So my trip to Westport and Achill Island was very interesting to say the least. We had a lot of very different and interesting experiences. We went to Westport first, and it was a very cute little town. We checked into our hostel and explored the town a bit. We got dinner (Steak & Guinness Pie, yum!) and walked down to Clew Bay. When we came back we went to Matt Molloy's Pub, which is apparently very famous. I guess a member of the Chieftan's owns it. After a few pints we went to the Clock Tower pub, which was really fun and we hung around until close.
We had planned to go to Achill Island the next morning, and spend two nights there. We asked the woman working at the desk what time the buses were at, and we did not like our answer. Because Monday was a bank holiday, the only bus was not until ten that night! We asked her what the best way to get to Achill was, and she simply answered, "You could hitchhike." At first, we laughed, and thought she was kidding, but no our surprise she was dead serious. She explained that it was completely normal in the area, and she's even picked up a few "hitchers" herself. After asking her about a hundred times if she was positive we'd be alright, we set out to "thumb it." (Dad, what's done is done, I'm alive, no need to panic!)
We walked up to the main road, dropped our bags, and of course, I was elected to give the first attempt. I stood on the side of the road with my thumb in the air, waving at cars as they zoomed past. After about a half hour of "sorry" waves, a car pulled over! We were so shocked we didn't know what to do, and after about thirty seconds of staring at it I walked over. I asked him if he was going towards Achill, and he said he could take us as far as Newport, and told us to hop in. He was a cute little old man, probably in about his seventies, so we knew we'd be ok. His name was Tony, and he talked to us for about 15 km. I was relieved when we passed another group of hitchhikers, so I knew we weren't the only ones out there and what we were doing was not completely insane. He dropped us off, and after a few minutes of thumbing, a truck pulled over to pick us up. We threw our bags in the back of his pickup and the three of us squished into the front of a farmers truck! He took us about another 15km, and talked to us the whole way as well. He told us he picks up hitchers whenever he sees them, and has met plenty of interesting people that way. We hadn't hopped out of his truck for thirty seconds when another car pulled over to let us in. This time it was a young woman, and she told us "you all look harmless enough, I've never picked up before!" She was a woman from Dublin visiting her parents in Achill Sound, and brought us as far as there. Soon enough, another girl picked up and brought us the rest of the way to Achill Island.
When we made there, we still couldn't believe what we had done. You hear all these crazy stories about crazy hitchhikers and the kooks that pick them up, but it's completely normal to do in the countryside of Ireland. When we were asking people if we'd be safe, they told us we'd be fine, and would definitely make it. It was such a crazy and different experience!
We got to our hostel, and it had the most amazing view! Achill Island really was beautiful. However, I was very surprised at how dead it was. The town center consisted of a supermarket, pub, and chinese restaurant. That's it. I have never seen so many sheep either. They lined the side of the road, and roamed the town like they owned it. Lindsey and I kept trying to pet the baby lambs, but they kept running away from us. That night we went to the pub, and as we were leaving the bartender asked us what our plans were for the next day. "You girls really should get to Keem Bay, it's worth the visit, If ye don't have a car, I bet Liam here will take ye," she said, pointing to a kid about our age sitting at the bar. He didn't even looked phased, and asked us if we wanted to go. He said he'd pick us up at our hostel, and gave me his number to call him the next day.
Since there was not much else to do and it wasn't exactly a beach day, we decided to take Liam up on his offer. Sure enough, he picked us up and drove us all over the island, telling us the history and taking us to all the coolest places and beaches. He even mentioned his girlfriend, so we knew he was just taking us around and being a nice local guy. I can't imagine anyone at home just offering to take random tourists around and show them the sights. He ended up driving us around for three hours, and wouldn't take anything besides a pint of Guinness.
No comments:
Post a Comment