England/Ireland Highlights: Post 2

One of my favorite things about going from England to Ireland was seeing the dramatic difference in the landscape. And because I hardly suffered from jet lag (miraculously really), I didn't take many car naps and got to enjoy it all. We took an overnight ferry from Wales to Ireland and proceeded to drive across the southern portion of the country to get to the south west peninsula known as the Dingle Peninsula, stopping along the way at cool castles and former monasteries and abbeys. And really, how could you not already love an area called Dingle? It's hilarious.

monastery that I thought was so cool but unfortunately cannot remember the name of

Rock of Cashel, seat of many Irish, medieval monarch, and now mostly just a cemetery, but really cool

the wall at the Rock of Cashel that overlooks the countryside and one of the cool monasteries that surrounds the hill/castle

on the drive around the Dingle Peninsula, unfortunately there was so much fog

Atlantic Ocean view (my cheerleading moves need work apparently...)

city of Dingle harbor, clearly the fog burned off

drive up the western coast of Ireland

cool castle just sitting there on the side of the road as we drove through the country

The saddest part of this trip was that we really wanted to go to the Cliffs of Moher but when we got to the site the fog had set in again and there was zero visibility. Unfortunately for us, everyone said this was the wettest summer in Ireland on record. We had lots of rain (not new for Oregonians) but that meant lots of fog and that was the saddest part. Also, we have zero pictures of Dublin, someone forgot the camera that day... But we took a tour of Trinity College, saw the Book of Kells.

Perhaps I'll start blogging again

The majority of my month of August was spent in England, Ireland and Utah. I came back to my new home in DC with only a week left of the month. I'm over my jet lag, wishing for a new job, and already aching to travel again. Perhaps I'll recap my trip sometime. Just the highlights. Definitely just the highlights.

Speaking of highlights from the trip, we went to Highclere Castle. It's where Downton Abbey is filmed. If you don't watch Downton Abbey, don't you even worry, season 3 starts January 6th. You have PLENTY of time to catch up. You won't regret it.

And Maggie Smith is magnificent. Here's a clip from the upcoming season:

Watch Downton Abbey, Season 3: A Scene from Episode 1 on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

More silly pictures to come, I'm sure. And now that it's past Labor Day, and I feel like the summer is over (though not quite officially) I can start to reminisce and wish I was still on vacation and wish it was summer all over again. Though, autumn in DC is my favorite time of the year.