CLICK FOR PHOTO ALBUM

Spring Break began with a late flight to Dublin, the capital of Ireland. After a good night’s sleep, I ventured to the center of the city and joined a free walking tour. The city center itself is very clean and modern, a nice change from the dirty-ness of Rome. The tour explained much of the more recent history of the city and the country, particularly the last 200 years. Having known nothing about the country beforehand, it was really interesting learning about the Catholic/Protestant fight that ultimately led to the break from the United Kingdom. We finished the day with a tour of the Old Jameson Distillery, a mock brewery for the famous whiskey. Although the tour itself was a bit of a let down the tasting was well worth the price of admission.

That night, the whole group went to a traditional Irish dinner/music/dancing show. The band played traditional and modern Irish folk hits. During intermission, an Irish dance troupe put on a quick show. The food was great and the music was very entertaining, providing for a memorable night with friends. The next morning we ventured to Kilmainham Gaol, an old Irish jail. It was designed in Panopticon-style, meaning a guard could stand at the end of the main cell area and see every cell door. It briefly housed the conspirators of the Dublin Uprising of 1916 who were quickly executed on the jail grounds.

A quick ride to Galway, on the West side of the country, provided a stark contrast to Dublin’s modern feel. The small city has a nice uptown area but the real appeal is it’s proximity to the Cliffs of Moher. The next day we took an all day bus tour of the Cliffs and surrounding ruins. Words can’t describe their scale. Standing 250 meters above the Atlantic, the cliffs extend out into the sea and provide amazing views of the area. Scenes from the latest Harry Potter movie were filmed here. I had always seen photos of the cliffs but was glad to finally see them with my own eyes. It was more than worth the trip.