May 18

May 18 Ireland 2016: Day 5

Today was yet another adventure in a series of adventurous days in this gorgeous country. This morning, we left Galway and made for the Cliffs of Moher.

We followed the GPS again and find ourselves on a windy, terrifying road through the Irish countryside. My sister gets a touch of car sickness on windy bumpy roads and we're always looking for good photo spots. We found one little outlook at a place called Hazel Mountain Chocolate along the way and stopped.

Hazel Mountain Chocolatier along the winding back roads of southern Ireland

This place was amazing. They had food and coffee, hot chocolate and tea and sooner of the coolest people.

Hazel Mountain Chocolate in southern Ireland

We happened to run into a tour guide there who was waiting on his group to finish their walking tour. Turns out he had family who lived only 5 hours from where I grew up. He also gave us a pro tip and told us to stop at Corcomroe Abbey just up the road. I have more pictures of it here if you'd like.

Gorgeous 13th century abbey in southern Ireland

This place was quiet and peaceful. We walked around here for a good while and just took in the stones. If only stones could talk, the stories they must have.

The floor was filled with gravestones and the silence was nearly overwhelming. This is one of my favorite stops along our trip here.

When we left here, there was a man and his dogs running along the road. I was terrified on this narrow road to hit one of his small dogs! We made it through them unscathed, but then when I go to turn onto the main road, I hear the bark. I thought I was going to lose my mind because I just struck a wee Irish dog until I realized my sister was laughing hysterically. Thanks, sis. She barked right as I turned onto the road and I almost screamed!

Tomb stones in Corcomroe Abbey in southern Ireland

My mother programmed the Cliffs into the GPS and after the mild heart attack of dog strikes, we pressed on. After more gorgeous scenery, we made it to the Cliffs.

The whole gang at the Cliffs of Moher in southern Ireland

As cliche as it sounds to say, there is no picture or prose that can captivate the Cliffs themselves. It's one of those things that you may experience to imagine. They are massive, to say the least, and windy.

Perched on the side of the Cliffs of Moher

Of course, I couldn't just sit here. I had to lean over a little more.

Leaning over the edge of the Cliffs of Moher

There are so many views and shots of the Cliffs that will amaze, so I'll have to add them all to an Ireland gallery later. But here's one for now:

After the Cliffs, we hit the road again and we're almost flattened by a large truck on a tiny road. We ended up eating hedges to give this man room to barrel through the very narrow pass we were all on.

Once the heart rates skewed, we decided a stop was in order and stumbled on a lovely view, but first, the car selfie.

We survived a near miss from a huge truck on a tiny Irish road

After that harrowing close call, we ventured on to the hotel and what a hotel! We found it on hotels.com and it was well worth it!

Gorgeous drawing room in the Vienna Woods Hotel in lovely Cork, Ireland

Everywhere I turned there was another hidden room that held more chairs and lounge space. It was quite incredible and made me feel like I was staying in a mansion of some kind.

Time to turn in, we have an early day in London tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed today's stories.

Thanks, y'all!