The Emerald Isle

To describe Ireland in two words... we'd quickly say GREEN and RAIN! "Emerald Isle" is a poetic name used to describe Ireland's lush, green countryside. Obviously this combo of green and rain work well together. In order for Ireland to remain as green as the postcards show, it needs rain and often! When we asked a local man in Annascaul how often it rains in Ireland, he very seriously explained that it rains twice a year... "once for six months and the other for four". It's very rare that you would wake up to sunshine in this country.

 

When I picture going to a new place, I cant help but picture it like the postcards... sunny and warm! Well weren't we in for a surprise! Our first morning in Ireland, we had planned to rent bikes and bike along the Dingle Way to go surfing at Inch Beach. With the rain teeming... we considered it for a bit and then decided to take the car and drive the scenic loop of the Dingle Peninsula.

 

Despite the morning rain, it eventually cleared up and the spontainaity of the day made for our best day yet! We stopped at four different places along our route and ended in the cute fishing town of Dingle. First stop, checking out a site from 500 B. C. in the foggy, misty rain! As we made our way to the cliff edge, we walked past this typical Ireland scene... a stone wall, sheep grazing and green grass! Love it!

 

 

Here's the Viking structure from 500 B.C.! There are many like this along the Western coast of Ireland.

 

 

Second stop, structures nicknamed beehives but are thought to have been homes for the Vikings.

 

 

By the way, here's another glimpse of our ever-so-alarming driving experiences...

 

 

Third stop, a random spot to hike down a cliff. Such breathtaking scenes... even in the fog!

 

 

 

 

Fourth stop, a beach! The dark, wet cliffs and surrounding green landscape, makes the beach stand out in contrast.

 

 

 

 

The end of our eventful drive brought us to the fishing town of Dingle. Here's some typical Irish coast scenes from our visit...

 

While walking through Dingle and poking in and out of little shops, Andy overheard two middle-aged Irish friends meet on the street. Here was their opening exchange,

 

"Isn't the weather miserable?"

"Ay! Terrible!"

"Ay! Oppressive!"

 

We had quite a laugh over this... you'd think the Irish would be used to the perpetual rain but no! And to describe it as oppressive is a whole other matter haha.

 

That evening, we freshened up and drove about five minutes to Lake Annascaul, situated in a lush vally between two mountains. Then to dinner and a pint at a pub that had live traditional Irish music! What a day of unexpected adventures... sometimes those are the best.

 

 

 

 

Despite its rain, WE LOVE IRELAND!