A Long Awaited Trip

Ever since I was a teenager, I've wanted to visit Ireland. Richie had wanted to go for our honeymoon when we got married, but at that time we just weren't able to. Finally, for our 17th anniversary, we made the trip and added Iceland as a bonus, since that had also been on our bucket list for a few year. This was an amazing trip and I'm so glad that we were able to experience it. Richie is already wanting to plan another trip to Iceland. Enjoy this mix of scenic photography and cellphone snapshots.

Days 1 & 2 - Travel & Dublin Exploration

Our first day was a full day of travel. We left at 9am on May 7th to drive to Baltimore for our flight and arrived in Dublin, Ireland at 10:15am on May 8th. We had a two hour layover in Iceland where we ate a humble breakfast of pastries and Iceland's famous hotdogs.


We were able to check in to our hotel at 11am, but instead of napping, we decided to spend the day exploring Dublin and the Temple Bar area. We stopped for lunch at a pub and then walked through Dublin Castle, got a pin at a souvenir shop, and finished the night at the theater to watch Thunderbolts*. After a long two days with barely any sleep, I'm surprised we made it to 9pm before crashing.

Selfie taken at an airport terminal window with yellow aircraft and jetbridge visible on the tarmac in the background.
Traveler stands at airport terminal window overlooking tarmac with yellow planes and clear blue sky visible outside.
A selfie of two people wearing glasses, one in an orange shirt and one in a patterned black shirt, in an indoor setting.
A hand holds a classic hot dog with yellow mustard and toppings on a white paper wrapper.
A vintage two-tone blue and white classic car is displayed at Checkpoint Keflavik with a visitor standing nearby.
Two people wearing glasses seated next to each other on an airplane taking a selfie.
Aerial view of rural countryside with bright yellow canola fields and scattered buildings amid green farmland.
Historic brick buildings and cobblestone street in Temple Bar district of Dublin with Irish flags and sunny blue sky.
Historic Dublin Castle with neoclassical architecture features a prominent clock tower and copper dome against cloudy Irish skies.
Historic Dublin Castle's Chapel Royal features a distinctive clock tower and copper dome against cloudy Irish skies.
Historic brick building with a clock tower and green dome in Dublin's city center on a cloudy day.
Mirror selfie in an ornate historic room with red walls, crystal chandelier, and period portraits in gilded frames.
Gothic stone church exterior with pointed arches, clock tower and ornate architectural details against blue sky.
A street musician performs with an acoustic guitar and amplifier setup on a sidewalk next to an open instrument case.
A couple poses together in front of a colorful heart-themed mural with pink and red hearts on a teal background.

Day 3 - Paddy Tour to the Rock of Cashel, Cork City English Market, and Blarney Castle

We started our day early, before most places were open, with a stop at Insomnia for some coffee and pastries before hopping on a tour bus for a 13 hour tour. Our first stop was the Rock of Cashel. We had a lot of fun just walking around taking scenic pictures. Then we hit the road and made it to Cork City's English Market for a lunch stop. We got some meat pies which were fantastic. After that quick lunch stop, we continued our journey to Blarney Castle and Gardens, which was a highlight of the tour. I loved everything about this location and I even kissed the Blarney Stone. Richie decided not to incase his natural gift of gab got taken away.

A wooden round cafe table with pastries, lemon loaf bread, and iced drinks served on white plates.
A selfie taken outdoors near a modern glass building showing two people wearing glasses in casual attire.
A winding road leads to Bamburgh Castle perched on a hilltop in Northumberland, England on a sunny summer day.
A winding road leads to a distant medieval castle silhouetted against a bright blue sky framed by green trees.
A stone castle ruin with tall towers stands in the background while visitors take a photo on a grassy lawn on a sunny day.
Tourists explore the historic ruins of Rock of Cashel, an ancient medieval castle and cathedral complex in Ireland.
Ancient stone walls and towers of the Rock of Cashel rise against blue sky in County Tipperary, Ireland.
Historic ruins of the Rock of Cashel medieval castle and cathedral complex in Ireland with manicured lawn in foreground.
Ancient stone ruins of a medieval castle or fortress with tall crumbling walls against a bright blue sky.
Ancient stone wall with Gothic arched windows and decorative elements at the Rock of Cashel medieval castle in Ireland.
Visitors explore the historic Gothic arches and ruins of an ancient abbey with stone vaulted ceilings and pointed archways.
Ancient stone church ruins with gothic arches and windows against blue sky viewed through architectural framing.
Medieval stone archway entrance and walls of a historic cathedral with pointed Gothic architecture and visitors walking beneath.
Ancient stone architectural detail with weathered arch and decorative carvings on medieval building wall.
Tourist stands in stone archway corridor of ancient historic ruins with gothic architecture and vaulted ceilings.

