Natalie & her sunshine

Natalie brought the sunshine from her sunny home of San Diego, CA. Nat spent an amazing week in Ireland and it was the best weather of the year!

Natalie and I have known each other longer than we haven’t known eachother. We met when we were 9,while my neighbor Wes and I were riding bikes down the street. We have been the best of friends ever since then. She is incredibly smart, kind, and always up for a new adventure. She geniuely loves to travel and experience new cultures. We have seen and supported eachother through many, many seasons and stages of life. I hope and pray the best is yet to come.

Here are some of the highlights from her time here…

• One of the best surprises with Nat’s visit is that my cousin Ciarán decided at the last minute to join us on our roadtrip through Ireland. We had planned to rent a car (I was ready to conquer the left-side of the road!) but fortunately, Ciarán stepped in as our lovely driver. We had an amazing week together!
• A lot of what we saw was new to Ciaran too, as most of us don’t explore our own country enough, so it was wonderful having him along.
• We had no idea where we were heading for Wednesday  and Thursday, but it worked out so wonderfully that way.
• We saw, and appreciated, 3 nights of sunsets in 3 unique places (Dingle penisula, Doolin, and Galway Bay).
• Listening to music in the car, especially exposing Nat to traditional Irish pub songs. Ciarán had many bands that we had never head of. Best new song I heard was, Ireland Call, a song played before all the rugby matches. Ciarán said that I officially answered Ireland’s call.
• Laughing, a lot. In the car. On walks. At pubs. Always laughing.
• Learning Gaelic expressions from Ciarán, who took his entire secondary school curriculm in Gaelic. And wow, he was patient with us. Now, we successfully know how to count to 10, say “thank you”, “how are you”, “good bye”, and ”welcome”.
• Asking eachother a lot about American & Irish culture.
• Pulling over in random places on the side of the road for incredible views.
• Hanging out at a Windsurfing competition, meeting and having dinner with loads of windsurfers, and sitting out on the beach in Galway.

This was the route we took..Dublin to Wicklow Mountains, stopping in Glendalough, spending the night in Cork, driving part of the ring of Kerry, through the town of Kenmare (adorable!), driving the Dingle Peninsula, spending the night in Dingle, driving north to Doolin, spending the night in Galway and Salthill, then back home to Dundalk. Quite a loop of the south part of the country!

Here are some of the best photos from our trip…

Cool, new Dublin bike rental system, you can pick-up and drop-off the bike through out the city. All the bikes are brand new, beach style, very comfortable, and have baskets :) Tons of business folks take advantage of it.

American flag in Dublin :)

With Nat in Dublin :)

In Dublin, at a pub that was once a church. Only in Ireland are there so many older churches that they have been renovated into pubs, tourist centers, etc.

First stop of the trip in the Wicklow Mountains.

Typical “little irish road” with two-way traffic. Fortunately Ciaran was behind the wheel!

Walking in Wicklow.

Detailed, high crosses all over the cemetary at Glendalough.

At Glendalough in Wicklow, visiting remains of an old abbey (dating back to the early 600s).

Beautiful butterfly landing on Ciaran in a garden in Wicklow.

Lunch on floral, mix-matched plates…adorable!

Lovely little cafe we stopped for lunch in Wicklow.

Nat & me in Cork with the River Lee behind us. We rocked our matching bag from the English Market, an huge historic market in the center of the city, selling tons of fresh produce, coffees, fish, meats, and breads.

Street in Kenmare.

Colorful shops in Kenmare.

Pulling over near Dingle.

Nat & me in Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park

Pulled of the side of road in Killarney National Park and found this! So quiet and peacefule, just a couple fishermen hanging around.

Stopping for lunch and a walk at the Muckrose House in the Killarney National Park.

Adorable, keeping connected to the world.

Free Wi-Fi in the little Dingle parking lot. So random.

Fishing boats in Dingle.

Nat at sunset

Stunning sunset in Dingle. With a striking monument of Christ, Mary, and Joseph, perfectly positioned towards the best view along the drive. We sat out, taking in the view, and listening to Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah song, only one that seemed fitting at the moment. It was priceless.

Sunset in Dingle. Natalie’s best comment when we were here…”I can’t believe this is real life.”

Ciaran down at the little beach we found in Dingle.

Along the Dingle Penisula, stopping off at a little beach cove.

Traditional Irish session in Dingle. These folks were wonderful musicans!

Dolphins swimming along side our boat!

We spent a night in a little town called Doolin. Great place for traditional Irish music, and you can take a ferry ride to the Clifs of Mohr. Stunning angle to see them.

Nat & I at the Beach

Glen teaching me to windsurf in Galway…only problem is there was NO wind, so I just kind of floated along.

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