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Ireland and Spain Summer 2024Ireland and Spain Summer 2024
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A 23-day adventure by Ella Read more
  • Ella Balagula

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  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    Each pub had a small crowd drinking outside.
    Ha Penny bridge because it used to cost half a penny to cross itThe oldest theater in Ireland1These plaques in the ground depict Viking objects found below the ground

    Arriving to Dublin and Temple Bar

    June 26, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We arrived to a beautiful, if a bit cold, windy and drizzly, Dublin around 6 pm. But how exciting that the summer nights are long here and the sunset is at 10 pm! So, I immediately jumped at the opportunity and while Igor had to work, I embarked on the first VoiceMap tour of Dublin, of the Temple Bar area. It’s the hip area full of pubs that came up in the last 20 years or so. As most of the old cities, Dublin grew around the river and I got my first glimpse at the beautiful bridges.Read more

  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    1
    1A statue of local florist seller1

    Rick Steve tour and Book of Kells

    June 27, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    After delicious breakfast of poached eggs, potatoes and green, we started with the 90 min Rick Steves audio tour of Dublin, which gave us a really good overview of the many layers of the Dublin history, from the Vikings all the way to the more recent history of the Irelands relentless fight for Independence. We walked around the stunning Trinity College campus, which ranks right next to Oxford and Harvard. We saw beautiful monuments and cathedrals and listened to Rick telling us fascinating stories. We then stopped by for delicious porridge with coffee, and went back to Trinity college, to visit its library where 1200 years old Book of Kells resides. Even though the book itself is a bit underwhelming, being open on just one page, under the glass, the properly named Long Room of the library was just breathtaking. It also had a piece of art hanging there, also properly named Gaia - a digital depiction of our earth with NASA photographs. It’s trying to simulate the yearning for connection that astronauts experience when seeing the Earth. The books also strive to give people a sense of connection.Read more

  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    Memorial to the victims of 1845 Famine
    Bridge that looks like a harp, which a symbol of Ireland2Very cool looking convention centerThe diving bell that was used in the construction of the docks1indeed!European HQ of AirBnBOne of the world's largest Broadway musical theaters

    VoiceMap tour of the docklands

    June 27, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    In the afternoon, Igor was working, and I went to indulge in yet another VoiceMap tour, now of the Dublin Docklands. The docklands were used to build the canals to use in the ever growing port. But in the last couple of decades the area became host to the many tech companies to build their EU HQs there, attracted by the low tax rate, which boomed Irish economy. I marveled at some beautiful and funky architecture and quite enjoyed the tour and the hip area.Read more

  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    General Post Office that played a key role in the uprising of 1916Beautiful Remembrance Garden dedicated to the victims of liberation movementsMonument in the Remembrance gardenAmazing Jeanie Johnston shipAny time is a porridge time in Ireland!Cool pub in the LibertiesThe area is home to many antique shopsThis portico used to be a part of the Dublins main maternity hospital. Now only the front remainsFirst name of Guiness was Arthur, hence many Arthur pubs and restaurantsThe original Guiness brewery.

    More Dublin explorations

    June 28, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    In the morning, we went to do another Rick Steves audio tour, this time of northern part of Dublin, which focused more on the fight for independence. We walked up the main boulevard which had many monuments to the liberation figures. We then went to see a replica of the ship Jeanie Johnston which was used in 19th century to transport Irish immigrants to North America during the great famine of 1845 - 1950, during which over 1 million people died and up to 2 million emigrated. Usually, at least 20-30% of people on the ships wouldn’t survive the arduous journey across the Atlantic on the overcrowded ships, but amazingly, on Jeanie Johnston not a single person died. Thanks to the humanitarian efforts of the ships owner, captain and doctor, who all saved many lives. It was a fascinating and touching story and tour. We then went to the completely digital EPIC museum of Irish immigration. And in the late afternoon, I went on a VoiceMap tour of another area - called the Liberties, where a lot of breweries and distilleries are located.Read more

