Bunratty Castle Experience

So Nina and I headed to Limerick on Saturday, June 8. We got to the city and checked into our hostel, Courtbrack Accommodation. It is very nice and the staff is great. Then we went to the Hunt Museum. The website says that it has stunning works from medieval times and pieces from the Celtic period; it also says there is art from Picasso, Yeats, and Renoir; and lots of other pieces. So I was excited to see the pieces from Celtic time, but unfortunately I was disappointed with what was there. We probably spent 30 minutes in the museum and that was taking my time. There were some interesting pieces, but I don't think I would recommend it.

After the Hunt Museum, we sat and had lunch in Arthur Quay's Park. It is really nice because it is right next to the River Shannon and King John's Castle. The weather was gorgeous also, so it was nice to be outside. Then we walked around Limerick city - it is a nice place. There are a lot of shops and things to do.

Pictures:

River Shannon and King John's Castle, Limerick

Arthur Quay's Park

Limerick city

So after walking around Limerick for a while, we decided to head to Adare, which is about 30 minute bus ride from Limerick. It is a cute, small town with old Irish homes turned into shops or restaurants and a really nice park. Pictures to follow.....

Adare

Adare Park

We hung out in the Adare Park for a couple hours and then headed back to Limerick. After a LONG walk back to our hostel, we had something to eat and then went back out to see King John's Castle. The buildings were lit up and it looked really nice at night.

The next day we headed to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park! OMG! It was amazing. The Cliffs of Moher and this place are the 2 favorite things I have done in Ireland! The castle is set up how it would have been back in old times and there are old, traditional Irish homes, also set up like they would have been. It was so pretty to walk around and see how this little town would have been set up!

Traditional Irish homes

 They were making apple tarts, scones, buns, etc. The smell was amazing!

Bunratty Castle

Dining Hall

The narrow stairways

Top of the castle

View from the top

In the background is the Vertical Mill - a classical example of a rural undershot watermill.

Ardcroney Church - The Church was moved stone by stone from Ardcroney in County Tipperary to Bunratty Folk Park.

Old school house - From Belvoir in East Clare. It would have accommodated up to 80 children. 

Doctor's office

Yeah!

Traveller wagons - the horse drawn wagon was the main type of transport used in the past by the Irish ethnic group known as Travellers.

It was an amazing place to walk around and experience. I definitely would recommend it to anyone who comes to Ireland! I would even go back again :)  

There are more pictures on my Facebook page (link "Pictures - at top of home page on Blog).

The New Normal

I was doing stuff around the house today while the boys were playing outside and I just stopped. I forgot I was in Ireland, I forgot I am away from my family, I forgot what I am doing here.... everything here is now the new normal. I have been here for 4.5 months and everything is familiar to me. Don't get  me wrong, I still miss Texas and everything back home, but my routine here, the people, my surroundings is normal for me. Even the Irish accent is now normal to me :)

It's funny how that happens. In the beginning you are overwhelmed by all the changes, but as time goes on you become a part of where you are. You adapt to your surroundings and it becomes your normal.

It is going to be weird to go back to Plano, Texas and adapt back to that life, even though that was my home for nearly 18 years. I will have to get used to driving on the other side of the road, town life, the American way of having a Starbucks and fast food restaurants on every corner. It will be interesting to see how long it takes me to get used to Texas life!