Limestone Seas and Savory Pies
Burren National Park
In the early morning hours we left Doolin, and made our way to Burren National Park. This park is unique in that it is engulfed in limestone rock. Instead of grass, there are seas of limestone as far as the eye can see. After driving around a bit and admiring the landscape, we made our way to Poulnabrone Dolmen, a portal tomb. This tomb dates all the way back to the Neolithic period (4200 BC to 2900 BC), and is Ireland's most popular dolman. When the site was excavated, they found 33 human remains. It makes for some dramatic photos.
Tip: Be careful when you are walking on the limestone. I slipped, twisted my ankle, and almost broke my DSLR camera. Be conscious of where you are walking.
Next, we made our way to the Burren Perfumery. My wife absolutely loved this stop. The Burren Perfumery is a family owned business that makes everything by hand from resources found in the national park. They have perfumes, soaps, lotions, creams, balms, oils, teas, and candles. Everything is inspired by the Irish landscape. If you want to bring home the scent of Ireland, then make sure to check out their shop. If you are hungry, then check out their adorable and charming tea room, where they serve tea, lunch foods, and scones. They also have a herb garden that you can wander around in and smell the distinct scents of Ireland.
Dunguaire Castle
After admiring the park for a bit longer, we made our way to Galway for the night. Before arriving in Galway we made a pit stop at Dunguaire Castle. This castle was built in 1520 and sits on an outcrop from the mainland. Unfortunately, the castle was closed the day we were there, so we could only walk around the perimeter of the castle and admire it from the outside.
Galway
Upon arriving in Galway we made our way to the heart of the city, the Latin Quarter and Quay Street. This is where the majority of shops, restaurants, and bars are. There will also be a variety of street performers all vying for your money. After walking the street a few times we then made our way to Kirwan’s Lane and the Spanish Arch. Kirwan’s Lane is a charming lane that has some quaint cafes, restaurants, and bakery’s. The Spanish Arch is one of Galway's historic gems. It was built in 1584 and is still intact today. We wondered at what life would have been like during the Medieval ages in Galway as we walked around the Spanish Arch, and then made our way back to the Latin Quarter for some savory pies at the Pie Maker. With our bellies full, we then settled down for the night, with only one more day in Ireland.
In the morning we went to a unique coffee shop in Galway called Coffee Werk and Press. This coffee does more than just coffee. They have a shop that sells art supplies, home goods, books, clothing, notebooks, gardening supplies, coffee, and coffee supplies. In addition to the shop and coffee, they also have a pretty impressive gallery that highlights both local and international artists. If you find yourself in Galway and in need of coffee and craving a unique experience, then you must stop here.
Ardgillan Castle
After exploring Coffee Werk we made our way across Ireland and back to where we began our trip, Dublin. With just one evening left, we decided to explore Ardgillan Castle and Gardens, which is less of a castle and more of a country-styled home. The park surrounding the Castle is absolutely stunning. There are various gardens for you to explore including a rose garden, walled garden, ornamental gardens, and seasonal gardens. Walk along some of the paths that snake around the coastline and enjoy the impressive views of the sea and surrounding countryside. With the evening hours setting in, we settled down for the night thus ending our Ireland trip…
