Note: all my recent vacation in Ireland Yelp reviews will have the same 1st paragraph preamble, for just the review itself skip to the 2nd paragraph.
On a whirlwind 2 week vacation to Ireland, the girlfriend & I tried to see & experience absolutely as much of this incredible land as we could. We did not accomplish every last activity we wished we could have on our rather ambitious itinerary. Nonetheless, we did discover a land of numerous stunning & magical wonders. We did see a land of unending natural beauty. We did learn of a land with a monumentally long history of trials, tragedies & triumphs. We did get to meet many kind, humorous, warm & generous people. Our vacation to Ireland was just 2 weeks, but that was time enough to know this is a land easy to love & a land to be sorely missed.
Awesome & magnificent.
Skellig Michael is a well preserved monastic enclave built over a millennium ago perched high atop an island that resembles a jagged, near vertical-faced mountain peak. After a 45-50 minute chartered boat ride from Portmagee, we climbed up onto a rectangular concrete slab that serves as the island's dock. From there, we walked up a not-too-steeply inclined, paved trail that meandered around the outer South side of the island. This trail seemed fairly new, well-kept & had a low stone wall around its outside perimeter. Looking down over this wall, anywhere, is like looking down a cliff. This is not the place for anyone with acrophobia.
The trail led to the base of the steps. At this base, an OPW guide gave us an orientation of how to reach the monastery. We would be going up the same stone steps that the monks were using over 1300 years ago. There are over 600 steps. The path going up is winding & very steep. The steps are irregular & will be slippery when wet. There is no guide rail, rope, or any other barricade to prevent falling from the steps & down a high cliff. No, this is certainly not the place for anyone with acrophobia, or any health problems, or the faint of heart. Our OPW guide informed us that there were 2 fatalities on Skellig Michael last year. The message was clear. Think, go slow & be careful. There is no margin for error.
The girlfriend & I took our time getting up to the monastery, taking in the amazing views along the way. At the top, another OPW guide gave an informative talk on the history of the monastery & answered questions. Afterwards, we explored the stone beehive buildings that were once the chapel, hall & residences of the monks. All of it was simply incredible. Building anything on a site like this with modern technology & engineering would be challenging. Doing it with the tools available 1300 years ago is nearly impossible to fathom. The views up there were spectacular. The achievement of those monks all those centuries ago is beyond impressive.
After a while, it was time to head back down. Again, we took our time. Eventually, we made it back to the dock & climbed back aboard our boat. We left Skellig Michael knowing that this was an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Getting there may have been daunting at times, but everything about this place is mind-boggling & breathtaking. read more