I am back from Iceland and Ireland!!! What a trip! I absolutly loved both places. I went with my camera man, brother and sister in law. We started in Iceland- spent three days there and finished our trip in Ireland.
VIDEO FROM ICELAND:
I will share some photos from Ireland and write some captions- I think it will be the easiest way to relay the info :)
PS don't forget to drive on the opposite side of the road!!! Roads are narrow and a little scary at times!
First stop in Ireland: Kilkenny.
We parked our car and walked right into a Pub called brewery Corner. First thing in our stomach in Ireland was a beer, of course! I am not a huge fan of beer but I am beginning to like Guinness and other stouts. The creamy thick foam is my favorite!
We toured a castle in Kilkenny. It was owned by the Butler family. It is majestic and so beautiful to see.
Next stop: Cork.
Our lovely Air B N B.
We had the best burgers so close to where we were staying: Gourmet Burger Bistro. Seriously awesome. So many different options and creative burgers. I got a falafel burger (vegetarian) and split that with my sister in law who got the lamb kebab burger. Both so so so delicious. All burgers are 100% organic and local meat!
I had read about the English market in Cork before arriving to Ireland. It was a place I wanted to visit. I ended up getting a green juice, organic raw almonds and delicious dried apricots. Perfect midday snack.
Green juice#1 Awesome covered farmers market in Cork; The English Market.
Kinsale:
About 30 minutes south of Cork was my favorite part of Ireland thus far: Kinsale. It's right on the water and has cute little shops and great views. It is sister cities with Newport Rhode Island!
Kinsale farmers market.
farmers market.
Bright stores in Kinsale.
Walking Kinsale.
Boats, mountains and green rolling hills.
We had breakfast at a great breakfast place Called Lemon Leaf Cafe. The food was good but my favorite part was the fresh fun bright vibe!
On our way back to Cork from Kinsale we stopped in Blarney. There is a famous Blarney Stone and a beautiful view at the top of the castle. It is said that if you kiss the Blarney Stone you will be eloquent for life. We waited in line for 15 minutes and heard it was about an hour wait to get to the top. As a group we agreed that we rather not wait in line. Instead we explored more and found the Blarney house on the same campus. It was so beautiful and no one was there. It felt like it was a pirvate viewing just for us. We took some jump selfies outside the house- one of my favorite memories.
The weather was cold-ish and this is by no means a glamorous vacation. We hiked, did plenty of walking and drove to a lot of different sites. We slept in five different beds! This, however, has been an amazing trip. The views and landscapes are amazing. The little towns and bright colors are so fun and up lifting. I would 100% come back and explore again.
DUBLIN: We only spent one day in Dublin. Next time I visit Ireland I would like to spend more time there. It seems like a fun city!
From a friends recommendation we went to a great cafe called Queen of Tarts. Super breakfast and pastries. There are two locations very close to one another. I suggest you find the one with outdoor seating!
We of course toured the Guinness factory, and learned how to pour the perfect pint!
We had dessert after almost every meal! I love sitting at cafes drinking coffee, eating dessert, and talking some deep talk.
I was open to, and tried, traditional Irish food but I also made sure to get in my veggies whenever possible. I got this salad in Dingle at McCarthys Pub. It was so good and was made from a mixture of greens, veggies, nuts, cheese and hummus! Not what I picture when I think "pub food" .
Green juice #2
Some more photos to enjoy!
Hiking in Dingle.
More views in Dingle.
If you look to the left, of the photo above, there is a blue ice cream store. Murphy's ice cream. A must have if you are in Dingle!
The photo below was taken in Dingle. This is Fungi the dolphin. If you visit Dingle make a reservation at Out Of the Blue. Great fresh seafood. Places book up!
Have you been to Ireland? What was your favorite part?