Day 4 - Barna Village & the Cliffs of Moher

Our anniversary started with a train ride to Galway, then a taxi ride to Barna Village where we were staying for the night. This little village had some amazing food. We checked out the beach before we caught another cab for the Cliffs of Moher. The drive took about two hours through the beautiful West Ireland countryside. The Cliffs themselves were spectacular. I'm so glad we were able to see them. Back at Barna Village we at dinner at our hotel gastro pub to end the night.

A person walks along a quiet coastal street lined with white houses and power lines under a blue cloudy sky.
Person walking along a quiet village street with whitewashed houses and utility poles under a blue summer sky.
Dramatic cloudscape over a rocky beach shoreline with white puffy clouds stretching across bright blue sky.
Person in a red shirt and jeans standing on a scenic beach with water and cloudy blue sky in the background.
A silhouetted figure stands on a rocky shoreline covered in bright green moss with calm waters and distant hills visible.
Person in casual attire checking phone while standing on algae-covered beach shore with calm water and cloudy sky.
Scenic coastal landscape with rocky beach at low tide, mountains in distance and fluffy clouds reflecting in calm waters.
A couple takes a seaside selfie on a rocky beach shore under bright blue skies with puffy white clouds.
Someone exploring tidal pools and seaweed on a rocky beach during low tide.
Bright green algae and seaweed growing on rocky beach shore with scattered stones during low tide.
Rocky shoreline covered in bright green seaweed with a coastal house visible in the distance under blue skies.
Selfie on a rocky beach with clear blue sky and water in the background, wearing glasses and a leather jacket.
A person takes a selfie while hiking on a rocky trail with green moss on a bright sunny day with blue skies.
Bright green seaweed covers coastal rocks at low tide, creating a vibrant natural carpet along the shoreline.
Stone wall along a rural road with green hills and mountains in the distance under a blue summer sky with white clouds.

Day 5 - Belfast, Northern Ireland

Mother's Day didn't go exactly as planned, but we made it to Belfast in Northern Ireland and ended up having a wonderful day. We started with a train ride back to Dublin to catch a bus, but the bus driver didn't stop for even a minute before driving off without picking up any passengers. It was crazy. We were able to catch another bus and made it to Belfast by 3pm. Unfortunately we weren't able to do too much other than walk around the city because it was Sunday and most museums were already closed and the tour busses had already left. Instead we ate some good food and visited a local church for their evening service.

Historic domed building with ornate architecture and circular driveway at the Asheville Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.
A plate of grilled chicken wings with garlic bread and a side of coleslaw in an orange bowl on a wooden table.
A selfie taken in front of Belfast City Hall's grand Victorian architecture on a sunny day.
Two people take a selfie in front of an ornate stone building with a domed tower and classical architecture.
Half eaten pepperoni and cheese pizza on a white plate with red tomato sauce and melted mozzarella.
A dessert of vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate drizzle and a decorative chocolate pirouette wafer served on a dark plate.
A dessert plate features a decadent ice cream dessert with chocolate sauce artfully drizzled on a gray plate in a restaurant setting.
Modern restaurant interior with orange pendant lights, floor-to-ceiling windows, and large artificial tree centerpiece.
Modern hotel lobby with colorful geometric carpet runner, dark floors, and yellow accent furniture creating a welcoming space.

Day 6 - Travel Day, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, & Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach

We finally enjoyed a traditional Irish breakfast at the airport while waiting to board our return flight to Iceland, where we'd be stopping over for two nights at the Greenhouse Hotel in Hveragerði. Since Iceland drives on the right side of the road, we decided to rent a car. We spent the day driving through the country, which is some of the most unique and beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Pictures do not do it justice. We stopped at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall real quick for some pictures before continuing on to Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach. I've never seen a more beautiful beach. This was a photographer's dream. I absolutely loved spending time here.


At around 9pm, we decided we should grab some dinner before it got too late and stopped at a pub in town. The fish and chips were amazing. We got back to our hotel in Hveragerði at 11:30pm.

Traditional English breakfast with scrambled eggs, toast, baked beans, grilled sausage and ham on a decorative plate.
A Belgian waffle topped with dark red berry compote and powdered sugar on a white plate.
Rolling green hills stretch toward snow-capped mountains under dramatic cloudy skies in a scenic rural landscape.
Dark rock formations rise against a cloudy sky in a desert landscape with power lines crossing overhead.
Dramatic cloudy sky over rugged mountain peak and barren landscape in rural mountainous terrain.
Rolling hills and mountains stretch across a rugged Irish landscape under puffy white clouds and blue sky.
A misty waterfall cascades down green cliffs in the rugged Icelandic landscape under overcast skies.
Majestic waterfall cascades down a moss-covered cliff face onto green grass in Iceland's rugged landscape.
Scenic Seljalandsfoss waterfall cascades down green cliffs in Iceland under an overcast sky.
Dramatic waterfall cascades down a steep moss-covered cliff face in Iceland's rugged landscape.
Majestic double waterfall cascades down moss-covered cliffs in Iceland, creating a misty natural spectacle.
A person gestures with arms outstretched near the base of a towering waterfall on a misty hiking trail.
A person stands on a dark path beneath a majestic waterfall cascading down moss-covered cliffs in misty conditions.
A hiker in a blue sweater walks along a misty volcanic trail with wooden stairs ascending the mossy hillside in Iceland.
A lone figure walks along a dark, mossy path toward wooden stairs leading up a steep green hillside in Iceland.

