After my trip in London, I went to Ireland. I was looking for a similar sensation to Norway. My plan was only to visit some places in south Ireland and all about Oscar Wilde because I wanted to stay in the same places that my favorite writer stayed.
I arrived from London Gatwick, I stayed at a hostal near downtown, it was relatively easy got to the hostal from the airport. I got so tired but my check-in was later so, I walked a while in downtown and then I rested and slept maybe for 3 hours until I woke because of noisy persons.
The list starts here (combining some paragraphs with stories):
- I made new friends!! Some polish guys and their wives who invited me to celebrate with them Zymon’s birthday. We went to Temple Bar and other bars in the same area. We had a dinner and dancing night. Zymon couldn’t believed that I’m girl who traveled by herself from Mexico plus that I’m a sober person.
- I hated “Wonderwall”, ALL the musicians played that song in ALL the bars
- I ate from Tesco…. again
- I went to a local food market
- I walked through Dublin’s downtown
- I went to Nature Science Museum
- I enjoyed to see nice lettering on the showcases
- I saw the Francis Beacon’s room at National Gallery
- I went to Oscar Wilde’s house
- I want to Oscar Wilde’s statue
- Even though I have all his books, I bought more of Oscar Wilde
- I went to Ladureé! My favorite macaroons
What are the things that makes me happy?
Walking alone, feeling connected to the things that I love, with the thoughts that allow me to learn something meaningful, seeing how people dress, walking through the cities but sitting down to enjoy the fresh air and eating a snack…and for sure…desserts! All these things I did in Dublin!
- I tried the “Butlers Chocolate”…so delicious
- I went to Old Library
- I saw the Kell’s book
- I loved Celts typography
I loved visiting the Old Library, it reminds me to my favorite scene in ”The Beauty and the Beast” (my favorite childhood movie), since then I remember feeling some special connection with books, If I weren’t designer, I would be a librarian girl.
- I walked at Trinity College
- I went to Galway in a tour bus
- I met Patricia, who keept me company the next few days
- I went to Cliffs of Moher
I don’t know how to drive for renting a car, so I took the tour bus to visit other places in Ireland. Cliffs of Moher was a MUST. I was exited to see with my own eyes how it was, I wanted to feel how it was to be there between the ocean and the land. Just arriving to Galway, just as in Norway, someone else found out I spoke spanish, she was Patricia, a Mexican traveler who lived in Jacksonville, Florida…and she was traveling alone too! We walked together in Galway’s downtown and drunk a hot chocolate, it was such a windy place in the front of Atlantic Ocean.
Arriving at the Cliffs of Moher I thought the air would blow me down, I was careful not to walk so close to the edge. The air also makes me smile. I met over there some Costa Rican boys over there who helped me to take my pictures.
When we got the bus to come back, Tommy (the best tour guide guy) took us to a classic Irish pub where I ate seafood soup that was so delicious. The place was isolated but it was so cozy. I talked with other travelers too.
Unexpected things are the best! Tommy stopped by the Irish coast, the soil has a sort of crater that I‘ve never seen before, the wind was gelid and while I got closer to the border I was more excited, hearing the Atlantic waves hitting the land and the water got so high that I felt the breeze, travelers took pictures to each other. I won’t forget that sensation.
- I found some more so-nice vintage stores
- I went to Cork
- I took pictures in an authentic Irish pub ”Sin É” to an Irish band
- I went to Blarney’s Castle to feel in a fairy tail, literally
- I walked through the castle’s garden and I saw the most beautiful trees and flowers
I arrived to Cork in a bus. My plan there was to visit some churches and castles in ruins. After taken a walk in this little city, I thought about going to Blarney’s Castel first and then to ”Rock of Cashel”.
Blarney’s made me feel in a princess fantasy, in a secret garden, in a Irish little magic town where you were able to think you might find leprechauns.
I got to Cashel in a bus, an hour and a half from Cork, it was a pretty and little town, I was fascinated to walk and find out new things, houses, flowers. I bought something to eat and I followed the signs to arrive to ”Rock of Cashel”, I bought the ticket and now you can see the pictures:
- I went to Cashel town to visit ”Rock of Cashel”, a cathedral pretty good conserved and feeling again in a fairy tale.
- I saw from the beginning to the end the most beautiful and colorful rainbow in my whole life
- I went to an abandoned cathedral out of my plans
It always rains in Ireland, more than London I think, but next to the black clouds and strong rain the sun rises so quickly with a “full rainbow”, beautiful with such shiny colors, I’m sure I could find the pots of gold there! One of the most amazing landscapes that my eyes have seen. Speechless.
From the hill in the cathedral, I could see another church in ruins, it wasn’t in my plans but obviously I had to go, it was an unexpected gift that I really enjoyed, sitting down to see the most saturated colors of nature.
Getting back to Dublin only 2 more days (my flight to get back was from Dublin), I walked through new places! I found out a Ladureé Coffee, my favorite macaroons and I made my time to rest and write in my traveling journal.
- I went to the Writers Museum
- I walked in some cemeteries
- I met Domenic, a new German friend
- I rented a bike and rode at the Phoenix Park
- In the flight to get back, I had a stop in Oslo and I bought Norwegian chocolates!
- I saw the day and night at the same time, so beautiful!
With this picture of ”day and night” I end my story. I love the sensation to see this landscape ”without time,” it makes me value more my opportunity to travel, to be able to remember each detail and be myself in other places and circumstances.
I think when you travel, you live twice :)
As an extra in this post, I wanted to share my favorite Oscar Wilde’s quotes:
“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.”
“A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament.”
“It is through art, and through art only, that we can realise our perfection.”
“Hard work is amply the refuge of those who have nothing to do.”
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all”
“The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, the young know everything.
“The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.”
And my favorite one:
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
— LL (my trip was in October 2019)
