Adventures of a Tenderfoot Traveler

Photo taken at Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland

We were only a short drive to one of the most spectacular sights in Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher. I had been itching to set my eyes on the cliffs for years and I could hardly contain my excitement! We ended up getting a little bit lost finding our way there and ended up at the opposite end of the cliffs, just outside the Village of Liscannor, but the view was just as magnificent. It was a surreal feeling, standing on the edge of the sea wall, peering down hundreds of feet at the violently crashing waves below. I got a bit emotional at this point because I could still not wrap my brain around the fact that I was actually here! I could have sat there for hours, but I probably would have been blown off the cliff by the massive gusts of wind and I still had another week to explore the rest of Ireland. 

Photo taken at Gus O’Connor’s Pub in Doolin, Ireland

We settled in at our B&B in Doolin for the night, just 20 minutes from the cliffs. Dinner that night was traditional Irish stew for me and bangers and mash for Danyka. The hike to the cliffs took a lot out of us so it was an early night. Up bright and early the next morning, we tried our first Irish coffee at Gus O’Connor’s Pub and all I can say is that it is not a morning drink meant for the faint of heart. I had to stop after a few sips, or I surely would have not been fit to drive to our next destination! 🥴

Next stop, Dingle!

Photo taken at Tig Cóilí Pub in Galway, Ireland

It was about a five-hour drive from Carrick-a-Rede to Galway and on the way, we stopped at Ballintoy Harbour; also known as the Iron Islands in Game of Thrones. The fan-girls in us were ecstatic about all the incredible pit stops that one of our favourite shows filmed at. We arrived at our B&B in Galway at 8:00PM, dropped off our bags and made our way downtown! We walked around for about an hour, checking out the shops and a couple jewelry stores. We stumbled across a cozy little pub called Tig Cóilí, where there was a group of 6 musicians with an array of instruments: a banjo, a guitar, 2 fiddles, an accordion, and a melodica! The energy and traditional Irish music in this place was something I will never forget, and I still get chills when I think back on it.

Photo taken at Nimmo’s Pier in Galway, Ireland

The next morning, we packed up the car and headed back to town to enjoy our very first traditional Irish breakfast. I do not think I have ever been served so much food to eat first thing in the morning! We even tried the black pudding, which was not a hit with us but at least we gave it a shot! We did a little more exploring of the docks in before we were back on the road. Unfortunately, one night in Galway was all that we had due to some scheduling conflicts, but as much as it was a short trip, it was one of my fondest memories because of the wonderful experience we had the night before.

  FUN FACT - Just about any jewelry store in Galway (or Ireland, for that matter) carries the Claddagh ring. The man who created this traditional Irish ring was from the small village of Claddagh, just outside of Galway. Legend says, he was due to be married but was captured by pirates and sold as a slave to an Algerian goldsmith. He created the ring to signify love and friendship with two hands encircling a heart, and a crown to symbolize loyalty to his wife-to-be. Once he was able to return home to Galway, he presented the ring to his love and they married.

August 22nd, 2019

Ever since I got my drivers license, I was always intimidated by roundabouts. The sheer thought of them made my palms sweat. That was until I drove in Ireland of course, where not only are the roundabouts the size of football fields, but some have traffic lights in the middle. Unfortunately for Danyka, the scariest of them were while she was driving (lucky me). I swear, some of them we only made it through by dumb luck, while simultaneously screaming for the duration of it. It’s the small things like these that make for the best memories!

Photo taken at The Dark Hedges in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland

Our adventure from Belfast to Portrush was equally exciting as it was beautiful, despite the rain. We drove along the coast, visiting a few filming locations for Game of Thrones. One of which I could not wait to visit once we landed, The Dark Hedges. The enchanting roadway is canopied by massive beech trees with gnarly, twisted branches intertwined. We spent about an hour taking photos and walking along the road, absorbing its beauty.

