Greetings once again from the beautiful United Kingdom. Where it is perpetually 40 degrees and the daylight stops every day at 4:30. There is no snow, but plenty of rain to keep everyone and their spirits up. It may not be optimal by any stretch, but as I’ve learned during my time at Le Moyne, anything beats the daily four seasons of Syracuse.
Two weekends ago I encountered the very green nation of Ireland and my long lost friend, Kerrigan Coyle. During my 40-sprint through the country, I saw nearly everything a traveler could ask for. But before we start there, let’s talk about prayer rooms in airports. If its 2 am and you happen upon one when waiting for your flight in a few hours, don’t be shy about taking a nap in one. It can’t hurt, right?
With his in-depth knowledge of Dublin and the country as a whole, Kerrigan led a fantastic tour. We started in Dublin traversing through city streets making our way to the Jameson distillery, the home of the prized whiskey. As an appreciative drinker of the spirit, being able to witness the process that goes into each and every bottle was gratifying. The free drink at the end didn’t hurt either.
A night out on the town met any and all expectations. Sure we drank way too much Guinness and maybe there was 16 euros spent on a rum and coke but with prime live music being played, you’re not going to hear any complaints.
After two hours of sleep we somehow made it on a bus headed to Galway, located on the country’s western coast. To give you an idea on the size of Ireland, driving from the east coast of Ireland to Galway is only 138 miles and two hours away.
While Kerrigan was on a separate tour of Galway with his school, I walked around the city and found my way onto a bus heading for the gorgeous Cliffs of Moher roughly 90 minutes south of Galway. With a steady rainfall and biting wind, the weather could not have been more appropriate. It felt the way you would expect Ireland to. The water at the the cliff’s base was the approximate shade of an Oregon pine forest. The scene on the cliffs will stick out the most to me out of any natural sight I’ve seen in Europe.
When the tour arrived back into Galway, Kerrigan was ready with plans for the night. They were really simple.; go to pubs, listen to live music, and drink Guinness. As is the case with most pubs in Europe, the locals were friendly and the bartenders more than efficient. And when the Gaelic band starts jamming out to a well-tuned edition of “Get Lucky,” you’ve found the proper spot. Kerrigan being his accommodating Long Island self could not have been a better tour guide. Cheers, pal
Another late night led to yet one more early rise to make it back to the airport in order to return to Leicester. As with every place traveled to so far, the excessive expenditures were worth it. They always are.
My only goal coming into England was to return home broke. We’re well on our way to doing that. And enjoying every dollar of it.
