Connemara

Yesterday (the 14th) we took a field trip to Connemara. This entire place was so gorgeous and a completely different landscape from the burren. Thankfully the weather was so beautiful and we only experienced a quick rain and we just waited it out on the bus. The first place we stopped was called the Forge (I think, that's what some people told me because I can't remember so if it's wrong blame them) This place had a fairy tree!! This tree was different from the other two I had seen in Ballyvaughan. This one had pieces of ribbon and cloth all over it (people would tie pieces of cloth on the tree after offering up a prayer).

fairy tree

After that we went to Kylemore Abbey aka my castle. We couldn't go in and look around or see the infamous gardens, but what we did see was absolutely beautiful! 

i'm gonna move here 

We stopped for lunch in a town called Clifton and I had a delicious toasted ham and cheese sandwich (I would've taken a picture but it was too dark and I hate flash so use your imagination)! 

the pub where we ate

just a cool alley 

We then went to a beach that had the weirdest sand I've ever seen. It looks like little bones or coral instead of tiny grains.

weird sand!! 

Our last stop was called Dogs Bay and was definitely the most gorgeous place I've ever seen. It made me think a little of the beaches on Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea. The beach, the hills, the sky--everything was so picturesque.

...and a trailer park which just made me think of Mickey O'Neil from Snatch (dags! oh dogs!) 

 

We also saw some of the famous Connemara ponies...

 

this is just a cupcake one of the grad students made for us. it was delicious!

That's all for now! Tonight Logue's Pub downtown is throwing a welcome night for all the students so that should be some great craic!!! Then classes officially start on Monday so we'll see how that goes!!