Feel the Burren: Getting settled in Ireland
“Whats the craic?”
Living in America, if someone came up to me and said “whats the craic?” (pronounced /krak/) I would probably look something like this…
In Ireland, this common phrase is a casual greeting that I’ve already encountered multiple times, in addition to friendly faces and welcoming locals. I landed in Shannon, Ireland on Saturday July 1st at 6:15am. After that, my group and I traveled about an hour to a small village called Ballyvaughan. This quaint and picturesque town is home to less than 190 people and filled with grazing cattle, beautiful hills, and colorful architecture.
In the short time that I’ve spent here, I’ve already fallen in love with the atmosphere of this Irish community. Juxtaposed with the hustle and bustle of Boston, Ballyvaughan is very quiet and peaceful. Although it rains quite a bit, the weather is very relaxing and the breeze is perfect for a nice night cuddled up by the fireplace.
There are so many attractions and landmarks to see.
After our arrival, we were given a bus and walking tour of the Burren. Our tour guide Brian, was a funny and intelligent local that told us all about the history of the landscape. I knew I’d like him as soon as he recommended trying the Guinness to get over the jet lag.
On Sunday, my group visited the famous Cliff of Moher (pronounced /more/). Being afraid of heights, it wasn’t exactly my finest hour. But even I can admit that the breathtaking views were definitely worth the risk. Not to mention the convenient ability to incorporate the name into inevitable puns; I’ve already used one in an Instagram caption but I’ll probably do Moher.
I’m super excited to continue my journey here in Ireland and I can’t wait to explore and learn more (or should I say Moher?).
