Irish Breakfast

When you are in Ireland you might wonder what kind of food experience you will encounter. For the most part, many of the dishes you will find in restaurants will be British influenced. As far as traditional Irish cuisine is concerned there is just not that much available.

One traditional Irish dish you will encounter is the Irish breakfast which is also know as the "full breakfast." Of course claiming that the Irish breakfast is traditional is up for debate. Many will argue that it is just an English full breakfast without the baked beans. The Irish full breakfast consist of eggs, sausage, black pudding, bacon, mushrooms, hash browns, half a tomato, and soda bread. One thing is certain and that is that the soda bread is definitely Irish. Does that alone make this traditional Irish cuisine... you decide!

Traditional or not, give it a try when you are in Ireland. Either way it is certainly different than an American breakfast so why not experience it. Food is a big part of a traveling experience. The important thing is to try new things and learn about something new through experience. That is something you will be able to accomplish in Ireland through the cuisine that is offered whether it is traditional or not!

Ireland As A Homebase

Ireland is a great place to vacation in itself, but while you're in Europe why not visit a few other countries. I was in Ireland for five weeks and I took advantage of my time in Europe. Most people who travel to Europe go for a minimum of two weeks. I used Ireland as my homebase for the five weeks that I was there, but on the weekends i ventured out to different parts of western Europe. I visited Belgium, France, and England. All were short plane rides (an hour +/-). I highly suggest this to anyone going for at least two weeks.

You can do this inexpensively by using a discount airline. I used Ryan Air. When i mean cheap, I mean cheap... I did not spend more than $140 for any of the airline tickets that i purchased. Also, since I was just out for a weekend trip, I found inexpensive lodging. Let's face it I didn't spend any time in the room anyway.

Considering the plane rides were so short, I felt that a weekend gave me enough time to get a decent experience of another part of Europe. If you plan on traveling to Ireland, some short trips to other countries will greatly enhance your European experience.

And Don't Forget...

When you travel to Europe there are several things to prepare and packing is a little more complicated than a quick weekend visit to the next state over. Ireland is no different. There are a few specific things you should remember to bring with you. If you don't you will see that it may be difficult to find these items or they will be very expensive.

First, if you plan to bring any of your electrical appliances you will need an adapter plug. This is essential because I guarantee almost all of us will be bring some sort of electrical gadget that will need to be plugged in at some point during the trip (cell phone, etc.). Also, the voltage current in Ireland is different (230 Volts) so if your electrical appliance does not have a voltage adjusting transformer you will want to pick one of these up too!

Second, to keep contact back home you probably will want your cell phone. If your cell phone is not an unlocked GSM (aka world phone), I would suggest either picking up one cheap on eBay or waiting until you get to Ireland (trust me there is a shop as soo as you step foot of the airplane). If your cell phone is an unlocked (meaning it can be used on any cell network) GMS (meaning it uses SIM cards) phone then bring it, but wait untill you get there to buy a SIM card. If you have a locked non-GSM cell phone that has an international calling plan that will work in Europe and are planning on bringing it... please take my previous advice and don't bring it! Your pocketbook will thank you later!

Third, be sure to bring a raincoat (or some sort of rain gear). This may sound like a funny thing to pack, but it rains quite frequently in Ireland. Of the five weeks I was in Ireland there was a minimum of one full week of rain and it was summer.

These are the three main things I would suggest that you don't forget if you are planing a trip to Ireland. The rest of your packing strategy you can tailor to your needs. But, these three things are items on the do not forget list. Of course, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to exchange some money prior to your trip and bring a few Euros with you. However, don't exchange all of your money as the exchange rate did seem better in Europe because of the fees charged by the banks here (I used AMEX). Also, bring good walking shoes because most European cities have an infrastructure that will require you to walk more unlike America where we get in a car to go two blocks down the street. So, get packing and enjoy your trip!

Connemara

Another place that I suggest you visit while in Ireland is Connemara. Connemara is one of the most scenic places in all of Ireland. This scenic area is located in county Galway between Lough Corrib and the Atlantic.

Connemara was inhabited by ancient Gaelic tribes until the 18th century. The region is largely covered by the Twelve Bens mountain range. This area of Ireland will really give you an idea of Irish history. Away from the city life of the "new Ireland."

Kylemore Abby is located in the Connemara region. This is worth a stop and look. While at Kylemore Abby you will learn about the amazing history of this Gothic church. Also, on the grounds are the Victorian Walled Gardens which you should check out. They are truly a site to see.

The Connemara region also has several old ruins and cemeteries to see. We are talking about things older than most Americans can identify with in our view of the world. Definitely stop and see these sights in Connemara. Words cannot express the experience.

When you go to Ireland don't forget to stop by Connemara. You will not be disappointed. The sights in this article are a very small sample of what you will experience.

The Aran Islands

The Cliffs

Fortress Remains

If you are headed to Ireland, one visit I suggest you make while you are there is to the Aran Islands. The Aran Islands are a group of three islands (Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer) located at Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland. I visited Inishmore.

To reach the Aran Islands you will have to take a ferry (passenger only) from Galway Harbour. If I remember correctly the ferry ride is a little over an hour long. Once you arrive you will now step foot on some of the most historical land in Ireland. The two main things you will experience at the Aran Islands are the cliffs and the archaeological remains (see the pictures above for a small sample). The limestone cliffs are amazing and cannot be truly appreciated until you stand on the edge for yourself and take it all in. The archaeological remains  consist on stone walls tracing through the entire island and the remains of old stone fortresses (such as Arkin's Castle). The historical scenery is enhanced by the fact that the small inhabitants of the Aran Islands still speak Gaelic (don't worry most speak English as well). This is one of the very few places in Ireland where the traditional language of Ireland is still uttered.

So, on your visit to Ireland don't forget to stop by the Aran Islands. You can expect to witness an unforgettable scenery and a personal experience with Irish history.

Welcome to Travel Ireland!

Welcome to the kickoff of the Travel Ireland blog. Come on in and stay for awhile. As you navigate this blog you will find tons of information for your Ireland travels. Much of this information will include preparing for the trip and what to do when you get there. Trust me, there is a lot to plan for a trip overseas. And once you get there you are going to want an idea of what you can do because there are so many possibilities and the time will be gone before you know it. Most of this information will be provided from personal experience. So, have fun, relax, and let's get you ready for your trip!