Photo taken at Dunluce Castle in Bushmills, Northern Ireland

The narrow, winding roads took us to our next stop at Dunluce Castle. As much as I wanted the rain to stop, the medieval ruins were just as breathtaking soaking wet (both us and the castle). The castle is perched on the edge of a cliff and has had parts of it claimed by the ocean over the years. This is where i got my first real taste of medieval history that I was craving since we landed on the island. We had enough time for one last adventure before losing too much daylight and it was only a ten-minute drive to the Giants Causeway, so back in the jellybean we went!

Photo taken at the Giant’s Causeway in Bushmills, Northern Ireland

Luckily, we arrived at the causeway just as the tour buses were leaving. We hiked the downward trail for about ten minutes before we set our eyes upon the magnificent natural pier made up of thousands of hexagonal basalt columns, each one snuggled in tightly with its neighbour. According to Irish folklore, it was built by a giant named Finn McCool as a bridge to Scotland. The natural phenomenon is the most awe-inspiring sight, and I could not recommend this pit stop more to anybody visiting Northern Ireland. Visiting at sunset was truly a magical experience.

Photo taken at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in Ballintoy, Northern Ireland

After our one night in Portrush, our next adventure had us dangling above the soft waves of the Atlantic while we crossed the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The views here were some of my favourites throughout the whole trip, so I highly suggest challenging your fear of heights with this attraction because it is so worth it! The crystal clear, turquoise water highlighted by the lush green hillside was stunning. After we had our thrills at the bridge, we hit the road to Galway!

TRAVEL TIP – Have patience while driving around and make sure you have a great co-pilot! It makes navigating around much less stressful and if you make a wrong turn, do not panic! There is always a way back, and you never know... That wrong turn just might take you to the next beautiful pit stop!

Upon landing, we caught the bus to our charming hostel, dropped off our luggage and went out to explore the city! It was truly surreal being in a place that I had only dreamed of seeing. We roamed around for a few hours and enjoyed the sights, stopping to tip the various buskers who would grace the public with their traditional Irish music (this had to be one of my favourite parts of the trip). After taking dozens of pictures at the iconic Ha’penny Bridge and a quick visit to the Temple Bar, we caught a cab to the Guinness Storehouse at St. James Gate Brewery. I am not a fan of beer, but I was not about to go to Ireland and not try a fresh pint of Guinness straight from the source. I feel like that would almost be considered a sin against the Irish. We even got to pour our own pints! The brewery was a fun and educational experience that I would highly recommend to anybody visiting Dublin.

Photo taken at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland

The following day, we hopped on a train to Belfast. Our plan for the trip was to rent a car in Northern Ireland and drive counter clockwise around the island. Finally leaving the big city, this was the first I got to see of the beautiful rolling hills, quaint farmhouses and old castle ruins. This set my expectation high since this was only through the window on a 3-hour train ride! We booked a room at a B&B in a neighbourhood called The Holylands, gaining its title from its biblical street names (we stayed on Jerusalem Street). After settling in, we absolutely had to find somewhere with live music. We ended up at The Belfast Empire Music Hall and saw our first Irish folk band, The Rare Aul Stuff, who were absolutely wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend our first night in N.I (Northern Ireland).

Photo taken in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland

At the crack of dawn, we headed off to pick up our rental. This was by far the most nerve-wracking part of the trip. Not only were we driving in a foreign country, but we had to learn to drive on the opposite side of the road AND the opposite side of the car. We ended up with the most adorable periwinkle blue Kia Picanto. It was like a little jellybean on wheels, and man, did that thing ever go! Having a tiny car was a godsend while trying to navigate the narrow streets. Of the whole trip, I can safely say that I only ended up on the wrong side of the road about three times, however, I did catch air off a speed bump at one point.

