The Dingle Peninsula

We worked our way down to Dingle with a ferry ride and 4 buses. So we ended up spending a majority of the first day in Dingle just wandering the streets and sitting by the bay. When we arrived at our hostel, we could hear the hallelujah chorus playing: they had TOWELS for us to use. Real ones. And a bowl of fresh fruit. All this PLUS we were the only ones staying in the dorm. This was over and above the other hostels we stayed in, which may give you an idea of our accommodations so far. :) 

Our second day in Dingle began with a traditional Irish breakfast complete with bacon, sausage, eggs, beans (Amanda's favorite), pudding (yuck), and a tomato. 

We toured some shops and Amanda and Twyla both bought some paintings and shipped them home because they were too big to fit in their backpacks. We then went to Paddy's bike rental (sent to by another Paddy, who convinced us his pal was the best in town) and set out for our 25 mile bike ride along Slea Head drive. And yes we did wear the adorable helmets. The peninsula was absolutely beautiful as we winded in and out along the coast. We stopped several times to take pictures and catch our breath. At one point the road became very narrow and windy. A tour bus was attempting to pass a car and they probably did a dance for a good 10-15 mins before both could proceed to their route. Good thing we were past them and could watch from a distance! 

Somehow between the road and the gravel Twyla managed to stop too quickly and slid out again. She attempted to put a foot down but rolled her ankle and fell off the bike. Another bruise and road rash to add to the collection. Amanda also managed to jam her knee into the handle bar ... Both of them look like they have gotten into a fight. Olivia is bruise- free at the moment- a miracle indeed. 

At one point we saw some tourists looking over a small beach, so we stopped to see it. Even though it was beautiful, we thought we could get a better look by climbing over the farmer's stone wall. This time, none of us got hurt and we climbed to the top of a huge hill where we saw a 360 view of the ocean, the Sleeping Giant, the Three Sisters, a green field, and the village on the hill. So worth the climb!

The Sleeping Giant

The Three Sisters 

Back on the bikes we went, although we could have kept the sheep company up there for a while. We stopped for directions once when the road split and the signs were unfamiliar.  We were informed that all the road signs were written in Gaelic, and finally figured out which ones pointed us to Dingle. After we were pointed in the right direction we climbed up one last big hill (the only hill Olivia and Twyla had to push their bikes up- Amanda rode the whole way- go Amanda go!) we finally made it to the top and then sped down the last stretch into Dingle. 

The last part we came to had a huge round about to turn off to Dingle... Our most dreaded feat. Amanda led the way into the circle, but Olivia and Twyla failed to yield so they screamed the whole way around. A local young man leaned out the window and mockingly made "crazy biker" gestures and facial expressions... We can't blame him! 

After we made it made it back to Dingle we stopped by the park, took a nap break (sort of) and realized how burnt we had gotten during the day. We dropped the bikes off at our hostel and went out for pizza. Olivia then got her mouth stuck open for a bit... don't ask. She's just a freak of nature. 

We popped into O'Sullivans for drinks and good music. Here, we ran into four lovely ladies from San Diego (shout out to Leanne, Anna Beth, Jillian, and Sheryl). We swapped stories with them: they are traveling together at the ages of 60-65.  Four friends seeing the world. Just like us. We want to be like them when we grow up! We told them about our blog and they decided to make one themselves. 

In the morning, we had to return our bikes and head to the bus stop. To save time, we decided it would be wise to pack our now 25 pound bags on our backs and simultaneously pedal through town. Let's just say we looked REALLY cool and no one would have guessed we were from out of town.  

On the bus, we ran into two California fellows who we had seen before on the bus to the Aran islands and then again at the pub the night before. (We think they were following us...) We ended up talking to them on the bus and discovered one is an aspiringing musician who we talked into serenading us at our next stop. Keep your eye out for Chris Kellems. We may have been swooning over this young man. 

This evening is very Oregon-esque: we spent the afternoon in a cafe eating cake and journaling. We were given free scones (5 to be exact)... A goldmine to our regular toast, ham and cheese sandwiches, and pasta. On our walk back it finally (after 9 days of sunshine) poured on us. The rain drenched the paper bag that held the scones and caused Olivia to drop them all over the middle of the intersection just as she was singing "Bicycle!" to a group of passing cyclists. Classic. 

With wet faces and wet feet we are turning in early this evening. Tomorrow we fly out of beloved Ireland and join up with our fourth traveling companion in London. Jill- we have been waiting for you and are ready for you to join this gong show!!!!!

