Cork

If you want to see all of Ireland, Cork is definitely a must! A magnificent city in the south of the country which has a lot to offer. To get an impression, I took a small 3-day trip there.

The buses run several times a day and the journey takes about 4 hours. When I arrived in Cork, I first went to the hostel and then to dinner in the city. The city center has everything to offer and a huge selection of restaurants - whatever your heart desires.

For the second day, I booked a bus tour to the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Bay. There are different bus companies that offer day trips and especially in Ireland, these are really good and highly recommended if you don't have your own car. Our first stop was the small shopping town of Killarney, where we had time to stroll through the colorful streets, admire the shops, parks, and churches. In no time, we moved on to an open-air museum about life in the past. I thought it was nicely done and we could look around the cottages and then have an Irish coffee (with Baileys) at the bar - a real Irish experience! Along the winding roads of southern Ireland, there were breathtaking canyons and viewpoints as well as roadside stands where you could buy souvenirs or homemade whiskey marmalade. We stopped time and again for photos, lunch, or to explore the area. The next major stop was at one of the national parks with a gushing waterfall and I was surprised by the change in the surroundings.

Where there was still an open beach and sea, we suddenly found ourselves in deep forest with chirping birds and a gushing waterfall. Absolutely paradisiacal - the trip was really worth it!

The next day, I did something with my roommates. We had breakfast together and then went to Elizabeth Fort first. An old building with a great view over the city from the old city wall. Very historical and worth seeing! Next on our list was the UCC University in Cork, as two of the girls would be studying there soon. The campus of the university is extensive and very green and the building wonderfully old and well maintained. A great university from what I've heard. We also went together to St. Patrick's Hill (what a climb, pheew!) from where you could overlook the whole city and let your gaze wander. A wonderful place for a picnic!

Our paths diverged and I visited the English Market in Cork last, and it blew me away! I was thrilled by all the stalls, smells, and special little things I saw there. The herb sausage hot dog was delicious and I bought some fresh strawberries for the return journey. I took the bus back to Galway in the evening.