Day 2: Silly Tourists - You Need Variety in Your Farm Animals
You'll notice this map has two sections highlighted. That's because we traveled in both those areas on day two. We started in the Shannon region (specifically Clare) and slipped up into the Ireland West to Galway.
The day started at about 7AM as we (at least those on our first trip to the UK) had our first breakfast at an Irish Bed & Breakfast. While Kayt and Emery opted for omelettes, the rest of us went with the Irish breakfast. It turns out we should have taken one of the few opportunities to have another choice for a cooked breakfast. More on that later. However, we enjoyed the experience. Here's a general idea of what was on our plates:
The Irish breakfast generally consists of a fried egg, two strips of bacon (which are really what we would call ham), one or two sausages, fried bread and a slice of tomato. There is also often the choice of the black and white pudding. This is essentially more sausage, the black type being what is known as blood sausage and the white part being the same thing without the blood. While it didn't taste bad, I was glad it wasn't offered on most of the other breakfast menus. The Scottish breakfast is similar, but adds baked beans and mushrooms. Mushrooms sometimes appear in the Irish breakfast, but we didn't receive any at any of the places we stayed. Both types include regular toast as well as tea (for the locals) or coffee (for us coffee-swilling Americans).
The coffee definitely is not Starbucks. While a few places, such as the first B & B, offered brewed coffee, most places had instant - even the restaurants. The restaurants often run it though the Cappuccino machine, so it has a bit of foam on top. It's strong, too. It's pretty much "stand a spoon upright in it" strong, in some cases.
We were apparently duped in Scotland, though, as it appears people there generally don't eat all that fried stuff during the week. Apparently, it's considered too "heavy". They generally eat cereal, toast and juice during the week (choices we were also offered at most locations). They do what is known as a "Fry Up" on the weekends when they can eat the fatty stuff at a leisurely pace. I'm shocked at the notion. I climbed peaks and conquered castles on that stuff (while resisting the urge fall over dead) and it turns out no one really eats like that and functions. Oh well.
Everyone into the van!
It was time to start travelling. We left after breakfast with all luggage in tow since we wouldn't be returning. We would have new lodgings in a new town tonight. We headed North.
Our first stop was the Cliffs of Moher. If you pick up any calendar or picture book of Ireland, you'll see this magnificent site. Not going there would probably break some sort of travel law.
At 230 meters high (over 750 feet), these cliffs are imposing as waves of the Atlantic Ocean crash into them. There's quite a long path, though much of it is rather treacherous beyond the finished walkway. Though you can walk right up to the very edge in some places, I wouldn't recommend it as they have been known to give way.
There is currently one of two large construction project going on. That first one is destined to lengthen an make the cliff path safer. There are signs that recommend you not proceed past the new walkway and onto the old path, though many people ignored them. In addition, the old path runs along private property with an interesting warning sign. Apparently, hopping the fence may result in a close encounter with a bull with large eyes - or maybe just crazy eyes. Either way, it appears this bull would spot me before I spot him with those peepers. Jonathan, one of our companions, was wearing a red jacket, so I figured I could always let him go in first. If the big-eyed bull didn't go after him, he probably wouldn't be bothered with me.
The other construction project on the site is to add a business complex underground near the cliffs. It's actually being built right inside the hill. Apparently the opportunity to capitalize on the popularity of the attraction was too strong to be denied. So, when we arrived, a lot of heavy machinery was roaming about in various areas. Undoubtedly, if you have the chance to visit the area, it will look quite different from when I was there. The photo at right shows the construction project. The cliffs are directly behind where I was standing to take it.
Perhaps the pathway project will eventually allow visitors to get to the watch towers located further out on the cliffs. Right now, the current path is really too dangerous to proceed all the way out to them.
Here are some pictures of the cliffs themselves, since that's probably all you really wanted to see anyway. Of course, I'll bet you'd think differently if I actually had a picture of an actual big-eyed bull, though. Since I don't, enjoy the cliffs. Some of the pictures were taken by Emery since I didn't go out on the old path and my camera couldn't zoom in close enough to the watch tower. He had a couple of megapixels on me, so he could get away with using a bit of digital zoom to bring the shot closer. Click Here to view a slide show:
