Back to Ireland, Day 4: Doolin, the Cliffs and Lisdoonvarna

When we travel, we try to pack as much as possible into every day. Sometimes that means we don't get the depth I would like--we don't get to stay in one place and just sink into the life there or explore all the nooks and crannies. But since our opportunities to go and our dollars are limited, we stretch them both as far as possible.

Day 4 was a long day, starting early and ending late. We left the wilder country and made our way to the pretty town of Lisdoonvarna, where the annual matchmaking festival was in full swing. I'm not talking about the kind of matches we strike on a box either--this is a place for singles to meet up! The festival runs for the entire month of September, and the town was filled with people. Whether they were all looking for a mate or just enjoying the many activities offered, I don't know. But it was a hopping place.

Fortunetellers were on hand to help see if the future held romance.

The town gets totally into this, as the painted signs on the buildings attest.

"Love is in the air," The sign on the side of the building says.

I wondered how many weddings have been conducted here during the festival?

Irish Arms pub--nice name!

I enjoyed the brightly painted buildings so much!

We didn't stay long, much as I wanted to. I wanted to talk to a few people and ask them about the festival and why they were there but we still had things to see this day.

Like this: The Cliffs of Moher.

Now I saw these in 2015 with my sister Theresa, but can anyone ever see this sight enough? Larry was amazed! The weather had turned blustery and cold, with the wind strong enough to knock a person literally off their feet, but it was worth braving the weather to see the Cliffs.

A tower sits high above the water; we planned to hike out there but it was just too wet and wild for a walk.

The cave from the Harry Potter movies--so dark and ominous!

As we left the cliffs to find the town of Doolin for our night's lodging, we passed this tower--no long hike needed to see this one!

We ate a late lunch/early dinner and decided to see how far it was to the ferry we needed to take the next day--and it was still daylight, so why not see something more?

The road afforded such sweeping views of the coast, dotted with small villages.

And then we were back to the tower, seeing it this time for a different angle. It seems to be occupied or at least cared for as it has newer windows.

Far down below, an abandoned house nestles in a copse of trees.

And then we were back to Doolin, and ready for an evening of music.

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