Irish landscapes and natureOne of my dreams came true when I travelled with my three friends through Ireland in march and april this year. As I love landscapes more than anything I somehow remembered to take a camera with me....
Well, before leving anywhere it is best to enjoy a good and liguid "meal" in an Irish pub....(Me, Gene, Marina, Ellen and Megan)...well this is actually not a real Irish pub but one in Glasgow where we started our tour, but who cares!
It was the most beautiful spring time to wander around and get to kow the place a little bit. We slept like babies at Megan's grannys place and had a relaxed walk around the parks and university area of Glasgow. And if it started to pour you could always find a new, cozy pub!
Who could resist to feed a little squirrel who bravely came to take titbits from us!
In front of the University of Glasgow...oh no, they are all shooting me...
From Glasgow we continued to Strandraer and took a ferry to Belfast. The scenery on the west coast of Scotland was something unmemorable and stole a piece of my heart with its litlle fishing vilages and the mysterious sea. Belfast was a bit scary with all the murals and the wall that separates the different parts of the town.
Above: One of the most skillfully made murals and Gene and Megan in front of the wall after an all too long walk through the town...
Portrush, a small town on the northern coast of Ireland was surrounded by exotic coastal nature. There was a day when we hiked a long way and had many adveturous experiences impossible to forget. (Marina, Gene and Megan getting ready)
I think this picture has it all, it tells you more than tousand words!
After a short walk I got more and more spelled!
At this point whe still did not quess what was still to come....
LOOK AT THESE CLIFFS!!!
So, what can you actually say after this etheric experience?!?
This coastline walk of ours was on a way to an old castle, which was under renovation...
In the front of the building there was a typical Irish sheepfarm to draw my interest:
I happen to have really strange time to do everything at the last minute but still, I never have to hurry...At this point the other girls were already running for a bus we were supposed to take reach Giants Causeway, "the eight wonder of the world"...
The girls on the top of this strange formation of rocks. It looks exotique in the pictures and the others were pretty amazed about it. For some reason I did not find any interest in this boring thing.
Our next stop in Northern Ireland was Londonderry with its interesting history. Steve's backpackers was the hostel where we were welcomed in a friendly way and given insight to the history of the town. From there we took a bus to Dublin where Gene and Megan (below) were supposed to return back to Scotland and me and Marina still go on travelling around the Republic of Ireland.
Marina and me stopped in Cork, which was the most boring place ever! But the castle nearby was worth visiting. The weather was chilly on those days but as the sun shone it broungt the best of our little bustrip to see the amazing garden around this castle. And who could not still help to love castles either!
At this point of time it was still cold and grey in Finland...
Marina and me posing in front of the castle.
And then to Kilkenny where thet certain beer is originated...
In the pictures below you can see scenery where the castle of Kilkenny is in the background and one pick from the front side of the castle.
Walking beside the river of Kilkenny was an experience in itself. We passed through gardens and pastures with ponies and cattle enjoying of the sunbeams of the sring.
The epiphytic flora in the litlle forest behind the castle made us stop and wonder !
After Kilkenny we headed to Killarney in order to have long walks for a few days. The scenery was totally different there. You can get the best idea of the place viewing the fields that are surrounded by mountains. It was not only the sheep that were grazing on the pastures but we also saw deer there for our surprise.
Killarney was not the last stop though. The best was yet to come. The both penninsulas on the south coast of Ireland, Kerry and Dingle. We did the ring of Kerry by a tourist bus and it was not actually something we expected because of the tourist traps where the bus stopped a few times. But Dingle where we were housed for three nights was something I most definitely want to see again. The hostel had some atmosphere! It was on the countryside in the middle of the essence of the spirit of Ireland and we were surrounded by dogs, sheep and hens walking on the yard. And the people in that village. I have to say that the hospitality was quite something unforseen for me!!!
The pictures taken in Dingle will be added on this page later.