Day 7 - Hveragerði Geothermal Park, Kerid Crater, & Sky Lagoon

Our last full day in Iceland was spent exploring the Hveragerði Geothermal Park located just a mile from our hotel. We spent a few hours hiking 5 miles in the mountains. We got to soak our feet in the warm geothermal river at the halfway point of our hike. Later, we took a drive to check out the Kerid Crater, which was beautiful. We ended our day and our trip with a visit to Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik, where we soaked in the warm geothermal waters and participated in a 7 step Icelandic spa experience. It was so relaxing and a perfect way to end our vacation.

Steam rises from geothermal vents on a green hillside against dark cliffs and blue sky in Iceland.
A person observes a steaming geothermal hot spring in rocky terrain beneath a brown hillside.
A steaming mudpot with gray bubbling mud in a reddish-brown volcanic crater formation.
Steam rises from a geothermal hot spot in rocky terrain under blue skies in Iceland.
Geothermal landscape with colorful mineral deposits and steaming vents in Krýsuvík geothermal area, Iceland.
Rugged desert landscape with red-tinted rock formations and scattered boulders under bright blue sky.
A hiker walks along a rocky trail through desert hills under blue sky.
Rocky landscape with scattered boulders on grassy hillside under blue sky in arid terrain.
Rocky mountain slope with scattered boulders and grass patches under blue sky on a sunny day.
A traveler stands among scattered boulders on a grassy hillside under bright blue skies in a rugged terrain.
A hiker on a rocky mountain slope with scattered boulders and green grass under blue skies.
A grassy slope on a barren hillside with winding dirt trails carved into distant brown mountains under blue skies.
A winding dirt path leads up a barren hillside with reddish soil patches and sparse vegetation under blue skies.
A scenic landscape view of rolling brown hills and green valleys with distant mountains under a bright blue sky.
Small waterfall cascades down a grassy hillside with rocky outcrops under bright blue sky in remote terrain.
A couple takes a selfie overlooking a scenic blue crater lake with mountains and desert landscape in the background.
An aerial view of Kerid volcanic crater lake in Iceland surrounded by red volcanic rock and steep walls.
Stunning turquoise lake inside Kerið, a volcanic crater in Iceland with red and green mineral-rich walls.
A circular crater lake with turquoise water nestled in volcanic terrain in Iceland's rugged landscape.
A visitor stands at the edge of a volcanic crater lake with turquoise waters and reddish volcanic terrain in Iceland.
Person stands on a wooden platform overlooking Kerid Crater lake with turquoise water and red volcanic rocks in Iceland.
A person sits on the edge of a volcanic crater lake with red rocks and hills in the background in Iceland.
Tourist sits on the red rocky rim of a volcanic crater lake with blue sky above, creating a stunning landscape view.
Close-up texture of reddish brown soil or clay with rough, uneven surface and natural cracks and crevices.
Aerial view of a circular volcanic crater lake with turquoise water surrounded by red volcanic rock formations in a desert landscape.
Close-up textured view of reddish-brown soil or rock with rough, uneven surface and mineral deposits.
A figure stands on rocky terrain overlooking green rolling hills against a bright blue sky with wispy clouds.
Person enjoying scenic view of rolling hills and mountains against bright blue sky in outdoor landscape.
A circular turquoise crater lake surrounded by red-brown volcanic rock and green moss in the Icelandic highlands.
Person in a patterned sweater and dark pants stands on rocky terrain with green hills and blue sky in the background.
Silhouettes of kayakers paddle between rocky cliffs at sunset on calm waters.
Silhouetted kayakers paddle through calm waters at sunset near dramatic rocky coastline formations.
Two people smiling and enjoying a sunny day while swimming in calm waters together.
A silhouetted figure swims in the ocean at sunset near a towering cliff face with splashing water.
Two people taking a selfie while swimming near a tall cliff face with water and rocky formations at sunset.
Two people enjoying a swim by rocky cliffs with sunlight streaming in the background.
Two swimmers enjoying the crystal clear waters near a dramatic rocky cliff formation on a sunny day.
Power lines stretch across a rolling brown moorland landscape beneath distant mountains and blue sky.
A rugged mountain peak rises above brown marshland under a clear blue sky with wisps of clouds in Iceland.
Dramatic cloudy skies over a valley town viewed from a mountainside during sunset.

This last phot was shot at 11pm.

Beautiful winter sunset over mountains with silhouetted trees and dramatic clouds in the sky.