Who knew Co. Cavan in Ireland was so beautiful?

Day 1 was all about leaving Dublin and picking up supplies to cook together (we love this!) including things my girls miss now that they're living outside of Ireland. Then exploring where would be our home for 3 nights - the serene and gorgeous Swan Lake Glamping in Co. Cavan. The views from the site and from the pod itself brought such feelings of rest, tranquility, being away from it all... the only sounds were those of nature! We heard birds and geese and ducks.

Setting up our first jigsaw of the trip took no time at all. A walk in the woods followed by gazing at the sun setting over the lake was heaven.

Inbetween all the lounging around, taking in the peace and tranquility, reading in comfy chairs in the communal kitchen & hangout space and working on the aforementioned jigsaw, our outing today was Turbet Island in nearby Belturbet. This is an early settlement and is now part of an ecopark, a beautiful walk where art works abound too. In the Irish language, it means the mouth of the peninsula. This county has spectacular lakes and hikes.

Stunning skies over the lake made for spectacular starts and ends to our days here.

A friend recommended a cafe which we all gave a thumbs up to. The word "nua" in Irish (Gaeilge/Gaelic) means new. We were extremely impressed not only with the cakes on offer but the extensive drinks menu which included chai lattes and matchas.

Something I always tell people to expect when they visit Ireland is to have the most random conversations with strangers. Very helpful and informative strangers.

We had actually only planned to have a lounging about day, full of conversations, reading, jigsaws, sitting around by the lake and preparing meals together. After encountering a local, we decided to check out the local animals he told us about - goats of an unusual colour and then the big surprise - Kune Kune pigs. I had only seen them once before, over 23 years ago as they are native to New Zealand and not that common outside of there. For me, they have the best smiles! These three were real cuties!!

Our helpful stranger, in telling us about all the local attractions, offered to call a cousin who was friendly with the tour guide of an old railway station. We weren't staying over a weekend when the tours normally occurred but the kindness of the Irish means that someone will call someone who'll arrange something for you if they can :) We already had a plan to check out a museum on our way back to Dublin so couldn't take him up on his offer but I love that Irish people go out of their way to help.

Today's big deal was a museum en route to Dublin. As an Irish person, I have to say that I was so enamoured with this part of the country I knew little about. Both my girls are history grads and this museum was so interesting for us all. They covered everything from the Battle of the Somme (in which over 5,000 young men in that part of the country were slaughtered including over 2,000 in the first few minutes of the battle) to a mock up of the General Post Office in Dublin where our Easter Rising started in 1916 in our struggle to gain independence over the British who'd been in control of our country for 800 years. The local Gaelic Athletic Association's roots were displayed, how people lived 100 years ago, the women's movement, modern-day quilting, a Museum of Broken Things and so much more. Highly recommend a visit.

We had delicious food in Blossom in the small town of Ballyjamesduff.