I have been to a lot of places.
New York. Japan. Austria. Poland. Rome. France. Budapest. Prague. Croatia. Florida.
Grenoble. Luxembourg.
And I have many more places left on my list to travel to.
But let me tell you about my favourite place in the world.
It’s a bit closer to home than you might think and perhaps not quite as exotic.
Killarney National Park, Ireland.
Yes, I know, it rains. A lot. But, for me, that has never
changed the beauty of the Irish countryside. Whenever I have been in Killarney
and it has been raining, I didn't care one bit.
When it’s raining and you’re forced to shelter in a pub with
an Irishman that’s so inebriated that he stares at you and shouts “OBAMA” in
your face for a while – that’s a different story.
But back to the countryside.
Killarney National Park has been stuck in my mind for a long
time. From the family stories of previous generations who lived in County Kerry
to the first time I stopped at Ladies’ View with my family at the age of twelve
– I guess it’s always been in my life somehow.
My most recent trip to Killarney at the age of twenty, I was
just coming out of a particularly rough time. That week in Ireland I spent with
my family, I remember it was the first time I felt like me again. The struggles
of the past year magically melted away and I bounced through valleys, up hills and mountains and around lakes (admittedly falling off a rock and into a lake along the way –
but, hey, at least I drenched AND joyful). Even the fact that my grumpy teenage
sister didn't want to be there one bit made it all the more entertaining.
Sitting at the highest point of Ladies’ View (a roadside
spot that apparently Queen Victoria’s Ladies-in-Waiting loved so much back in
1861 that the view had to be named) I always feel calm and like I never want to
leave. Looking down the deep valleys, I always have to restrain myself from
running into the view knowing that I will only tumble headfirst down the hill
and ruin the moment.
And, in addition to the amazing views and tranquility, the
people are fantastic (plastered old Irishman aside – or maybe included. I’m unsure.)
The people that you run into whilst exploring the wonders of Killarney National
Park, with their South-western Irish drawl and their friendly greetings (yes, “top
o’ the mornin’ to ya” is among those), makes the experience all the more fun.
I know that other Irish countryside enthusiasts will argue
endlessly with me about the most beautiful views in the Emerald country. But,
in my eyes, Killarney National Park has them.
How can you not love those views? In sunshine, drizzle or
downright Irish downpour Killarney is the place I love. I’ll be back there soon
enough.
