Today was another group excursion. We took the train and travelled to the seaside town of Howth. It is a quant and exactly what comes to mind when you picture an Irish coastal village.
Upon arrival we walked through the weekend market. It was dotted with food stands with everything from crepes to German sauerkraut to traditional Hungarian food and everything in between. Also in the market were vendors selling fine jewelry, fresh baked bread, and homemade herbal tea! After grabbing a bite to eat and settling in to our new surroundings, we departed for our hike.
Let me begin by saying, I was not expecting much from this excursion. I thought we would see a couple nice views of the ocean and maybe a few jealousy-inducing waterfront properties. Boy was I wrong. What we saw on the hike up Howth Hill was one of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen. The water was turquoise and the cliffs leading down were spotted with purple flowers and lush greenery. It was incredible.
The hike took about two and a half hours. All in all we walked almost six miles and 20,000 steps! We were tired, hot, and hungry after, but to say it was worth it would be a complete understatement.
In terms of tourism, I think Howth is definitely prospering. The train ride in and out of the town was packed with travelers not unlike ourselves and with the wide array of shops it seems tourism is a major economic influence in the town.
Tomorrow we have a day jam-packed with Gaelic football games and tours; I can’t wait!