First impressions
April 4 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
Since the world is currently acting even more insane than usual, we scrapped our original plans for Uzbekistan. Instead, we opted for a solid European destination we haven’t explored yet:Read more
Florin Paun
It’s a great ride, but the booking process was a masterclass in creative accounting. In the world of car rentals, the price you see online is merely a polite suggestion. By the time we left the counter, we had been hit with the "Belfast Tax" (because crossing into the UK apparently requires a diplomatic fee), a mountain of surcharges, and a daily insurance premium that costs more than the car itself. It’s a total shakedown, but hey—at least the car has four wheels and a working heater for this Irish wind.
Florin Paun
The Battle of the Boyne was the decisive clash for the British throne between the Protestant William of Orange and the Catholic James II Stuart. Fought on July 1, 1690, it involved 60,000 soldiers, making it the largest gathering of troops on Irish soil. William’s victory forced James into exile in France and established Protestant political dominance in Ireland for the following centuries. This outcome laid the foundation for the "Penal Laws" and the sectarian divisions that still shape the political landscape of the island today.
Florin Paun
The highlight is the Lavabo. An octagonal skeleton where monks washed their hands in silence before eating. It’s pure, calculated geometry. No fluff, just the cold efficiency of a religious machine. Fast forward to 1690, and the logic shifted from prayer to war. William of Orange sat right here, using these ruins as his headquarters to plan the destruction of James II at the Boyne. It makes sense. This place was built for men who understood discipline, whether they were holding a rosary or a sword.