No one could have prepared me for Irish weather, or the Irish attitude about weather. During the second half of orientation week, the county got a red weather warning for a storm blowing through. Winds got as high as 89 mph on Friday, but on Saturday, there was still the Milk Market.
The Milk Market is like a calmer, more old-fashioned version of the Soda City Market in Columbia. There are stands and stores for produce, pastries, Irish food, vintage clothes, jewelry, flowers, books, and more. There are also countless dogs! Despite the cold, windy, and rainy weather, the market was bustling. People gathered in walkways, around stalls, on heated benches, and at cute tables to catch up and buy local goods. I sauntered into one of the cozy bread stores to buy and try a giant breakfast roll that consisted entirely of meat: sausage, rashers, and black pudding. I also learned that rashers means bacon. To accompany this monster of a meal, I bought a mocha. However, I have found that many chocolate drinks here are pretty bitter. I did find some sweet chocolate in a pain au chocolat, though, and that was definitely my favorite part of the day.
Since the Milk Market is in downtown Limerick, it is always a good idea to walk around the town afterward. This was when I finally got into a Vodafone store and figured out my phone plan. The downtown area is very different from that in Columbia, South Carolina. It is not as modern, but the older architecture, chapels, castles, and museums make it feel like you are walking through an ancient town. You can get a taste of the modernism in the city, however, when you walk into shopping centers, restaurants, and pubs. A lot of the shopping centers are organized like malls, but they usually have grocery stores, so this is also a good opportunity to stock up while you are out and about.
The weather only got more intense on Sunday when we visited the Cliffs of Moher. This was the trip I was looking forward to the most, but I was not prepared. As soon as we stepped off the bus, I nearly lost my scarf and everyone hurried into the gift shop to escape the wind. We all reorganized and secured ourselves before braving the outdoors. The cliffs were gorgeous, but it was so windy that you could lean over, Michael Jackson style, and not fall. Additionally, the occasional rain and mist pelt you in the face throughout your whole journey. A group of friends and I trekked along the entire cliffs. The grass was long and green, almost like wind-swept hair lining the stone. Despite the dark skies, the water was a light sparkling blue. It was a sight to behold, however, my hands were purple, my socks wet, my hair tangled, and my jeans soaked. However, at the end of the day, the challenges made it more fun.
We made two more stops on the couple-hour bus ride back to Limerick. Next, we pulled up to a sea town called Lahinch. This town was small, so we mainly just wandered into a few shops, admiring the fish and chips and books while trying to stay warm and possibly dry off. Inside the shops was about the same temperature as outside though. This made it even more surprising that there were so many surfers out in the ocean. Additionally, there was no sand separating the water and land, so if they wanted to get out they just had to swim up to a wall and climb out on the stairs. They were fun to watch and it was great to talk to storekeepers in their frigid buildings, but now I am convinced that the Irish are immune to adverse weather.
The last stop we made before heading home was the Burren with the Poulnabrone Dolmen. The rocks, sheep, and cows were nice to see, but we were all still soaked and cold. We spent maybe twenty minutes there before piling back onto the moist bus and chugging along home.
The moral of this blog is to always have a raincoat, more layers than you think you need, and waterproof bags. Do not bring an umbrella, because the wind will just turn you into Mary Poppins, but do tie a scarf around yourself and get some resilient gloves and shoes. Do not expect the inside to be warm, or for there to be any easily accessible bathrooms. Ireland has a lot to offer, but it won’t let you see without a fight.
After these lessons, I started classes this week! In my next post, I will tell you all I have learned about lectures, scheduling, and the courseload at UL. Stay tuned!
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