  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    My new friend
    Round towers typically were used for protectionRuins of the monastic church2At Glendalough we walked down to a beautiful lakeKilkenny castle interiorThe castle had some very cozy roomsSome interesting staircasesAnd a huge paintings galleryThe castle outside looks enormous tooAn abbey at KilkennyMedieval cathedral at KilkennyWalking beautiful medieval streets at Kilkenny

    Glendalough and Kilkenny

    June 29, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    On Saturday morning, we rented a car and embarked on our drive of Southern Ireland. The first stop was a monastic site at Glendalough, which had some ruins of a monastery, a large cemetery and a beautiful round tower, all situated among stunning scenery. I befriended a cute Bamby on the parking lot and then we walked the site, while listening to a VoiceMap audio tour of the area. We then drove to the town of Kilkenny, where we visited beautiful castle with some very well restored rooms and a giant paintings gallery. We then did another VoiceMap tour of the town of Kilkenny and learned about its history, and many interesting stories of its inhabitants, which included some witches ands merchants.Read more

  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    Sunset with the grazing cows
    2Arriving at our humble abode for the night1The house apparently came with many hunting trophy'sBeautiful living room1

    Coolest B&B experience

    June 29, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    As the days are very long here, we decided not to stay at Kilkenny but to drive further south, and booked in the evening some B&B with good reviews. When we actually came there, we were shocked to see the imposing huge estate looking building and many cute cows outside on enormous grounds. Apparently we were staying on the restored 200-year old house with fascinating history and very kind young couple who bought it for the diary farm (1200 cows!) and started renovating it and running B&B. Beautiful house, amazing amenities and delicious home cooked breakfast.Read more

  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    The view of the Rock of Cashel
    Ruins of the cathedralChapel in the monasteryRound towers were very popular - this one was likely used as a bell towerThe cemetery on Rock of Cashel - most crosses are Celtic crosses with circles1Some ruined abbey in the valley below the Cashel - we didn't go thereRock of Cashel monastic complex1Town of Cashel view from the top of the rock1Lots of green tunnels on the drive1Ruined abbey with the old tree in the courtyardMossy walk to the waterfall1I am being eaten by the moths hereGorgeous views on the driveKenmare Stone CircleReading the wishes on the Fairy Tree2Quite an interesting adOutside of the stone fort1Inside the fort2The stone fort was made from stones with no mortar

    Ring of Kerry Day 1

    June 30, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We started our day with scrumptious breakfast in our atmospheric B&B and then went to the nearby Rock of Cashel which is really ruins of some monastery with a cathedral and cemetery located on top of the hill, or rock. We had a very interesting guided tour and walked around the large site. We then embarked on the drive of the Ring of Kerry which is a famous circular drive around coastal county Kerry in south of Ireland. You drive on beautiful country roads and stop by some marked “goodies”, like castles, abbeys, or forts, most remote and ruined to some degree. It also goes through beautiful villages. It was raining and windy which apparently is a semi permanent state of things here, but we braved the drizzle and went to see a stunning ruined abbey, with multiple floors and with an old tree growing in the courtyard. It was very mystical, especially since because of the weather we had the abbey to ourselves. We then stopped to see a small and beautiful waterfall but had to run back to the car because we were eaten alive by the swarms of tiny no see ums. We then stopped at the town of Kenmare and saw a 3000 year old stone circle which was probably used for some pagan rituals. Amazingly, next to the stones there is a “fairy tree” which has written wishes tied to it and we spend some poignant time, reading the wishes. Most of them were really “I wish for health and happiness for my family” with the touching ones from kids who wished good grades, career, happiness for their parents, or some eclectic wishes like, “I wish I was a dolphin”. It was so humbling to see that people all really wish the same things. Finally, our last stop for the day was a remote stone fort which was used for protection - thousands years old.Read more

  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    The beach on the way to Abbey island
    Low tide crossing to the Abbey islandThe ruined abbey1Cemetery next to the abbeyRuined abbeyAnother ancient stone fortThe inside of the fort - remains of small dwellingsCharlie Chaplin statue at Waterville1Stunning Kerry cliffs2In the distance, Skellig islands are seen2These two young donkeys were just playing, not humping. Much like Miko and Leo3Best ever ice cream and sorbetThe spot marking the sending of the news of Irish Easter uprising through the transatlantic cableB&B cute dogs

