One of the best parts about living in Ireland is the ease and ability to travel about the country. Galway is just a short bus trip away from Dublin and perfect for a day trip. The city is on the east coast of Ireland and is known for the Claddagh ring, rainy days, and and Aran sweaters.
The coach station drops you off a little north of city center and across from the tourist city center. It puts you within walking distance of the tourist center, so if you want to plan you trip when you get there you will have tons of resources and help available. The main attractions in Galway are not too far away either; like Shop Street, Hight Street, Quay Street, Nimmo's Pier, Galway Cathedral, Kennedy Park, and all the local pubs. While a day in Galway is enough time to enjoy the day, get a good irish stew, and take in the sights; it definitely is not enough time to do everything. Some other great places to go in Galway if you are there for more than a day are Salthill (for cafes and promenade walks), The Aran Islands, or a outing to the Cliffs of Moher and Doolin. xx A Traveler's Bliss | Grace Anne
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Granada, Spain is one of those places that is not a familiar or a well-known city in Spain, it is harder to get to, but so worth the journey. I honestly can't remember how I found out about Granada (instagram or Pinterest, maybe?) but as soon as I saw it I knew I had to find a way to get there. I wanted to go desperately two years ago when I was studying abroad in London, but it just never seemed to work out. So when all the plans feel into place for moving abroad to Ireland, it wasn't a matter of how but when I was going to Granada. Granada is located in southern Spain at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is an hour from the Mediterranean Coast, an hour and a half from Malaga/Malaga Airport, and two and a half hours from Seville by car. There is an airport in Granada, however the flights can be limiting so the closest airport is the Malaga Airport. While it can be quite a trip to get to Granada, it is definitely worth it of you want a quant little Spanish town that has a dash of a Moroccan vibe to it. The city has small and narrow streets that are easy to navigate and wander. It is definitely less crowded than Madrid and easier to navigate than Barcelona since it is a small city. After a walking tour and wandering around with a map for a few hours, I could find my way around with ease. The main tourist attraction in Granada is the Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens. The Alhambra is a fortress and palace in the center of the city. It was first constructed in 889 AD as a small fort, the it was ruined, rebuilt again over the centuries incorporating the styles of the times. Today the Alhambra's exterior is a dirt red, but at the time it would have been white, similar to the exterior of the summer palace in the Generalife Gardens. The best way to envision what it used to look like was best said by a Moorish poet, he said the Alhambra looked like, "A pearl set in emeralds". The Alhambra has six places within its gates interior, the most famous of the six is the Palace of the Nasrid, known for its Court of Lions and Lions Fountain. It is so popular, that you have to book your ticket in advance and you are given a specific time to go in to cut down on the traffic walking though the Palace of Nasrid. Between the Palace of Nasrid, the Alhambra, and Generalife it takes a few hours to do self-guided tour though all of it. Granada is an important part of Spanish history because it was one of the last powerful cities under Moorish rule before King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella began their conquest to covert the country to Catholicism in 1492. While Ferdinand and Isabella tried to stomp out all other religions in Spain during their rule to establish one religion for the country, the Alhambra remained still displays the culture, history, and art of the Moorish rule. So today you can enjoy both Spanish and Moorish traditions in Granada from the cusine, art and architecture, music, and so much more. So, not a history buff? Not a problem. This region is also well know for their olives so day tours to see the olive fields, drinks some wine, and relaxation are well within reach. Walking tours of the city are also highly recommended as most of the tour guides are locals and have a wealth of knowledge of the city and can point you in the right direction for food, activities, or the best flamenco dancing show in town. Oh, and of course you get free tapas with every drink, so I mean it is basically paradise. xx, A Traveler's Bliss | Grace Anne
A little while back I went on a tour of Connemara with Irish Day Tours ... okay so it was like ... a WHILE back. My blogging style hasn't quite been the same for the last few weeks but I am aiming to get it back on track. This was one of the first tours I really wanted to do because one of the stops it makes was at the top of my Ireland Bucket List ... Kylemore Abbey. Kylemore Abbey was built in the late 1800s by Mitchell Henry MP as a gift for his wife, Margaret. They both are buried on the estate and in 1920 The Benedictine community became the owners of the estate (and still are today). Now I am jumping ahead of myself, the Irish Day Tours starts at a crisp 6:30am and doesn't go straight to Kylemore Abbey. The first stop of the tour is the Glengowla Silver Mines. The silver mines were opened in 1850 and abandoned in 1865 after exhausting its resources and serious flooding. But in the 1990s, the current owner of the property discovered the "tumblers" which led to the rediscovery, restoration of the mine, and reopening to the public in 1998. After exploring the Silver Mines, you take a very scenic drive through Connemara and stop for a photo-op before making your way to Kylemore Abbey. It's a nice little break to walk by the lakes, take in the view, and maybe even get close a close up shoot of the sheep that are rooming around. Next is the very anticipated Kylemore Abby! The grounds are massive and there is not enough time to see it all while you are on the tour (insert a sad face here). I would highly recommend looking up the Abbey ahead of time to see what interest you more: the Gardens or the Abbey itself. You will have to buy a ticket to get in, either once you arrive or online, since it is not included in the Irish Day Tour ticket. This is one place they recommend to get food for lunch, it can be a bit crowded or busy at the cafe since you are usually there right at lunch time. I am not a fan of relaying on cafes or restaurants when I am on day tours - they are usually over prices and not worth the value (since every bus tour goes to all of the same destinations.) I would highly recommend packing a lunch, snacks, water, etc., just so you have options. On the way to the Killary Boat Cruise is the little drive-by town of Killary and it has some of the cutest shops, cafes, and pubs. Still on the pricey side but this is a great option if you want to sit down (off of the bus, that is) and enjoy a hot meal. Finally, the last stop of the tour is the Killary Boat Cruise. You can either sit up-top with the wind or enjoy the sights down below from the comfort of the indoor deck where they serve snacks and drinks. Hopefully this inspires your adventurous side to get out of the city and go see more of the Irish country side.
