Submitted by Marissa Hampp on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Ireland and London, England sponsored by the Department of Accounting and the Department of Finance…
Right away, I noticed that the weather in Ireland was rather gloomy and cloudy. For an entire week, I did not even see the sun and it made me appreciate the sunny days back in the United States. Last weekend, the sun decided to make a surprise visit, and I knew I had to take advantage of it. My roommate and I decided to take a half hour train ride to the coastal town of Howth to go hiking. Nonetheless, this was our first time taking public transportation, but it was a great experience. We managed to get to the start of the trail with the help of a map from a local information desk and hiked up to the cliffs. At times the terrain was rather rocky and the paths were very steep, but we persisted along the trail. Finally, towards the end of the trail, we got a view of the Baily Lighthouse, which was keeping a watchful eye over the ocean. It was a spectacular view and it was such a picturesque moment seeing the ocean stretching as far as the eye can see contrasting with the rocky cliffs below. This will be a moment I will never forget and Ireland’s beauty continues to blow away my expectations.
