The Final Stop: Ireland

Top Ten Reasons We Love Ireland:

10. They have a female President. And she isn't the first woman to accomplish this.
9. (The obvious) They speak English. Not that other languauges are inferior...We just don't understand them (our own shortcomings) and therefore Ireland is perfect for us.
8. There is a pub on every corner and a sign for Guinness in every window.
7. It is a beautiful country. There are mountains and valleys and volcanoes and lakes and city lights. It's outstanding.
6. It is easy to navigate. The street signs are clearly marked and the tourist sights are always noted. Even if you do get lost any Irishman will stop and give you directions.
5. The Irish men are quite good looking. (One of them will be my husband one day.)
4. Instead of saying "thirty-three"...they say "turty tree". Also "Tanks-a-mil". Hilarious.
3. They've got old stuff. Lots and lots of history. Irish people are really proud of their country, their history and their heritage.
2. They play "Sweet Home Alabama" all the time. We heard it in two pubs and on one of our countryside tours. Guess who rocked out those vocals!
1. And the number one reason we love Ireland...the Irish people are so friendly! They stop and help you when you need something. They are hilarious. Drinking is their favorite hobby. They make fun of themselves and other people. They are so laid back and think life should be simple. We heart Ireland!

Well we are coming to the end of our journey through Europe. Our last two days were spent touring the countryside of Ireland. Let me give you a brief synopsis...

Day #1 Take a tour of the Moher Cliffs with a company called Paddy Wagon. No seriously...that is the name. We woke up at 7 a.m. and waited for the bus to arrive. And of course we were early and it was late. Finally we see the huge, green tour bus with a leprechan and sheep plastered on the side of it. Nothing screams tourist like a giant green bus with sheep. We hop on and hope for the best. Our tour guides name was Shaunie and he was freaking hilarious. The whole trip he was singing Irish tunes and telling really bad jokes. It was quite a long trip but he kept us entertained. Once we reached the cliffs, we were blown away. The view was breathtaking. We stopped at a few castles and little towns along the way. Overall, the day was a success.

Day #2 Take a tour to Brun a Boine. Unfortunately, Lori and I were the only ones who wanted to see this historic site so our tour was canceled. Glendalough it was! We headed through the countryside. Our tour guide had a different kind of humor than Shaunie but still witty nonetheless. We saw bogs, glacial lakes, a monastery, and so much more. I cannot even describe the views we got to see. It was beautiful. We also got to see where they filmed Braveheart, P.S. I Love You and Leap Year. While we were walking through the monastery I had a "War Eagle" moment. There was a guy wearing an AU hat and of course I had to yell it! Come on ya'll. It's tradition!

So we spent the final two days of our trip seeing maybe some of the most beautiful spots in the world. The weather was amazing and the food was good. Not a bad way to end this whirlwind flight through Europe. Of course the night is young and I think we may be headed in the direction of one last authentic Irish pub. Maybe we will enjoy a pint of Guinness and rehash the events of the past few weeks. It's been a short ride but it was a hell of a good time.

- Caitlin