The Aran Islands

The sun has been on our faces, the wind at our backs, and the road has risen up to meet us! We have spent the last two days on the Aran Islands and it feels like we have gone back in time! 

After we got off the ferry we rented bikes and checked our stuff into the hostel. We asked directions to our hostel and were told it was "back on the road and up the hill". We asked which road and the nice Irish man laughed and said, "There's only one road and the only way is back!" That settled it! Sure enough it was back and up the hill. Over the next eight glorious hours we cruised the island on our steeds... aka silver bikes.

All across the landscape, a maze of ancient hand-built rock walls stretched beside us in either side. We were in awe as we pushed our bikes up the hills and sped down the slopes. 

There's one part of the island that stands out: the cliffs and the fort, both of which have very fancy Gaelic names which we can't pronounce or spell. By the time we rode to the cliffs, the other tourists had gone back to Galway, which meant we were free to explore on our own! We poked our heads over the sides of the cliff, climbed around in the grass fields and took pictures close enough to the edge that our moms will probably gasp (sorry mom). 

 It was about six o clock in the evening and we almost decided to stay until sunset (which we realized later isn't until 11pm... that idea faded quickly), so we mounted our bikes and headed back to our hostel. 

As we were riding back, Twyla had a great idea: take a selfie while riding her bike. Here's what happened next: 

Twyla's note: I stayed in this position for probably 5 mins while the two other dim-wits laughed at me and wouldn't help me get up. 

We finally made it back: Olivia and Amanda's guts ached from laughing and Twyla's whole body hurt from the fall. 

Today we explored the middle of the three islands: Inish Maan. We boarded a smaller ferry to get there, which was filled with people. However when the ferry stopped, we were the only 3 to get off! We had the whole island and three and a half hours before the ferry returned. We were planning in hiking a big loop around the island by following the blue arrows. "Just follow the blue arrows" they said... "You'll see it all" they said............ (foreshadowing here)

We did follow the blue arrows. We followed them until the path pointed straight into the sea. We had walked along a breath-taking path, again with more rock walls and cottages that were empty but lovely. Now, instead of walking back the way we came, we decided to blaze our own trail. We needed to get up the hill, but rock walls created a bit of a situation. Amanda tried climbing over a shortish one, and got a good scrape in the process. We scanned the rock pen in which we were now trapped and decided this probably wouldn't end well for us. We had only seen 11 total people at this point and they were likely not doctors. Instead, we forged our way along the rocky coast and finally stopped to eat our ham and cheese sandwiches when we knew we weren't going farther without missing our ferry. In case you're wondering, we did make it back, bruised and a little sunburned, but we made it back just in time! If we had to sum up this island in three words, they would be "big stone fences". (We just had a big argument over the placement of the quotations and period in the previous sentence ... Things are getting a little heated...)  

Anyway, we have loved both of the islands and will always remember our adventures together here on the Emerald Isle! 

(More to come... Stay tuned :) 

Cead Mille failte!

It means "a hundred thousand welcomes" in Gaelic...and that is just how we feel! We have been here 3 full days now and each day has been better than the last. 

Dublin, Ireland

We woke up much more cheery after much needed rest from our long and tiring plane rides. We went on a walking tour around the city. We saw the Dublin castle, parlement, and Trinity college. We even watched a game of cricket there. We learned a few things on our first day: 

1. Everyone in Ireland is really nice and helpful. If you don't know something just ask someone. 

2. You can get burnt in Ireland believe it or not. It has been sunny for the 3 days we've been here and apparently it rains 260 days out of the year. We happened to land our trip on the best days of the year. Lobsters. 

3. They REALLY love their beer! 

Wicklow Mountains: 

We were sucked into going on a tour just because the brochure said that we would see the scenes where Braveheart and P.S. I Love You were filmed. We visited the Dunmore caves, the Wicklow Mountains, a monostary dating back to the 1200s, and we visited Kilkenny castle. We enjoyed hearing old stories from our tour guide. Olivia did have to interrupt him at one point on the bus while he was on the loud speaker to capture a stupid moth. It was embarrassing. We went to St. Nick's church, no the Saint Nick...a.k.a. Santa Clause. Twyla was surprisingly impressive with her sense of direction, which would never happen at home.

Galway, Doolin, and the Cliffs of Moher:

We shoveled eggs down our throats and packed our bags to Galway. We learned  that we should've visited in September so we could've visited for the matchmaking festival that lasts all month. People from all over the world come to Ireland to find love. Gosh-darn it... We missed our shot. Twyla managed to spill a quarter of her water bottle all over her lap on the bus leaving her with damp pants all afternoon. Olivia had some trouble with accents as she asked someone, "I'm sorry I don't know what a pulls carrot is." ..... postcard, the word was postcard. The Cliffs of Moher were absolutely breath-taking. Just amazing! Good work God! 

