Update of Ireland Part II

Continuing my Ireland trip:

JANUARY 29--Went north from Belfast to Carrickfergus castle, one of the original points of Anglo-Cambrian-Norman invasion into Ulster. The castle is fixed up to be an obvious tourist attraction, but it's well worth it to go. Some of my facebook pictures show some intersting things, like King John on the loo. I also saw Scotland (not went), and there was a great 16th century cannon with an original Tudor Rose on it.

JANUARY 30--Traveled to Galway. Took me all day, but I did get to walk around Galway, and it is just a GORGEOUS city. It's not surprising that this city is one centered around tourism, because the old docks really aren't used that much any more. I arranged to go to the Aran Islands and down to the Burren.

JANUARY 31--Went around Galway city early and caught an amazing sunrise. Wanted to go to the City Museum, but it was closed. Went back to catch the bus to the ferry and it turns out that I missed it. So no Aran Islands. But I did have enough time to catch the Ireland bus to Clifden, the capital of the Connemara area of Ireland, and it is gorgeous! I also walked the Sky Road, which offers amazing views of Clifden, mountains, the ocean, and the whole area.

FEBRUARY 1--Took a tour in the Burren, and it confirmed why I'm pretty disappointed and disinclined towards bus tours. It was one of those "you see the really big tourist sites and you stop when we stop". Unfortunately, it was the only way for me to see County Clare. I did get this amazing walking tour where I met with one of those true Irish men. Totally memorable. I did see the Cliffs of Moher and a few other County Clare locations.

FEBRUARY 2--Hopped down to Killarney, and got to see the amazing Killarney National Park along the banks of a beautiful lake. Facebook photos here are a must. Unfortuantely, again, all of the sites were officially closed, but I did get to at least walk through the park and see Ross Castle, one of the last sites to fall to Cromwell in 1650s.

Ok, I'm getting tired. Plus, I tend to update by about as much as I update my pics on facebook.

I also have some really disturbing news, involving my future and school (nothing like my physical wellbeing), but it looks like I might be fucked on getting into graduate school. But I'll write about that when I'm less tired...