Moranfest 2024 Part 4 – The Cliffs of Moher and Going Home

After a quick breakfast at Westcove, TG, Hubs, and my MIL packed up our car and hit the road. We headed north for a stop at the Cliffs of Moher. AKA the Horcrux Cave and the Cliffs of Insanity, as well as numerous other movie backdrops. It’s said to be the most famous tourist spot in all of Ireland.

We encountered more than one “road” that more closely resembled a very narrow and hilly path. Thank goodness we did not encounter any oncoming traffic. Click for a moving picture.

After seeing these red L and N labels on several cars throughout the week, I finally took the time to consult the Googles on it. The L stands for Learning driver and the N stands for New driver. This applies to EVERY learning and new driver and is required. Wouldn’t that be so much nicer in the states, instead of those bumper stickers that serve more as advertising for private driving schools than as information for those sharing the road? I think so.

One part of our little road trip took us across the Shannon Estuary between counties Clare and Kerry. Hubs was beyond excited to make this trip over the water on the Shannon Ferry. As we drove up to the dock, we were lucky enough to get the last spot. TG & their grandmother braved the chilly rain and wind for a photo op, followed by hot chocolate and coffee from the snack bar on board.

Once disembarked from the Ferry, we found some lunch and headed to the Cliffs. Hubs and I visited this same spot on our honeymoon. My my, it sure has changed. But, the view is the same.

TG spotted this cutie as we approached the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre.

TG and Hubs helped Ce up the incline (steadying her in the wind) to the viewpoint at Cliffs of Moher.

The foreground on which we’re standing looks a bit different now., but just a month shy of our 19th wedding anniversary, we “recreated” this photo from our honeymoon trip. When we explained to Ce why we were making a fuss over this photo, passersby collectively said, “Awwww!”

Based on this multi-lingual warning, enough people have ruined things for the rest of us over the past 19 years, so that’s why they built that wall and walkway.

Besides recreating our honeymoon photo, I wanted to get a photo of TG for St. Patrick’s Day – like I used to photoshop the kid into the cliffs every year. Not only were we unable to find the shamrock headband to bring along (I’ll have to Photoshop it in), but I totally forgot to take the pic! Thankfully, TG took a couple of selfies, so I will use this one come March. Of course, we found the headband as soon as we got home. 🙂

At one point, I noticed a young woman taking photos, and she appeared to know what she was doing (turns out her mom is a photographer), so I asked her to take a photo of our little group.

I managed this half-face selfie in one shot. I’m getting good at this!

In addition to sheep, the Irish countryside is dotted with bovine.. These two, spied from the parking lot at Cliffs of Moher, reminded me of the Rorschach cats pics I used to get of Alex and George.

When we’d exhausted our time (and my MIL) at the Cliffs of Moher, we made our way to the hotel where we’d stay the night before catching our plane.

This was on the way to our hotel in Shannon. Someone was definitely exhausted.

We checked in and started looking for our room. We knew it was on the second floor, but when we found the elevator and took it up one flight, there was no hallway to take us to our rooms. Oops. Wrong elevator. Or so we thought. Upon returning downstairs, we could not find another elevator. After.several trips back and forth, even splitting up to look down different hallways, we asked at the front desk. That was not the wrong elevator. It was the ONLY elevator. We had to carry our three full size suitcases, plus multiple carry-on bags UP THE FREAKING STAIRS!

Once we found our rooms (one for Hubs and me and one for TG & Ce), Hubs and I decided to hit the hotel bar for a drink while TG & Ce chilled out in their room. After a couple of espresso martinis (and whiskey for Hubs), we went back up to gather them for dinner. We had a quick meal in the hotel, then went to bed because we had an early flight out (I think it was scheduled for 8:30 am).

Did I mention how no one in Ireland uses top sheets? All we got were heavy comforters. Sure it was chilly outside, but opening the window was not an option due to lots of noise and late sunset outside the room. They did provide us with a fan, but that did not do much to cool us. Oh, I was so looking forward to my appropriate weight blankets on my bed, and my ceiling fan at at home!

On Sunday, we woke to notifications that our flight was delayed. By HOURS. We availed ourselves of breakfast in the hotel, and when we got to the airport (after the original departure time), they actually asked us if we were aware of the delay. Um. Yes. Otherwise, we’d be in a panic about missing our flight. Duh. They gave us meal vouchers and sent us towards the gate. There were not a ton of food options, but we all managed to at least find snacks. Eventually, some of the nieces and nephews arrived to fly back on our same flight. We killed a bit more time with them shopping in the duty free, and at last, it was time to board.

We didn’t board until almost lunchtime – a far cry from the original plan.

TG and I each popped a melatonin, and we were out. I woke for one meal, but other than that, we both slept the whole way home.

And THAT is a wrap on Moranfest 2024!

Moranfest 2024 Part 4 – The Cliffs of Moher and Going Home

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