As my time in Dublin comes to an end, it’s hard to believe how quickly the past several weeks have gone by. This trip has been an incredible experience, and my final full week here was one of the most memorable yet.
On Thursday, Emilia, Lucie, Rayna, Zoe, and I took a trip to Portugal for a long weekend getaway. We stayed in a small town called Tavira, which was beautiful and not overly crowded—a nice change from some of the busier tourist spots nearby. After landing at Faro Airport, we took a 40-minute taxi ride to our hotel, dropped our bags, and headed out for dinner at the hotel restaurant. The food was delicious, and we wrapped up the night with a pitcher of sangria before heading to bed.
The next morning, we grabbed water and snacks from a nearby supermarket, then took a ferry to Tavira Beach. We spent most of the day at a beach club, relaxing on rented chairs and cooling off in the ocean. After a full day in the sun, we headed back to the hotel, showered, and went into town for dinner. We found a great seafood restaurant, followed by a stop for ice cream before calling it a night.
Saturday, we took a day trip to Algarve, about an hour away. The beaches there were stunning, with cliffs and caves that Lucie and I explored while the others relaxed. We had lunch by the water, swam for a while, and later went into the main town to walk around and shop. Although it was nice, it was much busier than Tavira, and we were happy we chose the quieter town to stay in. That evening, we had dinner and drinks at an Italian restaurant before heading back.
Sunday was our last full day in Portugal, and we wanted to make the most of it. We returned to the same beach club in Tavira for another day of sun and swimming. That night, we explored the town a bit more, took photos, and had sushi for dinner followed by gelato. Monday morning, we packed, grabbed breakfast in town, and stopped by a small jewelry shop where the owner handmade everything. I found a beautiful bracelet and earrings for my sister as a gift. After some last-minute shopping, we made our way to the airport. The journey back to Dublin wasn’t smooth—a layover in Liverpool and a delayed flight had us arriving at UCD around midnight.
The next day, after work, Rayna and I went into the city for dinner at SOLE, a Michelin-recognized seafood restaurant. We decided to go all out, ordering oysters, caviar, and entrées. It was easily the best seafood I’ve ever had and the perfect way to wrap up my time abroad.
This final week was the perfect ending to an unforgettable trip. I’m sad to be leaving Dublin but grateful for all the experiences and memories made over the past several weeks.