Ireland is a very small country, possibly smaller than the state of Minnesota, but there is so much to see.
We purposefully built in a little extra time after Maggie's last final to travel and as we were making our plans we knew we would probably be starting to get sad about leaving Ireland, so we wanted to save our last travels for Ireland, also with the intention to maximize the best (possible) weather that the country has to offer.
After much deliberation, we decided to spend about five days exploring the Connemara mountains and the beaches and cities of county Mayo.
It was a difficult choice. Counties Kerry and Clare are gorgeous and one could go back to both many many times to explore the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry and venture even more south and west to West County Cork. But we had been to Dingle and Inch Beach, and neither of us had spent much time in the middle-north West. Plus my Aunt Bev had sent me a link to the Jackie Clark Collection in Ballina which, as it happens is close to a great beach.
We headed out to Galway yesterday (Sunday) and spent a night here to let the kids swim and relax. Today we are heading toward Clifden. There is a lot to do here: pony rides, the sea, mountains. It will be lovely and we are all relaxing as well. Although Maggie is having to prepare for and take a math exam from Annunciation. That, too, will be over soon.
We are having a hard time wrapping our heads around leaving. Parts of each of us are very sad. There are components of Europe, Ireland, and Dublin specifically that we cannot recreate at home. There are habits we hope to keep. And friends with whom we hope to keep in touch. Parts of us are thrilled to go back. To sleep in our own beds and reconnect with our family and friends. Over the next few days we will be posting some "best of" lists and things we hope to remember and maintain as we head back to our regularly scheduled program!
We purposefully built in a little extra time after Maggie's last final to travel and as we were making our plans we knew we would probably be starting to get sad about leaving Ireland, so we wanted to save our last travels for Ireland, also with the intention to maximize the best (possible) weather that the country has to offer.
After much deliberation, we decided to spend about five days exploring the Connemara mountains and the beaches and cities of county Mayo.
It was a difficult choice. Counties Kerry and Clare are gorgeous and one could go back to both many many times to explore the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry and venture even more south and west to West County Cork. But we had been to Dingle and Inch Beach, and neither of us had spent much time in the middle-north West. Plus my Aunt Bev had sent me a link to the Jackie Clark Collection in Ballina which, as it happens is close to a great beach.
We headed out to Galway yesterday (Sunday) and spent a night here to let the kids swim and relax. Today we are heading toward Clifden. There is a lot to do here: pony rides, the sea, mountains. It will be lovely and we are all relaxing as well. Although Maggie is having to prepare for and take a math exam from Annunciation. That, too, will be over soon.
We are having a hard time wrapping our heads around leaving. Parts of each of us are very sad. There are components of Europe, Ireland, and Dublin specifically that we cannot recreate at home. There are habits we hope to keep. And friends with whom we hope to keep in touch. Parts of us are thrilled to go back. To sleep in our own beds and reconnect with our family and friends. Over the next few days we will be posting some "best of" lists and things we hope to remember and maintain as we head back to our regularly scheduled program!
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