Note from Olivia: (...and anyone else who knows princess bride...) these cliffs were INCONCIEVABLE! 

Note from Amanda: Luckily we can't post the video of Twyla and Olivia singing "I'm on the edge of glory." (While on the actual cliff) 

Note from Olivia: Oh it's coming! 

Cliffs of Moher 

Santa's Church

Eating Gelato... If you're wondering how we got a candid shot, we asked a passerby to take a candid shot... Totally natural. 

Cliffs of Moher!

No time for pepper or our own dishes this morning... Improvising at it's finest! 

This is Olivia's maternal grandma's maiden name! I think it's them! Gonna do a little research tomorrow. 

The Wicklow mountains are alive with the sound of muuuusiiiic!!!!!

We are headed to the Aran islands in a couple days... Thanks for your prayers and we will try and keep you all updated soon ! 

And we're off...

Well the time has arrived... We are sitting in Rogue resturant staring out at this disgusting weather and praying that we don't take the rain with us. 1 hour till we board. At this point Twyla is slightly panicking. Olivia and Twyla have both lost (and refound) their phones 3 times. And we have now discussed buying a neck pillow a half a dozen times. 

On another note, you know how sometimes you have a brilliant idea to wear matching orange shirts to the airport with you travel buddies? Wellll let's just say we have brought that idea to fruition... It was a good idea at the time but now we feel like a high school youth group that has gotten separated from their larger herd... Off to Vancouver B.C., onto London, and final destination soarin into Dublin. Whoop whoop! 

I thought I was smiling.... Apparently not. 

Hello. Dia dhuit. Hola. Ello. Ciao. Hallo. Morgen.

It all started two years ago when we were seniors in college and living in the same house. Somewhere between eating brownies, grading work samples, and watching Sister Wives, we decided that in two years, if we all had jobs and weren't married, we were going to go to Europe together. 

Well, here we are, two years later, all of us teaching and very not married*... and getting ready to board a plane in exactly one week!

WE? Who are we, you ask??
Drumroll please...

Olivia is a 24 year old Salem resident who loves singing loudly, quoting Dumb and Dumber, and is fairly spontaneous (a word here which means "not organized").

Amanda is a 24 year old who also resides in Salem and who loves running, photography, and is the calm, level-headed one.

Twyla is a 24 year old living in Corvallis who loves line dancing, Friends, and is going to be crossing the ocean for the first time!

Jill is a 24 year old (surprise surprise) Blaine, WA resident who loves Crossfit, going on walks with her dog Zoe, and is the clever one who thinks ahead. 

Some places we are going and what we expect: 

Ireland
This is our first stop, and sadly, Jill will not be with us in the Land of Leprechauns. Our expectations? Oh nothing too far-fetched...Just green fields of four leaf clovers as far as the eye can see, lots of rainbows, little red haired people, hot men with accents, pots of gold... you know, the usual. 

England
We are SO grateful to get to stay with Jill's parents, who are living near London at this time. Jill will be joining us here. Expectations: double-decker busses, probably getting roped into trying crossfit, running into Kate Middleton and getting invited to tea with the royal family. Pictures with baby what's-his-name to follow.

Spain
Here we will be staying with one of Amanda's relative's relatives. Madrid. Barcelona. Apparently they have good sandwiches. Cathedrals, tapas, bullfighting, siesta, flamenco dancing with Spaniards. Olivia and Jill will get to practice some Espanol... si! 

Italia
Thiiiiiissss is the Niiiiigght!!!! Pasta. Gondolas. Gelato. (Food is a common theme). We will finally learn how to pronounce "Cinque Terre". Swimming in the Mediterranean. Pasta.

Switzerland
Amanda used to be a nanny here, so we will thankfully be staying with the family that she worked with. We are thinking lots of hikes, sailing, Alps, Amanda practicing German, and relaxing after lots of traveling. 

Finally, Amanda, Jill and Olivia will head back to England for a bit and Twyla will head back to the USA for a family camping trip. 

This is our complete, unabridged itinerary for the trip. 
We are going to keep our minds and options open along the way, and we are excited to share our adventures with everyone! Please keep us in your prayers as we head out this summer! :) 

This. Is. Our. Europe. Blog. 


*For the record: One of our housemates, the lovely Sarah, was engaged at the time and is now married and living in Colorado. We love and miss you Sarah!!!