ireland

Doolin, Ireland {Personal + Travel}

Many times, 
I've wondered at your gift of life,
And I'm in that place once again.
matt redman | once again

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There is a pretty well-known Dr. Suess quote that I seemed to have most commonly seen on Facebook Bumber Stickers back in 2008, but I've loved a phrase in it:
"...when reality is finally better then your dreams."
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This whole trip was certainly a trip of a lifetime for me.
But especially the day Jamz + I took a bus tour through all of Ireland.
I've never dreamed in such beautiful visions.
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(Hi Irish chicken! Hi!)
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Pictures, as always, don't do County Clare justice.
Because you can't hear the rain shaking in the trees,
and you can't hear the click-clunk of our shoes on the cobblestone and gravel,
and you can't smell the fresh old-ness,
or the peat-burning fire coming through the thatched roofs in the Folk Park.
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It was everything an Irish countryside town should be.
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I would like to have a house with flowers hanging over the door just like that,
thank you.
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By the way, the beer situation in Ireland is quite a situation.
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Y'all love your drinks in this little green land! 
The man at the airport tearing our tickets even had two little shot glasses of Guinness.  Too funny ;)
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Jamz loves ivy.
She thinks ivy is fun stuff.
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...just.
... breathe.
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While we were in County Clare,
we also got to see Bunratty Castle!
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DUN.
Dun.
Dun.
DUN.
DUUUUUUUN.
(ratty!)
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This place is old.  It was built in the 1200's.
It's very old.
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And the spiral staircases are very spiral-y.
And steep.
And slippery.
And small.
And scary.
And Jamz didn't like them very much at all.
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Sadly it was rainy-rainy while we were here,
so not only were Jamz and I pretty cold and damp,
we also couldn't see "the view" too well.
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But what we could see was still lovely.
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BUT.
It was all okay.
Because we went here.
Where is "here"?
Here is Doolin.
Doolin, Ireland.
I'm going back to Doolin someday.
And I will be merry.
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It was the happiest of all happy's, it was.
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We also got to witness these beauties live and in-person and with singing French girls.
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These cliffs are about the size of Delaware.
I'm not kidding.
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I love this picture Jamz took.
I was saying a little seaside prayer.
It was just overwhelming being in such a beautiful place.
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On the way home a rainbow followed us.
Typical, Ireland, typical.
Way to be like every single chick-flick steretype I've ever had about you.
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And dreams?
Sorry that you are ruined forever.
My memories are just better.

Noah and The Whale {Travel + Music + Personal}

Oh well in five years time 
We could be walking 'round a zoo
With the sun shining down 
Over me and you.
5 Years Time - Noah and The Whale

--


Quick update!
WiFi hasn't been super accesible this trip
(which in almost every way is wonderful)
so I have much to post later,
but just a teeny shout-out to Noah and The Whale!

Jamz found last minute tickets for their live show at The Academy for a great price.
I'd never heard one of their songs before,
but now I'm smitten.
Very classy, friendly, talented band. With great LYRICS.
You know how I love good lyrics ;)

OH. And the venue was rad.
Two stories.
The second story loft required more expensive tickets we didn't buy.
But the guy let us up anyways ;)
Score! So we had a great view.
Yeah. Just a great night.
PhotobucketOne of my fave songs of the show
(check out the funky un-embed-able real music video here.)

Oh well, I look at you and say
'It’s the happiest that I’ve ever been'
And she’ll say
'Yah, well, I feel all pretty happy too,
And I’m always pretty happy 
When I’m just kicking back with you.'
Although maybe all these moments are just in my head
I’ll be thinking β€˜bout them as I’m lying in bed
And all that I believe might never really come true
But in my mind I’m havin’ a pretty good time with you.

Little Lives {Personal}

"And I learned what is obvious to a child. 
That life is  a collection of little lives, 
each lived one day at a time...
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(pic from a wedding two years ago.)
That each day should be spent finding beauty in flowers 
and poetry 
and talking to animals. 
That a day spent with dreaming 
and sunsets 
and refreshing breezes 
cannot be bettered. "
nicholas sparks

Unless those breezes come from air in Ireland.
Three.more.days.

;)