xx, A Traveler's Bliss | Grace Anne Probably one of the most popular - and the biggest highlight of any Ireland tour - is the Cliffs of Moher. It is one of the most recognizable Irish destinations and is definitely worth the trip cross the country to see the national monument. The Cliffs line the Western Coast of Ireland along the Atlantic Coast, and while you do have to hike up the Cliffs to see the view, it is completely worth it. TOUR COMPANY: Irish Days Tours: Premium Cliff of Moher Tour DEPARTURE: The tour will meet up at the Molly Malone Statue at 7:15am to depart for the first destination on the tour, Caherconnell Fort. STOP ONE - Caherconnell Fort and Sheep dog demo
After a few hours of a little R&R on the bus the first stop is at Caherconnell fort. The fort is a historic ring fort in the rolling green hills that you can explore before watching a sheep herding demo. STOP TWO - Boat Tour of the Cliffs The boat tour was definitely a must for me and the main reason I chose this particular day tour. It was different perspective of the Cliffs and a just a chance to spend some time out on the water versus walking around or stuck on the bus. But be cautious, the water is just as choppy as it looks so if you get seas sick you might want to pass on this one. The boat tour was about an hour and then afterwards you have a bit of time to explore Doolin and grab a late lunch. STOP THREE – Doolin The next stop is a lunch break on the Atlantic Coast in the town of Doolin. Lunch not included on the tour, but there are a variety of pubs and cafes to choose from to get a quick sandwich to keep exploring Doolin or sit down and relax for a meal. The seafood is the recommended choice since the charming little town is a rather good place to find some of the best fish around. STOP FOUR – Finally – The Cliffs of Moher To get that picturesque view of the Cliffs, you’ll want to take the paths to the right when you get to the entrance of the Cliffs. If you take the paths to the left, you get to walk along the Cliffs for some pretty amazing views and the ultimate choice: walk along the trail or walk along the unfenced path on the edge of the Cliffs. The only downer of the tour is due to the boat tour time at the Cliffs is limited, so you have to either run from side to side to see it all, or just pick one side to really enjoy it. I decided to run like a maniac and see it all. The tour is all day and gets back to Dublin around 8pm at night, so pack some food, a good pair of shoes, and something to do to pass the time on the bus. It's a long day but full day! xx, A Traveler's Bliss | Grace Anne It has definitely been raining here in the Windy City like it is spring, but it sure doesn’t feel like spring. The weather has been a bit of a rollercoaster, going from sunny a seventy degrees one day to rainy and forty degrees for the next week. Even with the unpredictable weather and the crazy overload of the end of the semester (and the semester!) I wanted to explore and learn about a few iconic Chicago landmarks before my time in the city came to an end. One of the top ‘Must-Dos’ on my list was Navy Pier: Navy Pier was constructed in 1915 and opened to the public in 1916. It was built by architect Charles Sumner Frost and designed by Daniel Burnham and Edward H Bennett. Originally it was named Municipal Pier because the pier was used as a dock for freights, control passenger traffic, and a space for recreation for the public. During the First World War, it was also used as a prison for “dodgers” or anyone who tried to avoid the draft. In 1927, the pier was renamed Navy Pier as a dedication of those who served in the First World War. Fun Fact: The first Ferris wheel was built by George Washington Ferris Jr in 1893 for the Chicago World Fair. He wanted to construct something taller than the Eiffel Tower and would give people a “bird’s-eye view” of the fair in Chicago. While the height of the Ferris wheel may have been much shorter than the Eiffel tower, it did not disappoint expectations left everyone calling the wheel ‘Ferris’ Wheel. Last year the Navy Pier Centennial Ferris Wheel was redesigned and rebuilt for the Centennial anniversary of Navy Pier. The new Wheel is 196 feet tall and has 42 gondolas that are colored blue for the signature Navy Pier look. Each gondola can hold up to eight people and has individual seats instead of benches, making it one of a kind. Today the pier is roughly 3,300 feet long and has more than fifty acres of gardens, shops, food and restaurants, and attractions to entertain you all day long. Navy Pier is one of the top destinations in the city and attractions around nine million visitors annually. Last year, a few friends and I stayed out and stood in line all night to ride The Last Ride” on the old Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier before they began construction on the new one. It seemed fitting to wait until the end of my semester senior year to ride the new Ferris wheel for the first time. It was a little grey and cold the day we went, but that just meant we got the entire gondola to ourselves. It was an amazing experience to be able to move around and see Navy Pier and the Chicago skyline from 196 feet up in the air. The Wheel went a faster than we thought (probably because there weren't many people getting on) and it went around three times. It is definitely a worthy treat when you are at the pier along with all of the other activities it has to offer for every season.
xx A Traveler's Bliss |
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