Travel: The Cliffs of Moher

I've been sick with a cold all week and it's a dreary day so I felt like reminiscing. While studying abroad in Ireland in 2012, I visited the Cliffs of Moher. More photos below (plus a little synopsis of our trip) if you'd like to see...

We took a bus tour from Cork, I can't remember for sure, but I think it may have been this one. It was just a day trip, but we packed a lot into one day. We started with a very quick bathroom stop in Limerick where we saw King John's Castle on the River Shannon. 

Next we stopped at The Burren, a national park where we saw lots of limestone, cows, and a tomb (above), dating back to the Neolithic period. 

We also visited the mini cliffs. They were impressive in their own right and looked a lot different from the Cliffs of Moher- much more rocky. The water was shockingly blue!

Looking down at the water from the mini cliffs.^

Finally, we arrived at the Cliffs of Moher and it was gorgeous! We got really lucky with the weather that day! Above is O'Brien's tower which you can climb up for a small fee, although I didn't find the view from the top to be any better than the view from the ground. 

 Expert tip: Expect wind, and lots of it! haha 

Don't look down!^

     

I was really happy that the bus tour company gave us plenty of time to explore the cliffs and take photos!

As always in Ireland, I would recommend packing layers, it gets windy on the cliffs and the weather can change in an instant! 

Autumn in Cork

Since Autumn is in full swing, I thought I'd share a few more photos from my study abroad in Cork, Ireland in 2012. Autumn is such a beautiful time in Cork! I loved spending time in the park, taking walks by the river, and strolling down the tree-lined streets. I wish I could beam myself back there right now!

Travelogue: County Kerry, Ireland

I've been looking through old photos and thought it would be fun to share a few travelogues from previous trips! First up, a few photos from County Kerry, Ireland. In 2012, I studied abroad for a semester in Cork, Ireland. These photos are from a hiking trip with the UCC Mountaineering Club. This was the only hike I went on with the club and it was quite strenuous (at least for me, maybe not for a real mountaineer). The views were 100% worth it though, I would've liked to have tried another hike but I was either exhausted or traveling most weekends during my study abroad. The "hill" we climbed was called Boughil (I would've considered it a small mountain, at least, but everyone referred to it as a hill).  

We took a bus to County Kerry from Cork, parked on the side of the road and walked along the road to the bottom of Boughil.

Then, we began our hike up and over the mountain. 

The incline was steep and there was no path to follow.

 When we finally reached the top it was foggy.

...But the view was still spectacular!

 

We were even treated to a (faint) rainbow in the valley below

This photo serves as a reminder to wear your hair in a ponytail when hiking mountains in windy, rainy, foggy, and otherwise terrible weather conditions.

After lunch we began our descent, which included hopping streams and walking through brush higher than my waist. 100% of people fell down at least once.

...And, there were sheep!

We ended the day cold, tired, and covered in mud. It was such a beautiful experience, though, and I would definitely do it again (although maybe get in better shape beforehand). There are other ways to tour this gorgeous area of Ireland if hiking isn't possible or just isn't your style. Many people drive themselves or take a bus tour of the Ring of Kerry. There are also plenty of cute Bed & Breakfasts to stay in along the way!

Architecture: Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

The light and shadows in those photographs! Love it!

While visiting Charlotte, NC this week, we decided to pop into the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. It's quite a small museum, but it had some great art. I really enjoyed the exhibition on Mario Botta, an architect who designed the museum itself! (Which we actually didn't know until the end, where there was a photo and model of the museum. Nice surprise!). I loved the way the exhibition was designed- with giant black and white photos of the architect's work accompanied by sketches and wooden models built to scale. The exhibition runs through July. 

Chicago circa 2009.

Anyone interested in architecture? Have a favorite building or architect?

A Few Beachy Things

Love this lime green bag for a day at the beach.

This pretty shirt looks nautical and perfect for pulling on over a swimsuit.

I'm not in the market for a new bathing suit, but if I was I'd go with this tapestry print, this geometric one, or this black one (who cares about the tan lines!).

A beach chair and a wine/wine glass holder in one? Genius!

This blanket would be great for the beach and for summer picnics.

I love the gold detail on these sunglasses...and they're a great deal!

....Also, file under "probably freezing but awesome": Surfing in Alaska.

What's in My Beach Bag?

Staying hydrated and protecting my skin (+ relaxing, of course!) are my top priorities at the beach! What do you pack in your beach bag?

Water Bottle / Towel / Bikini / Lip balm / V-Neck / Sunglasses (similar) / Granola Bar / Sunscreen (Lots of it!) / Book / Hat 

Beach Week

I'm vacationing at the beach for the week, so I thought it would be a great time to do a beach-themed week on the blog! Some of my posts may be a bit late because the internet here is unreliable. BUT, we've seen wild dolphins twice already! (photo above) Hope you're all having a beautiful, sunny week so far!

Wanderlust

Arequipa, Peru

Happy Friday! I've been daydreaming about traveling a lot lately and this video reignited my wanderlust. What a cool way to document your travels! I don't have any plans to travel internationally right now but if I could, my top three places would probably be:

1. Iceland
2. SE Asia- Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia
3. Greece 

...but really I'd jump at the chance to go just about anywhere!

Dalian, China

County Kerry, Ireland

Have you traveled anywhere fun lately? What's your favorite trip you've ever been on? I'm always looking for new places to add to my list!

Christmas Markets

I'm missing Christmas markets right now. In Europe, lots of cities have Christmas markets near the city center. Vendors are set up in tents/booths on the sidewalk selling food, hot chocolate, and all kinds of cute gifts like scarves and ornaments. Sometimes there are also small rides for kids and the decorations are always beautiful! The other great thing about them is they're not just a one day event. They usually operate at night for several weeks before Christmas (sometimes only on the weekends). I'm sure there are some like this in the U.S. but I've never been to one. We need more of them! Here are some photos that I took last year of markets from a few cities...

The lights on City Hall at the Belfast Christmas market were lovely.