It’s Greener on the Other Side

                I have been trying to stay on top of my blogging and journaling but have obviously fallen behind.  At last, the greatly anticipated blog about my trip to Galway, Cliffs of Moher, and Kylemore Abbey.

                It began with a taxi ride followed by a two and a half hour bus ride from the west coast to the east coast.  Now the landscape was similar to Minnesota but with many “dry walls” or fences built of stone without plaster separating the fields, a few ancient towers, more hills, and a lot more sheep.  I met up with the other students I was traveling with at the first rest stop, Lauren and Zach from the University of Minnesota; there is nothing like traveling with people close to home in a far away land.

                Once we arrived in Galway, the tour group was given a quick walking tour of the city including the church where Jane Eyre was buried, an original medieval city wall, and the ancient main port. 

After the tour, we continued on bus to the Cliffs of Moher by traveling through the Burren, which is the limestone hills with sparse grass that covers the land to the south of Galway.  Our tour guide talked non-stop informing us of every detail about fairy lore, Irish history, and the Burren.  Before we reached the Cliffs themselves, the bus stopped a few times to take in the scenery of the Burren and the eastern coastline.

                Upon arrival at the cliffs, Lauren and I were in awe that we finally stepped foot in this place for ourselves, a place we had seen only in photographs.  As I was still adjusting to the fantasy I found myself in, I heard someone call my name and looked up to see another U of M friend, Elizabeth.  I cannot describe how excited and happy I was to have run into her as I knew she was in Ireland but did not expect to see her.  The cliffs were as breathtaking as I expected and we were very thankful for the clear weather.  If only I could have stayed longer, to sit and take it in and write praises to God for the beauty of His creation.

                On the way back to Galway, the bus stopped at an abbey and a very old tomb called the Poulnabrone Dolmen and is a Gelninsheen Wedge Tomb which supposedly dates back to 4,000 BC. 

                We returned to Galway, checked-in to the hostel, and went into town for dinner at McDonagh’s for my first ever dish of fish and chips.  After dinner we found an ice cream shop and wandered around the city experiencing the Havana Cubana festival of music and dance before we turned in for the night.

                Thankfully the tour to Connemara and the Kylemore Abbey did not depart until 10:00 so we were able to sleep in a bit.  The scenic drive through the region of Connemara which is north of Galway was breathtaking and beautiful.  Along the way to the abbey we stopped at a smaller abbey, a few scenic stops, and Cong, the town that the movie the Quiet Man was filmed in.

 Ross Errily Abbey

 Lough (pronounced lock) Corrib

               We arrived at Kylemore Abbey and had just two hours.  The first path provided the most gorgeous view of the abbey nestled between mountains and a lake.  Lauren, Zach, and I went to the gardens first, to the abbey, and then to the small gothic chapel also located on the property.  My highlights were definitely the first view and the gothic church.  Unfortunately, the huge abbey only had three rooms open to the public although they were beautiful, you couldn’t really grasp the full size of it.

 First glance of Kylemore Abbey

 The Victorian Gardens planted with vegetation from the 17th century.

 A closer view of the abbey.

 The small gothic church.  What I enjoyed most about the church was recognizing the architecture specific to the gothic time period and the stained glass.

                Once we finished exploring the grounds, we took lunch, bought souvenirs, and then boarded the bus.  The bus ride back to Galway and then Dublin was not too exciting; I slept most of the way and couldn’t wait to get back to the house and crash.  Looking back on this weekend I cannot thank God enough for providing safety, protection, friends, and fun in His beautiful creation.  Your prayers are truly being heard and felt, thank you!