The Cliffs of Insanity!

We left Bunratty after a hearty breakfast (they know how to do breakfast in this country!)  We were headed for the cliffs of Moher.  The drive only took about 45 minutes- during which we passed through some pretty neat little towns- one had this incredible church and graveyard up on a hill - after a few wrong turns we found our way up there- pretty spectacular.

Then on to the cliffs- we arrived, payed out 12 euros to enter and park and up the hill to the tourist centre, not much there so we headed straight for the cliffs. WOW!  There is no way to really describe these majestic cliffs, erupting from the ocean below- there were a good many tourists enjoying the site- but not too many that it was not enjoyable.  We climbed the O'brien tower for a wonderful view and noticed a helicopter hovering over the cliffs.  We had seen a few "official" looking people standing near the cliff edges earlier and figured they were just nuts- but perhaps they were looking for someone?  Just yesterday I read about a surfer who had scaled down the treacherous goat path to go and surf what people call the perfect wave- Aileen's wave.  Firstly the path is deadly and then the wave can throw you into the cliffs at anytime- this guys got caught under the cliffs and they spent hours trying to get him out.  I also noticed a lot of "if you need help please call us" sign around- suggesting that people perhaps feel the need to jump off the cliffs - which you can do at any point really.

We continued on our little hike along the cliffs, the further we go the more nervous Frank was getting as the path is quite narrow at points and some people really do get super close to that edge!  He and Delaney turned back and Dani and I continued a little ways to a rocky outcrop- still not getting too close (as the helicopter and now a coast guard boat way below were circling the area?!)

After some selfies we headed back and met Frank and Delaney at the tower (it was so cold by this point were were ready to be done!)  Back to the car and on to Galway.

The drive was about another 1.5 hours.  We stopped at a pub at the side of the road for a good pub lunch, continuing on our way, we drove through the Burren.  A very strange landscape that is almost Mars like- just rock really as far as the eye can see.

We arrived in Galway later afternoon- found our hotel with relative ease and checked in.  There was no parking so Frank had to park in the public lot not too far away.

We freshened up and the headed out.  We are right at the Latin Quarter- which is bustling and full of pubs and cute shops- we browsed and then settled in at the Kingshead pub for some drinks and dinner.  A great atmosphere but the service- meh!  After a few hours the girls were pooped- so they headed back to the hotel with us- we settled them in and the headed downstairs to the "hole in the wall" for a nightcap.  What a busy town this is- lots of fun.