Northern Ireland: Giant's Causeway

We had a lot of fun climbing around and exploring Giant's Causeway. We were surprised by how small the area was, but we really loved the unique formations. 

In the visitor's center we watched a funny animated movie about an Irishman named Finn and a Giant that lived across the causeway. It was a myth about how the rock formation was created. Super cute. We were pretty cold by the end of our visit, so we ate soup and treats at the visitor's center cafe.

Northern Ireland: Carrick-a-Rede

From Dublin, we drove north to the coast. Oh my goodness! Erick and I fell in love with the coast of Northern Ireland. Truly. We drove through county Antrim to Ballintoy, the village where my great, great, great grandfather was born.

We stopped to see Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. There has been a rope bridge at this location since the 1750s. It was used by salmon fisherman to get out to where the best fish are located. I loved imagining that I was walking along the same pathways that my ancestors have walked.

Ireland: Trinity College

We decided to visit Trinity College because I really wanted to see the Book of Kells. We should have purchased tickets in advance, because the line was pretty long to get in. But Erick was kind enough to hold our place while I walked around campus for a bit.

The Book of Kells was remarkable! I'm so impressed with the art and design. I can't believe it's estimated to be over 1200 years old!

Sadly, we were not allowed to take pictures of the display. We could, however, take pictures in the Long Room of the Old Library. It looks like something out of Harry Potter. It was built in the early 1700s, and it holds around 200,000 of the university's oldest books. Take a look:

For your enjoyment, I have downloaded photos of the Book of Kells from wikipedia, just to give you a little taste of what we saw in person.

Ireland: Dublin

With only a few months left in Europe, we have been trying to travel as much as we can. 

Also, Erick has teased me relentlessly about going to Ireland without him last year (even though he was the one who opted to attend a military school in England instead of joining his family on vacation - just sayin'... ha ha)

I was thrilled when I found super cheap tickets to Dublin through RyanAir. I've never been to Dublin! I bought the tickets while we were at the airport on our way to Scotland. What can I say? It has been a whirlwind couple of months.

We walked past the General Post Office, which was the headquarters for the Easter Rising in 1916. There were still bullet holes in the pillars at the front of the building. We also saw an interesting statue in a memorial garden nearby.

We stopped at Murphy's, the best ice cream store in the world!

Right along the river, there are statues of men, women and children. The statues are a reminder of the tragic suffering and loss of life that occurred in Ireland during the years of potato famine.

In Dublin's fair city

Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through the streets broad and narrow
Crying "cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

(Viewer discretion advised. Wink, wink.)