    Ring of Kerry Day 2 and Skellig Ring

    July 1, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Today we continued driving Ring of Kerry and exploring the various goodies. First, there was a ruined abbey located on the appropriately named Abbey Island and we were not sure how to get there, because some reviews said that you could only cross there during the low tide. And indeed it was a low tide and we were the only ones exploring this remote cemetery and abbey. Feels like the end of the world. We then kept driving and stopped by at another stone fort - it’s the same story, very old, made of stones without mortar. Next stop driving through the Kerry Ring was a random statue of Charlie Chaplin - the king of silent movies apparently loved to vacation here in Waterville. Then we drove the Skellig Ring - sort of a ring on the side of the ring - a smaller loop attached to the Ring of Kerry, which goes to the Kerry cliffs. The cliffs were stunning and very photogenic as evidenced by many pictures. In the distance one can see the Skellig islands - one of them is Skellig Michael, which is a large rock jotting out of the ocean where the monks miraculously built thousands of steps and an abbey. They lived there for 600 years until the 15th century. There are boat tours going there but we skipped because the 1.5 hour trip can be very choppy and not great for sea sickness 🐟 🤮 🤘. Then we drove to the nearby Valetia island that is home to the first transatlantic cable station. Unfortunately the museum was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but we drove by it. This is where the cable was laid on the Atlantic sea floor all the way to Newfoundland and the first transatlantic telegrams were sent in 1850 . Before that, the news exchange between the two continents would take two weeks on the ships. We also sampled incredible farm made ice cream, kinda the best we ever had! And I made a cute 🐶 friend there. We then drove towards the direction of Cliffs of Moher to stay overnight in a modern style B&B with two cutest dogs.Read more

  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    View from the tower on top of the cliffsView from the boat1If you enlarge the picture, you can see thousands of resident birds on itThe prehistoric burial site, DolmenSurreal crevassed limestone landscapeLimestone hills in the distance

    Cliffs of Moher and Burren

    July 2, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We left our B&B and said farewell to the cutest resident dogs and drove to Cliffs of Moher. Indeed they deserved their status of one of the most famous Irish tourist destinations. The cliffs are dramatic, majestic and powerful. We walked along the top trail, which luckily is protected from the edge by the built up trail with granite slabs. I then took a one hour boat tour that takes you close to the cliffs, again 🐟 was being careful with the rough water to ensure no 🤮 and stayed ashore. There were lots of birds along the cliffs, including cute puffins that were unfortunately too quick to be photographed.

    There were Aran islands visible in the distance where you can take 1 hour ferry to and do day island hopping or stay overnight. One of these islands is portrayed in the movie “Banshees of Inisherin”. Next time we should visit them! We then drove to the nearby Burren, which is the moonlike landscape of limestone. We walked around to a Neolithic burial site called Dolmen - it’s 5000 years old and marks the mass gravesite.    Read more

  • Ella BalagulaTravelerIreland and Spain Summer 2024
    1We are at this amazing crepe place twice!
    A building belonging to the guy who supposedly beheaded British kingThis Celtic ring is popular - heart symbolizes love, hands friendship and crown loyaltyThe prehistoric burial site at Tara

    Galway city

    July 3, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    On our last day in Ireland, we stayed in Galway city, which is considered to be the coolest and hippest city in Ireland. It’s the center of Irish food and music scene. We really went there because it wasn’t too far from Cliffs of Moher and because there were VoiceMap tours available there. We did two VoiceMap tours - one historical and one specifically talking about gastronomy of Galway. We sampled many great small restaurants with local produce and walked around its pretty town center. Then we drove 2.5 hours back to Dublin, stopping on the way at the Tara, a historical hill, 30 min from Dublin. We did a VoiceMap tour there too, walking around a large site of grassy mounds, marking the areas of archeological finds. We also learned about the significance of fairies in the Irish beliefs. That concluded our week-long Irish adventure!Read more

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