Cliffs of Mordor

Over the course of the weekend a large group came together.  We battled through rough weather and slight hangovers on our metal,  8 wheeled passenger stead (bus).  It was a free trip, payed for by included with our stay here, and though it was supposed to only be for Marquette students, we snuck out St. Joseph's roommate and our friend from University of Wisconsin onto the bus.  The fellowship was lead by our Marquette liaison's son, Paul, seeing as she had the flu.  Our fellowship made a few stops at some lame castle and another less lame cave, but then we were off to our real destination.  The Cliffs of Moher.

As we arrived, the sun showed its self to us and we witnessed a sight that was in every sense of the phrase: Breath taking.  Out of both awe and dizzying fear, the cliffs literally make you stop and just wittiness them.  Though the site is obviously a huge tourist spot, it takes nothing away from how beautiful they are.  There were  some walls and barriers up to maintain safety, but there was also a section to the south that you could walk along private property, barrier free.  

Earlier in the bus a smaller group of myself, two of my housemates and our friend from UW had decided spontaneously that our goal was not fulfilled and that we had to continue onward to the town of Doolin (about a half inch away from the Cliffs of Moher according to this map).  We were told that we could follow a trail that leads north along the coast from the cliffs all the way to Doolin by our liaison's son Paul.  Paul did us well.  Breaking from the fellowship, we hopped the fence and started our journey to Doolin.  Of all the things I have done in Ireland so far, this hike was the most monumental.  The trail was definitely there, though it was almost never safe.  We walked along sheer cliff drops of a height that, without any doubt in your head, would  kill you.  But the thing was, it was so high up that you couldn't even comprehend how high your were.  All we could do was giggle, and in fact we did, a lot.  I felt like the kids in Stand By Me.  But really there aren't words to describe what it was like.  We didn't find out until we got home that when the weather is bad wind can pick people up and off the cliffs, even in the touristy section.  (don't worry mom and dad, we made our primary goal not to die for this trip) My roommate took lots more pictures and there's a link to them on his blog.  

Eventually, we strolled into Doolin Town found a hostel to dry our soaked/muddy feet.  Doolin is actually a really big tourist spot but it is practically shuts down in the off season.  So, most everything was closed.  However, we were able to find a pub with some food and the Gaelic football game.  Then we found another pub with great trad music (thats what the Irish call traditional).  Since it was the off season, its was only locals in the pub.  Some guy even pulled out the spoons and played them.  Next day, we packed our tired asses onto a bus back to Galway and got some sleep.

I got a head start on facial hair February

The start of the trail.  This was probably the safest part.

We walked all the way from where I took this picture to the furthest point you can see.  After that we still had another hour of hiking to Doolin.

Sweet Hostel