If someone would have asked me in January to say my top 10 countries where I would like to do my internship for my studies, I wouldn’t have thought of Ireland at all. You know what they say, though, never say never. Ended up in Dublin one month later, as a digital marketing intern for An Óige – Irish Youth Hostel Association.
I have travelled a lot so far, doing my bachelor in Romania, master in Denmark and France and now here. So I always have a way of comparing countries between themselves and, most importantly, trying to see as much as possible in the time that I have. Or, in other words, conquering the world in baby steps! I’ve always added travelling to my personal development. This way I get to see amazing places, meet great people and learn and so something professionally along the way.
I have to tell you that coming to Dublin, I had no idea what to expect in terms of travelling. Ireland is a small island where everything, for Irish, seems far away.
Riding a train for 4 hours is a huge trip. Getting used to the cars driving to the wrong side of the road, or the normal as they think here, measuring stuff in inches and eating lots of potatoes every day takes a bit of time, I have to say. Once you get to actually see Ireland you understand why it is actually a bit underrated in terms of places to visit in Europe.
Could be because it is far from the mainland. Or perhaps until you reach Ireland you have England or Scotland on the other side of the Irish Sea. You still need to think though that this place is wonderful.
I came here since February and so far I’ve seen the area of Dublin as much as possible and managed to escape the big city for a trip up to Northern Ireland and county Kerry, on the south west of Ireland. Dublin is a great city, with amazing personality.
Dublin International Hostel should definitely be on your list of cheap travelling in a not so cheap city. You do have to see Ireland more in order to fully understand what Irish really means.
In Killarney, you can do just that. Out of the 24 hostels that the Irish Youth Hostel Association has,
Killarney International Hostel is one of those places where you feel like at home.
Here, you want to forget something from your backpack just so you can come back by yourself and take it. I loved the hospitality of the staff and how they make you feel at home. When you are travelling a lot, this is exactly what you need. For me it was like I knew them for a long time already and they were welcoming back a friend, not saying hi to a random stranger.
There I decided to take a bike from the hostel, which are really good, and go for a ride. For me, biking is the best way to discover a place, see it, feel it better than in any other way. Biking up the Gap of Dunloe was one of the most exciting things I’ve done here, because the place looks amazing.
Otherwise, the High Ropes adventure parc from the hostels grounds are on the same level of awesomeness. With views towards the lake of Killarney and classic mysterious forest around, I was feeling a bit like in an action movie trying to escape being chased by leprechauns. Oh, and let’s not forget kayaking.
As mentioned, my first trip outside Dublin since I came here was definitely worth it. People know a lot about Dublin. Pubs, museums, sea, wonderful Phoenix Park. But there is a bit more to Ireland than Dublin. And that is the trip I would like to take you with me on the following issues of
Globetrotter.
Check out the video we made up in Killarney and follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram plus our website for more beautiful updates from travelling around Ireland.
