The Cliffs and Burren Day

 

Today was my last day in Ireland but it was also the day that redeemed Republic of Ireland for me, after not taking to Dublin and it was also the day that I fell in love.  Not with a boy, but with the Cliffs of Moher and even more, with The Burren. I have put pictures on this post, mostly of the cliffs and the Burren. I took some videos of the Burren as well, but they won’t upload to my blog. Maybe they are too big. Anyway, if you are reading this and want to see one, just email me @ zhonguoandmillie@gmail.com.

     I went to the Cliffs of Moher, which are on the Western Coast of the Republic of Ireland on a day tour with “Extreme Ireland.” When I made the booking months back, I was surprised they were operating on St. Patrick’s Day. Ironically, today our driver and guide told us that they were surprised that some people did want to go on tour today. They thought everyone would have wanted to go to Dublin, see the parade. I am actually glad I decided to do this tour on St. Patrick’s Day, because it sounds, like it still does outside, that it was a bit crazy in Dublin today, and I don’t feel like I missed much, and saw a lot. I have not been…connecting with Dublin but this day trip really made me love Republic of Ireland. Still not keen on Dublin but outside Dublin, loved it! We were mostly in the Western Part of the country, and it took 3 hours of driving to get there. The distance between Abilene and Dallas. Crazy huh? Anyways, since I do have a fly out tomorrow back to Texas I want to get some sleep, so I will try and keep this post short. 

   The tour began early! We left at 6:50am! it did last all day though, we were back in Dublin by 7pm(takes 3 hours to get from the Western part where we were to Dublin). This I liked, because I got to see a lot of scenery, countryside, a lot of the country, and I liked that I felt that I got my money’s worth, unlike other all day tours where you leave at 9am but you are back by 3pm or something you know?

  The Cliffs of Moher were so beautiful that my words will never do them justice, and neither will pictures or videos. They are stunning. When you get there, you totally understand why they are so easy to fall off of, and why they put up the barrier. Still they did a good job with the barrier. It is limestone slabs, limestone native to the area, so it does not look out of place and neither does it take away from the Cliffs or ruin anything. It was raining when we got there, but since this is Ireland it cleared up after about literly 5 minutes, so I got shots of the Cliffs in rainy weather and sunny weather! Lol. I loved those Cliffs. To think nature created those Cliffs is…mind blowing! Truly takes away your breath. The height, the shapes, the waves crashing at the base, the ruggedness…amazing.  If a guy ever proposed to me at the Cliffs of Moher, that would be my perfect proposal, espescially if it was at sunset.

       After the Cliffs and lunch at this cute traditional Irish pub in a small nearby village called Doolin, we went to The Burren. The Burren is a limestone area, is the simplest way I can put it. as you can see in the pictures, there are rocks everywhere. These are limestones, native to the area, created 320 million years ago when the area was below sea level (seas where shallower then). it feels like you are on the moon…on a barren planet off Earth….The grass has begun to grow due to erosion forming cracks in the limesone, and some cattle are being fed this grass because it is good! It takes in protein and nutrients from the Limestone, and the cattle are thriving on this grass. Amazing huh? I did take a small sample with me, just a tiny piece. I love Limestone. It is all over this area of Ireland, and looks beautiful, so im totally putting that in my future patio or something. The Burren is so amazing and beautiful, I couldn’t take enough pictures or videos. We walked on the Limestone Walk, and then we drove through the Burren. Beautiful.  Stunning. I truly fell in love with it. it was so…stunning and different. The wildness, ruggedness, had a certain beauty that really appealed to me.

   I could go on and on, but I want to keep this post short. I plan on writing a longer post reflecting on my trip when I get back to Texas. besides, these places, the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren, are so stunning that words don’t do them justice, and pictures or videos don’t either. You have to see them for yourselves to understand.

Tomorrow morning,I leave Ireland. I must say I am not excited about leaving. I want to stay here, in Ireland. Seems like I have been here forever, but in a good way. I am so going to come back. For good or for an extended period. I will find a way.