Photo taken at the Peace Wall in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Two nights in Belfast was hardly enough; however, we had the most incredible visit there! After picking up the car, we visited the Game of Thrones exhibition. Both being huge fans of the show, Danyka and I spend a good couple of hours ogling at the various props they use in the show and took some pictures on the famous Iron Throne. After the exhibition, we ended up at Titanic Belfast, where the ship itself was built. This was a busy tourist hot spot, but it was incredible to learn all about the upcoming and the downfall of the legendary ocean liner. Up next was a Black Taxi Tour where we were shown dozens of political murals around the city, many of which pertain to the history of Belfast and the partition of Ireland. This was one of my favourite attractions as it gave an in-depth lesson on Irish history, plus our taxi driver had a great sense of humour and made the experience all the more enjoyable.

As our eventful day came to an end, we retired to our room for some well-deserved rest. Our next destination was a B&B in Portrush with a breathtaking ocean view, about an hour drive from Belfast. Of course, the journey there was an adventure on its own, and we could not wait to get our little blue jellybean on the road!

TRAVEL TIP – Instead of paying for an expensive roaming package through your cellphone provider, buy a SIM card at the airport. €15.00 gave us unlimited data for the entire trip!

TRAVEL TIP – The Republic of Ireland uses Euros and Northern Ireland uses Pounds. If you cannot use cash, I recommend using your Visa vs. a debit card. You will save much more on transaction and foreign exchange fees (especially if you have a travel Visa). Keep some cash for smaller purchases and attractions.

Photo taken at the Williams Lake Airport in Williams Lake, BC, Canada

I never thought I would be excited to be crammed in a 30-passenger sardine can of an airplane (these being the only flights out of our small hometown), but there’s a first time for everything. First stop, YVR! In 13 short hours, we would be landing in Dublin! Of course, I couldn’t have found a better travel companion than Danyka, who knew the in’s and outs of the major airports and had a wealth of knowledge about traveling abroad. Our 14-day adventure had finally begun!

A few speed bumps along the way included a five-hour delay at the Vancouver Airport due to mechanical issues with the airplane. After they finally got us a safe plane to board, our arrival to Calgary was almost a re-enactment of the airport scene from the movie Home Alone. The moment we landed, we grabbed our luggage and ran hair straight back to the next gate. After carrying what felt like an anvil on my back while sprinting through YYC, I realized that I had probably crammed my backpack full of some not so essential items. I would pay for this mistake later on in my travels.

11 hours later, I saw a glimpse of the island peeking out from between the clouds as we slowly made our descent. The lush green plains were intricately decorated with hedgerows, resembling a giant green quilt. It was exactly how I imagined flying overhead, and I could not wait to step foot in this beautiful country. Let the adventure begin!

Photo taken flying above Ireland

TRAVEL TIP – Bring a travel pillow just in case you need to snooze at the airport.

TRAVEL TIP – Don’t forget a book! I of course had to bring a copy of P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern.

Photo taken at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland

Ever since the 2007 release of the romance film P.S. I Love You, Ireland was on my bucket list. My 15-year-old self dreamed of traveling to the Emerald Isle and meeting a tall, dark and handsome man with an accent that would turn your knees to goo. Unfortunately, as I got older, I realized that real life is not a rom-com, and the chances of me meeting my future husband on a stroll through Wicklow National Park were as likely as me running into Gerard Butler on the streets of my hometown. This realization, however, did not squash my dreams of setting my eyes upon the gorgeous, lush countryside of the most beautiful country on earth (in my own opinion).

Fast forward to 10 years later…

Although I always had my heart set on Ireland, I never put a time frame on when I wanted to get there. Only having left the country once before to the concrete jungle that is Las Vegas, I had absolutely no travel experience. I did have the pleasure of living vicariously through my good friend Danyka, who has visited more countries by the time she was 25 than most people will see in their lifetime. I always looked forward to her returning from her journeys so I could hear her stories and browse through the incredible photos she took.

Danyka always encouraged me to get out and see the world, but I consistently had an excuse. Whether it was money or taking time off work, there was always a reason not to. The reality of it, is that you WILL make more money and you CAN find the time, but you must discipline yourself to stay on track. With the motivation of a great friend and some serious budgeting, I started my Ireland fund and it was the best thing I ever did.