Blarney Castle Above Ground View
Have you ever found yourself in a new town, with a new job, with an upcoming birthday and no plans but an extraordinary urge to do something fun and exhilarating? Well that was me...I didn't want to spend another uneventful birthday, so I took matters into my own hands.
I decided I was going to take a trip somewhere...definitely overseas. I started researching places to go and what special deals were out there and VOILA. I came across a great deal on an Ireland all-inclusive trip through CIE Tours, well for the most part all-inclusive. Airfare wasn’t part of the package price but I was still able to get a great price on airfare nonstop into Dublin.
The next day, I went to work and put in my vacation request and it was approved the same day. As soon as I got home, I booked my Ireland getaway before I talked myself out of it and yes, I was going ALL BY MYSELF.
If you’re wondering if I started having second thoughts once I booked it, the answer is resounding NO. I was excited and it actually felt quite liberating. Do I prefer to vacation alone, no, but it won’t stop me from doing the things I love to do and from seeing the world. To those of you that would love to take a trip somewhere but don’t wish to do it solo, my advice to you is DO IT. Don’t stop yourself from living the life you wish to live and exploring the world because you are alone.
Now, CIE tours offers many different types of tours, primarily in Ireland and Scotland. The one tour that caught my attention was their "6-Day Taste of Ireland" and in my opinion worth every penny. Ireland has the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. I have never seen so many variations of green...you will see brightly green grass that makes you think there is no way it's real. Johnny Cash wasn’t kidding when he wrote his song on Ireland called “Forty Shades of Green”.
Their itinerary is full of great activities that truly showcases southern Ireland's attractions, history and way of living. It will certainly keep you on your toes...so come with lots of energy and stamina. Don't be surprised if you fall asleep while being driven in the bus--but be warned, you may miss out on some stunning sights.
One of our overnight Hotels
Accommodations:
I'll be honest, since accommodations were included in the tour package, I was a bit worried that the rooms would not be up to par. Well I was wrong, the accommodations at each location were superb. The hotels you will be staying at will be listed in your itinerary. Therefore, if you wish, you can research them ahead of time and see what they look like (especially their rooms) and what amenities they have to offer.
Food:
A good portion of your meals are included. The majority of your breakfast meals will be buffet style and I was actually impressed with the variety of food choices. Even though it was buffet style they kept it fresh. They didn't wait for a food container to go empty before replacing it.
My Highlights:
I climbed up the stairs to the top of Blarney Castle to kiss the blarney stone and by the way if you didn’t know, you kiss it while you are upside down...just hold on tight to the rails and close your eyes...don't, I repeat don't look down...especially if you are afraid of heights! Ok...It's really not as scary as I made it sound, just figured I add a little drama here. Kissing the stone is a must do....
Blarney Woolen Mills by Blarney Castle
Scarves are my weakness...my family and friends can vouch for this...bought a beautiful red cashmere scarf that was just calling my name (preferred the cashmere over the wool) at the Blarney Woolen Mills. It will certainly get a lot of use during the Christmas holidays.
Cliffs of Mohr
I hiked up to see the glorious Cliffs of Mohr, hands down the ultimate highlight of my trip. It is a bit of a hike but so worth it. Just pace yourself, there are magnificent views on the way up...stop and enjoy the views and TAKE PICTURES.
Enjoyed a delicious meal at the Merry Ploughboy Pub while being merrily entertained by traditional Irish music and Irish dancing.
Bunraty Castle
Went back to medieval times and enjoyed a scrumptious meal medieval style (eating with my hands) in the restored Bunraty Castle where you will be greeted by the Lord and Lady of the castle and entertained with singing and harp playing.
I'll be honest, out of all the activities I saw listed on the itinerary the sheepdog hurdling demonstration was not something I was particularly interested in. But to my surprise, I truly enjoyed it, I found it to both fascinating and mind-blowing.
Connemara Marble Factory Shop
Ate delicious scones with hot tea followed by a tour of the Connemara Marble Factory where I purchased some beautiful jewelry made with the green connemara marble which is unique to Ireland and dates back over 600 million years.
There were so many other things I had the opportunity to experience on this tour, you will have some free time in between to check out some areas on your own. Take the time to stroll around town during you free time, do some shopping (especially in Galway) and hit up a few local pubs like the Temple Bar in Dublin or The Original Durty Nelly's in Bunratty and grab yourself a cold Guinness and chat away with the locals. Your bus driver is also your tour guide, he or she are a great source of information, make sure to pick their brain on what to see during your free time in a particular town.
Overall the events were fun, educational, entertaining and the sights were breathtaking. My only regret was not doing the Guinness Storehouse tour my first day in Dublin, not part of the tour package but you will have free time on your first day of the tour in Dublin where you can squeeze it in (if you had an early flight into Dublin). I thought I might be able to do it on the last day of the tour since we would be back to Dublin but unfortunately we arrived after the Guinness Storehouse had closed. So note to self, if you wish to do it, get it done the first day. Would I go back to Ireland? Absolutely...maybe next time with a special someone!
