Cliffs of Moher , Ireland .
I was fueling up for what lay ahead : a drive to Doolin , a village on the west side of the country near the Cliffs of Moher . It was my first experience driving on the right side of the car on the left side of the road , and on top of that , our car was manual . Once I became a bit more spatially oriented , we were off to the races — and it quite literally felt as if we were racing as I drove us through winding and narrow roads at what seemed the speed of light when in reality , I rarely met the speed limit .
While Eric and I had very little time in Doolin , we made the most of our evening there with a visit to a local pub that featured traditional , live Irish music . Waking up early the next morning , we beat the crowds as we explored the famed Cliffs of Moher . The grandiosity of the cliffs is challenging to describe , as are many of the sights we were blessed to see . The jagged rocks plunge 700 feet down into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean and span a distance of around 9 miles . I found myself staring as I attempted to comprehend and soak in the beauty before me .
We left just in time , as tourists flooded in by the busload . Our next stop was Dingle , Ireland . Along the way , our stomachs led to a brief lunch break in Limerick , Ireland , where Eric and I tried oysters for the first — and probably last — time .
Arriving in Dingle was like cozying up next to a fire with a good book . Dingle is a fishing village full of colorful , inviting pubs lining the streets next to darling shops and the beautiful shoreline . At night , you set out , bundled up in a scarf or jacket , to listen to Irish music or enjoy the stunning scenery that both makes up and surrounds the small village . While we were tempted to curl up and relax in the comfort of the delightful town , Eric and I were excited to set off on a sightseeing expedition the following day . We followed a route called Slea Head Drive , looping roughly 30 miles around the Dingle Peninsula .
A few of our stops along the drive included Ventry Beach for a swim ; well-preserved 3,200 B . C . stone structures called the Fahan Beehive Huts ; Dun Chaoin Pier for a walk to the water ; a short yet incredible hike ; and slim roads quickening my pulse each time we passed an oncoming vehicle . We returned to Dingle and spent the rest of our time there eating Irish food , listening for locals speaking the Gaelic language and drinking Guinness while dancing to fiddles , flutes and accordions .
As we made our way back up to Dublin , we spent a night in Kilkenny , Ireland . Kilkenny , like Dingle , was charming and felt like a step back in time . The Kilkenny Castle , for example , was built in 1260 and has had a longstanding history since ; we also saw the Saint Canice Cathedral and Round Tower , which is over 1500 years old , and the Smithwick ’ s brewery , founded in 1710 . We treasured every step we took through the streets of Kilkenny .
Early the next morning we drove back to Dublin , quietly reflecting on the endeavors of our past month . With the trip coming to a close , we felt inspired to make the most of our last day in Europe . We walked around Dublin for hours , stopping in bookstores , pubs , churches and gardens . We visited St . Patrick ’ s Cathedral , where we bore witness to the most intricate stained glass windows we had ever seen . We also experienced traditional Irish dancing , and Eric even got pulled in to join in a jig himself . The day passed far too quickly , but we reveled in the extraordinary opportunities that had arisen over the past month .
Just as we had started our journey with three small backpacks in tow , we boarded the airplane back to the States with happy hearts and a tinge of nostalgia for the end of this adventure but pure excitement for the beginning of a life together as husband and wife . •
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