Another amazing week here in Ireland has just passed and I feel so grateful for all of the amazing experiences I’ve had and everything I have seen. I am enjoying my internship and gaining valuable experience working with individuals who struggle with substance abuse. This past weekend we took an amazing trip to Galway where we had a packed schedule but I loved every minute of it!
Beginning on Friday, we started at the Cliffs of Moher. This is one of the most amazing views I have ever seen and we had the perfect weather this day with temperatures above 80 degrees! We walked along the cliff path and saw lots of cows and sat by the watchtower for a while to take in all the views. Before arriving in Galway we took a quick stop at The Burren. The Burren is a unique rocky landscape that was formed over 300 million years ago when the area was covered by warm sea water and over time the sea creatures that lived in the area settled on the seafloor and compressed to form the limestone rocks that we can see today.
After a fun night at different pubs with some friends we woke up on Saturday to visit the Aran Islands. We went to Inis Mor which in Irish means “big island”. The island was beautiful and had a quaint village with restaurants, shops, and our bike rental pickup area. After a delicious lunch at one of their restaurants with a view of the ocean some friends and I set out on our bikes to explore. There was so much to see and we stopped at almost every opportunity to see cows and horses and even seals. Half way through our bike ride we took a break to get a delicious 99 ice cream cone which I would definitely recommend! Upon our return to Galway my roommates and I went out to dinner at Elephant and Castle and spent time at a new pub afterwards to hear some traditional Irish music.
Sunday we began our journey home by first stopping at Kylemore Abbey where we got to see a beautiful castle surrounded by mountains. Next we took a boat tour through the Killary Fjord. It was so nice to stand outside the boat in the wind and watch jellyfish in the water. A few hours later we were back on campus at UCD and ready for a good night of sleep!
Another highlight of my past week was having the chance to meet up with some family. On Tuesday night I spent time with my Aunt and Uncle and two little cousins that live in Dublin near UCD. We went out for dinner together and then hung out at their house where we had some delicious homemade banana bread and told lots of riddles for hours! On Wednesday I met with my Granny and Grandad for lunch in Bray Town. We went to a little cafe and got tea and sandwiches and I had the chance to fill them in on everything we have done since the last time I saw them. I look forward to seeing them again and the rest of my family when they come to visit next week!
Its so great that you were able to see your grandparents Kayla! It sounds like you had an amazing time together.