We all hopped on the final bus around 9AM.
Made a quick stop to see the Rock of Cashel. It was a classic Ireland day (rain wise) so a few of us opted to go find coffee instead, but from what we saw, it was...another castle! Said our farewells when we arrived back at Fleet Street and I grabbed the train out to Sutton, where I was staying for the night.
Sutton is just a short 30 minute walk from Howth - an adorable little fishing town - I figured my last night would be well spent near the quiet coastline. Wasn't sure what to expect from the hotel, as I booked it on a whim earlier in the week, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful location with great staff and the nicest/biggest room I've had in 10 days.
Immediately took off to Howth and spent the entire afternoon/evening wandering the pier, watching the commercial fishing boats go in and out of the harbor, and grazing my way through the incredible fresh seafood restaurants that the town has to offer. Stumbled upon a few little hidden gems - the first, down a narrow stairwell off the main road, resulted in an incredibly private and pristine beach. Travel hack, always go where it says do not enter - there's good stuff to be found on the other side. Turns out Howth is where the celebrities vacation in Ireland. There is a LOT of money on this island and the walk from Sutton proves that to be true with the incredible homes backing right up to the water. I'd recommend at least a quick day trip to anyone coming to Ireland.
Wandered back through town and right before I got back to my hotel, found another little beach that, with the tide out and no wind, literally looked like it could have been the end of the earth. Spent about an hour reflecting on the trip and unexpectedly had a good cry.
The people here have been so incredibly welcoming and warm. The music and endless seafood is easy to become addicted to. The picturesque beauty will be forever ingrained in my memory and I'm beyond thankful that I had the opportunity to not only experience this country, but experience it solo. The people I met shared some special moments together and it reminded me just how MUCH more world is out there. I plan to spend however much time I have left on this planet exploring it all.
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