During this trip, my friends have pointed out that I must say, “I love this country,” at least five times a day. Honestly, they’re right. Studying abroad has brought me so much joy. The air feels lighter here, people are kind, and if you simply look up, you’ll see rolling hills stretching across the countryside.
One of my favorite days in Ireland so far has been visiting the coastal town of Bray.
On June 15, my friends and I took an hour-long bus ride to Bray. The town has pebbled beaches, turquoise waters, ice cream stands, and plenty of restaurants catering to tourists. Fun fact: it’s also the hometown of the famous singer-songwriter Hozier!
Once we arrived, we made our way toward Bray Head Cross, a large cross that sits atop a hill overlooking the sea. The beautiful Wicklow Mountains surround the town, and trails have been carved out for hikers to reach the top and see the landmark.
When we spotted Bray Head Cross from the beach, we all agreed—we had to climb to the top.
At first, the hike was fairly easy. There were steps, informational signs, and the incline wasn’t too steep. However, as we kept going, the path got trickier. The steps turned to mud and were obscured by tree roots, and the hill became steeper and steeper. While Ireland is generally cool, that day the sun was peeking through the trees, and there wasn’t a breeze in sight. Let’s just say it was a bit harder than I’d like to admit. My friends and I laughed, pausing to catch our breath and shake our heads at the steep path ahead.
At one point, a woman came down the hill toward us. She appeared to be in her 40s, of Irish descent, with a wide smile. She called out, “Don’t worry, girls. Keep going. I promise you—it’s worth it.”
We gave her weak smiles and thanked her before continuing.
The dark trees followed us along the path, with bright green leaves shading most of the sky above. We asked hikers coming down for directions—they told us where to go and warned that it only got steeper from there.
Still, we kept going. Eventually, we emerged from the forested part of the trail and realized we were actually close to the top. We paused for water, and my friend suddenly gasped, tapping me on the shoulder to turn around.
Behind us, we saw the breathtaking Wicklow Mountains—a sea of vibrant green hills stretching as far as the eye could see. In that moment, it hit me: I’m actually in Ireland. It’s funny how it can still feel unreal at times.
We smiled, energized by the view, and hurried toward the top—we knew it could only get better from there. The cross was just ahead.
A few minutes later, we made it.
The cement cross towered above us, with the words “Christo Regi” carved into its surface. Tourists were gathered around, snapping photos of the cross and the sweeping views. The wind finally returned, whistling through the air and cooling us off from the sunny hike.
We looked around, grinning and breathless. “So worth it,” we all said.
After taking some photos with the cross and sending selfies to our families, we sat down in the grass. The view from the top was something I’ll never forget. Behind us, the mountains; ahead, the endless Irish Sea—stretching out in vibrant shades of teal and turquoise with no land in sight.
We sat quietly, watching boats glide across the water like tiny white specks. Looking down, I could barely spot the beach where we had started our hike—the people looked like dots, and the bright red ice cream stand was barely visible.
As I sat there, with the breeze in my hair and the sea sparkling below, I felt so at peace. I was grateful we’d chosen to hike that day, even though it wasn’t easy. Sometimes the tougher journeys really do lead to the best moments.
In my program, our professor, Dr. Brad Love, always encourages us to seek out “moments of awe.” These are moments that make you pause and truly appreciate the beauty around you.
That hike up to Bray Head Cross? That was definitely my moment of awe that week.
The path wasn’t easy, but reaching the top made it all worth it. It’s now one of my favorite memories from this trip, and it taught me something valuable: sometimes, life’s most rewarding experiences require a little struggle first.
To end our day, we sat near the shore, enjoying ice cream cones covered in sprinkles. The sun set behind us, painting the sky in cotton candy shades, and we talked and laughed about our adventure.
Studying abroad has been incredible for me. I’ll admit—I was nervous at first. I didn’t know many people in the group, and I worried I’d feel homesick. But now, I’ve grown to love it so much that even the thought of the program ending feels heartbreaking.
If you’re hesitant about studying abroad, my advice is simple: go. The journeys that scare you the most often end up becoming the ones you’re most thankful for. You never know what’s waiting for you until you take that first step.
Thank you for reading about my adventure in Dublin and my hike through the Wicklow Mountains in Bray.
And as they say here in Ireland—slán (goodbye)!
This post was contributed by Caroline Salinas, a Global Ambassador for Summer 2025. Angela is a sophomore studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland.
