The Road Trip (March 2020)
I picked Ireland with no expectations and without a plan. I looked at the map before going and said to myself “I can just rent a car and drive around. Maybe I could go to northern Ireland again and retake pictures with the main attractions because last time I went, I only took pictures with my ex :P”.
Dublin
I was gladly amazed to find car rentals for 8 dollars a day but of course at the car rental office they wanted to charge me 20 dollars a day for insurance. I never get car insurance abroad. I guess I just trust my driving skills too much and I figured I could use my credit card insurance coverage. Anyhow, I was able to negotiate a grand total of 4 days car + insurance for 49 dollars :D….
My adventure started in Dublin where i stayed at the Jacobs Inn hostel. The hostel was clean and nice enough. My most eventful part was at the restaurant when i ordered eggs with spinach and tomatoes. Silly me, i thought i was ordering an omelette but voilĂ !
Lucky me weather was nice so i admired Dublin during my morning run. I have to say it is a vibrant city, with lots of unique bars. I also went to the leprechaun museum but it was uneventful.
Athlone
A day later i found myself driving towards Sean’s bar in Athlone. This is oldest bar in the world or so they say, dating back to AD 900. Here the bartender told some stories about the bar, while I was sipping some very smooth Irish Whisky, and how during the last renovation, they found coins on the walls dating back to the 10th century.
Cliffs of Moher
Next i drove west towards cliffs of Moher. I faced beautiful landscapes and flooded roads, but it was all worth it.
Lucky me weather was on my side. I wasn’t prepared to observe this kind of beauty. Cliffs of Moher were just stunning. I wish i had more time to stay but i had to quickly leave because i was working remotely and i had to come online in a couple hours. I couldn’t leave the cliffs without causing trouble :P. I almost got kicked of the place by security because i ignored the sign that said “Do not climb over”. However i had to take a good picture, right?
I made it Ennis by 3 pm and stayed in the only hostel in town. It was nice, clean, good WiFi and free breakfast. What else can i ask for?
I mostly worked here all night in a small coffee in downtown then in my room until I fell sleep. Next day, I woke up really early and decided to explore the city by going for a run. I found a few unique spots such as the street of Frankensteins and the hands of god sculpture.
Dingle
2or 3 hours away from Ennis, I arrived at the Hideout Hostel, a comfortable and well located place. Right after settling in, I drove to the Dingle Peninsula, a beautiful place, perfect for an afternoon picnic.
I went back into town for dinner, and lucky me the hostel recommended this place called The Fish Box, where I tried one of the best fish and chips I have ever had(https://www.thefishboxdingle.com/).
Next day, I woke up around 5:30 am, had some coffee and went for a run. It was a chilly and cloudy day. This day, while running and interacting with people along the way, I experienced a change in me. I realized that during my time in Ireland for about 3 days, I had encountered many genuine, humble and friendly people, who were always willing to help. This environment had influenced my state of mind, and my behavior. That morning mostly every person smiled, said good morning, and I felt this great energy surrounding me. I literally felt that I was becoming a nicer person. Immediately, I asked myself why I don’t feel this way in the US, and I guess because the culture there is just different, to say the least.
Later in the day I headed towards Brow Head, which was pretty but uneventful :).
Cork
I would say Cork is the Portland of Ireland. My opinion might be biased because I didn’t spend much time but this was my impression.
However, an event that helped me shaped my next adventure. Until, that Thursday morning I was worried about my next trip, which was Uganda. For a while. I had been wanting to volunteer in Africa and before my trip to Ireland I contacted a Non-Profit to see the possibility of volunteering for a week, however at first they accepted my application and later denied it because there is a minimum of 2 weeks for volunteering activities. Unfortunately, I didn’t have 2 weeks.
So this Thursday morning I went for my usual morning run, when I had the need to use the restroom. I must confess I am a little picky when using the restroom. It took me a good 20 minutes I visualized the right place. When I entered this coffee shop and I was welcomed with the nicest smile from the Barista. After using the restroom, I purchased a latte and we stroke a conversation, She shared that she was going on a mission trip to Ecuador during the summer and how excited she was about it. I told her about my upcoming trip to Uganda but my efforts to find a place where to volunteer were unsuccessful and that I was a little worried. When all of the sudden someone behind her said “I am from Uganda and My friend manages a Non-Profit back home”. I was filled with happiness and of course i asked him to contact me with his friend.
Right away, his friend replied to my WhatsApp message and Voila! Just like that I had a place to go in Uganda. Most likely I will volunteer in an organization that helps survivors of sex trafficking and their children.
As of today, March 24th 2020, It seems that I will have to push April 18th trip because Uganda is in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic around the world.
