sign that said "Lake Isle of Innisfree, 4km". So I took it.

Pearse's Cottage, Ros Muc, County Galway

On the course in Carna, we took a day trip to see Patrick Pearse's cottage. Pearse lived in Dublin full-time for most of his political career, but he kept this cottage in Galway. Seeing the beauty and peacefulness of the place, it makes his sacrifice that much greater. I distinctly remember wandering down to the lake and just lying down on the edge for a while. It was so beautiful.

The Rock of Cashel, Cashel, County Tipperary

Former massive castle slash Church and old bishop's seat, I've been here three times already. It's one of my absolute favorite places, and I'm just not sure why. I've taken the tour there twice, and I've roamed over every piece of ruined rock. From the top of that hill, you can see all of Munster. If you wander down the hill and across a field, there's an old ruined convent as well. Driving along and seeing this place just pop up out of the road is pretty gorgeous.

Slea Head Drive, Dingle, County Kerry

Famous roadway (I'm pretty sure it's part of the "new" Wild Atlantic Way) Slea Head Drive winds along the cliffs near Dingle.

Walking to Fínis Island, Carna, County Galway

Fínis Island is crazy typical touristness for locals in Carna, but being a tourist myself, I couldn't have cared less. On our last day in Carna, we all walked out to Fínis when the tide was low. Only in Galway can you walk to an island.

Wexford Birthday Bound

A couple of weekends back, the Lovely L turned Twenty-One (it looks much lovelier when written out, don't you think?) and she invited us all down to her home in Wexford for a big celebration. Wexford town is no small journey from Cork City, but I dutifully caught the bus on Saturday morning (after a delicious breakfast in town with the boy), journeyed two and half hours to Waterford and then still caught the bus to Wexford.

Out in the Barn

The night began with the inflation of a million balloons, the creation of a balloon chain (not without some major poppage), the strategic placing of fairy lights, and basically the beautification of the barn. Lovely L's Lovely Mother fed an entire infantry of post-barn-decorators and pre-party-goers before we all got down to business.

Birthday girl and lovely friends

Wexford was quite the adventure, but it didn't end there. After a late, late night of laughing and singing country music, and a morning filled of sorting out the night before and watching films like Ted all curled up and cozy on the couch, I caught the bus back toward Cork via Waterford, at which point the boy asked if I'd stop to come hang out with his family and friends in his hometown for the day. How could I say no?

It was a great weekend away from town. I love Cork, but sometimes it's great to get out and about, away from the city in the company of great friends! x

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

For a special holiday over a week ago, I received a big box of chocolates that I'm just finishing off as I write. This year, for St. Valentine's Day, I got to celebrate with this lovely Irishman that I know. 

Now though neither he nor I particularly subscribes to passé gender roles, he remains the planner in most situations because I think I am happy doing whatever, however it's probably more likely due to my utter apathy and complete lack of interesting ideas. Valentine's was no different, and D worked on a day of surprises.

For more than a week prior to Valentine's, he kept saying that if the weather was bad we might not be able to do whatever it was he had planned. He also said that even if the weather was good, I would want to bring a change of clothes. Obviously with such weird, ominous provisos (and knowing that he'd asked all his friends and they'd approved), I was terrified.

With the horrible, skyfalling kind of weather Ireland's had recently, I packed a bag thinking that we probably wouldn't be doing much. The morning of, I woke up to the sound of a howling wind and rocky hail bashing my window, and I assumed we would be staying home. So I battened down and waited to hear from him. Well, he called soon enough and said something that surprised me and went something like:

D: Sarah, you're weird, and I don't think you'd be against getting soaking wet on an adventure today. 

Me: Nope. Not really.

D: So we're going, okay?

Me: Cool. 

Turns out, we drove all the way to Waterford, near his family's house, to climb up to Mahon Falls. The falls are allegedly usually only a smaller waterfall, but I know them as something like this:

The falls were so big, halfway hidden behind clouds, and overtaking so much of the valley, that I was honestly a little nervous to even get closer. But we climbed down and baffled over it in the pouring rain anyway! By the time we got back to the car, we were so cold and wet that I thought we'd never warm up. We took turns changing in the backseat, and decided to get milkshakes instead of anything warm. (Lovely man surprised me with coffee anyway). 

When we finally made it back to Cork, a little colder than before, he had set up the table to cook dinner (this guy does not cook), and he even had a bottle of champagne for us while we watched Boy Meets World. It was wonderful!

It was a great Valentine's and a great day! Adventurous, adorable, cozy, romantic, surprising all at once. It's going to be hard to live up to the hype! 

These photos of D and I are not from Valentine's; rather they were taken by the lovely, ginger S a few weeks ago. Thanks, girl!