Wow right? Yeah. I was THERE. But I'll start at the beginning. Like when we stepped off the ferry. I'll end up overlapping some stuff from my last post but -it's my blog I can do what I want! ....alrighty.
So we got off the ferry and rented some bikes for the day. I had no idea what to expect or really what the Aran Islands even were (other than gorgeous) so I made the caboose of the 5 of us (one was the best friend of a girl I came with who's studying abroad and knew where she was going) and after we stopped at the bathroom we were ready to go but first we wanted to take a picture. A friend and I stood ready to take a "selfie" shot with the ocean behind us and this sweet old Irish man with a horse drawn carriage offered to take it for us! Not only that, but he told us to get in the carriage for the picture and when he asked where we were from, he kept referring to us as "Minnesota". His accent just made everything so much better as he said "ok one more- smile Minnesota!"
So we got off the ferry and rented some bikes for the day. I had no idea what to expect or really what the Aran Islands even were (other than gorgeous) so I made the caboose of the 5 of us (one was the best friend of a girl I came with who's studying abroad and knew where she was going) and after we stopped at the bathroom we were ready to go but first we wanted to take a picture. A friend and I stood ready to take a "selfie" shot with the ocean behind us and this sweet old Irish man with a horse drawn carriage offered to take it for us! Not only that, but he told us to get in the carriage for the picture and when he asked where we were from, he kept referring to us as "Minnesota". His accent just made everything so much better as he said "ok one more- smile Minnesota!"
After this, we hopped onto our bikes and headed to the sweater shop. But there was a problem. I couldn't pedal anywhere. I couldn't figure out what was happening when a random girl on the road pointed out "your chain came off" and sure enough. It had. The man with the carriage took my bike and proceeded to put my chain back on for me (so sweet) and sent me on my way. After about 5 seconds, the chain was off again and this time a random other man about 5 yards ahead of the first helped me. Like, not just kinda helped me, but took the bike, flipped it upside down, and messed with it- helped me! The people here are SO NICE. Random stranger on the street too! I just couldn't believe it! Then the man with the carriage walked up. "It happened again?" He asked and after they both conferred that the bike wasn't going to work, the one with the carriage said "go back and ask for another one. It's right up there. He'll give you another!" When I hesitantly looked down the road where my friends had disappeared to, and told him "I have to go tell my friends" He hurried me on. "It won't take but a minute. They'll wait fer ya". So I walked it back and wouldn't ya know it? The guy walked out of the bike shed after explaining says (in old man Irish accent) "here! Take mine sweetheart! Here you are! Do you know where to go sweetheart? It's right up the road there!" and told me all the best places to go, the easiest ways to get there, and how to avoid the most hills. Not kidding when I say I'm coming back and staying on the island one day. There's a bed and breakfast there and I would love to come to the Aran Islands for my honeymoon! The people are just so great! So I finally caught up to everyone at the sweater shop.
These things are super famous. Just google images "Aran Island sweaters" if you want to see. They're pretty amazing and hand knitted too. After buying a hat and mittens to keep warm on our adventure, I walked out and met some more people
These people introduced themselves and came with us to the market where we all bought stuff to picnic somewhere on the island later. I later realized that these people were friends of the girl who's studying abroad and my friend is staying with. They knew the island a bit also and between the 3 of them, we were shown around splendidly!
When we finally started out on the actual path, I couldn't put my camera down. I was literally steering with one hand and snapping pictures in all directions with the other. Not the safest thing I've ever done, but had to capture it all!!! It was everything I wanted when I dreamed of Ireland. It's the stone walls ALL OVER that you think of and the cows grazing in the pastures and the cute little fishing community and the ocean and green GREEN pastures and ruins and just- mmmm it was wonderful and may be my favorite part of the trip. If you ever go there, I suggest staying overnight. Give yourself more than a day to be there!
Here's a slideshow of the pure beauty of it
When we finally started out on the actual path, I couldn't put my camera down. I was literally steering with one hand and snapping pictures in all directions with the other. Not the safest thing I've ever done, but had to capture it all!!! It was everything I wanted when I dreamed of Ireland. It's the stone walls ALL OVER that you think of and the cows grazing in the pastures and the cute little fishing community and the ocean and green GREEN pastures and ruins and just- mmmm it was wonderful and may be my favorite part of the trip. If you ever go there, I suggest staying overnight. Give yourself more than a day to be there!
Here's a slideshow of the pure beauty of it
Then we stopped at some beautiful ruins where we explored and took pictures! There was also a berry patch!
Another slideshow
Another slideshow
So yeah basically it was gorgeous. We saw another "ruins" sorta thing and took pictures....
A horse! Stopped to pet it!
We saw a cow and her two calves grazing....
Throughout this ride, I discovered that my seat was slowly sinking down. By the time we reached the ocean, I was pedaling like a 4 year old on a tricycle! So that was a bit annoying... It took like double the effort to pedal and we were going up hills as it was. BUT- I kept reminding myself
you´re in Ireland! At the Aran Islands! Biking around on a bike with a cute basket!¨ So that made it better :)
you´re in Ireland! At the Aran Islands! Biking around on a bike with a cute basket!¨ So that made it better :)
When we got there, we walked to the ocean over a field of boulders and wandered all over the edges looking at God´s beautiful creation and taking pictures. It was fantastic. Really, this blog post is mostly pictures. Makes sense though!
We walked up to the ¨wormhole¨ which I have no idea what actually is, but seems like a giant bathtub... Incredible though!
After all of this, we wanted to see the very top of the cliffs and we decided to have our lunch up there! It was a LONG way to the top.
but worth it
These are the pictures you see in magazines when people talk about the Aran Islands. THIS is the famous place. check this out
These are ruins on top of the cliff that we ate in
Lunch was great and our new friends were absolutely awesome! Our sides hurt from laughing when we were finally ready to go back down and head to the ferry.
On our way back, we stopped at a gorgeous looking beach with white sand and I raced to take off my shoes and socks so I could run barefoot across the sand into the clear ocean. It was pretty grand. Wrote some things in the sand, took pictures, did cartwheels, took pictures, jumped- took pictures.... you get the idea.
Not gonna lie, by the time we were on the road again, it was pretty tough to bike cause my seat WOULDN´T stay up AT ALL and my knees came above my waist when I pedaled and everyone was always ahead of me and sometimes had to stop and wait for me. My mood started to be effected a bit. One of my friends was biking a bit behind with me and reminded me to be thankful for where I was and what I was doing. I´m thankful for her and her company too! As we made our way back to the ferry, there were many more gorgeous scenes along the path
A perfect day basking in God's INCREDIBLE creation!!!
We boarded the ferry and returned to Galway happy and extremely worn out.
we went back to the hostel and had a bit of a journal time and then went to walk around the city. For dinner we went to a place that just seemed to me like a normal fast food restaurant with mostly fish instead of burgers but apparently this place has won a TON of awards for best fish and chips so yeah... we did that. There is SALMON on the menu! I know right?! and I ordered it.... but I got some white kind of fish instead.... but it was fantastic so that's all good!
we walked around the city a bit and then slept like rocks as soon as we got to the hostel.
So was our first day in Ireland. More to come. Now you see why this is so daunting! I'm so long winded and feel like no one is going to make it all the way through! I'm kinda curious actually- comment if you made it! (if you happen to feel like it!)