Day two in Ireland was eventful, to say the least.
After a good night’s rest, we woke up hungry and quickly headed downstairs to breakfast where we inhaled poached eggs on toast with crispy bacon and french toast with crème fraîche and stewed plums.
At each Irish B&B we visited, there was a buffet table laden with a mouth-watering selection of baked goods, cereals, yoghurt, fruit, and assorted cheeses and meats. All in addition to the hot breakfasts ordered off a menu. Of course I was in carb heaven with SCONES AND MARMALADE FOR DAYS.
Wicklow Mountains National Park was next on our itinerary so we checked out of Ariel House and drove to the trail head. Here, we spent the morning hiking through the gorgeous terrain and taking in breathtaking views of Glendalough (a glacial valley) down below.
When we got back to the car our plan was to head to the medieval city of Kilkenny, but after a few minutes the engine broke down and we had to pull over in a nearby town called Carlow. Multiple phone calls, a mechanic visit and a tow ride later, we found ourselves in a taxi bound for the nearest car rental an hour away.
It was early afternoon when we finally signed papers for a replacement car. At this point, we decided to just skip Kilkenny and continue on to the Rock of Cashel. We spent the rest of the day exploring this ancient Irish fortress and watching the sun set over ruins in the valley. So magical!
Around 9 p.m. we pulled into the drive of our home for the night, Harbour Hill Farm in Kinsale. The airport had found Cory’s bag and delivered it here, which was an answer to prayer! Nothing like having your own underwear in a foreign land.
Despite the car mishap, we had a wonderful day and felt thankful for the opportunity to interact with locals and see picturesque countryside we otherwise would have missed. The Irish people are incredibly kind and hospitable — you can’t have a five second conversation without hearing “perfect” or “that’s great!”
Hannah Rose 