I have mentioned a few times that Ireland is an island. I'm sure you've locked that in your minds by now, but it's a different kind of island than I would normally picture. When I hear the word "island", I think of a very small dot of land on the map. The water is clear and blue and is met by sandy beaches. The vegetation might be a bit of a jungle, providing tasty exotic fruits to pair with the abundant seafood. Finally, all the locals are tan and carefree, embracing the laidback "island life" sentiment.
In a way, some of that picture holds true to Ireland, but the truth is mostly very different. My understanding of islands has been forever changed by my experience here.
Let's start with size. Yes, compared to the USA, Ireland is a small country, but compared to other islands like Puerto Rico, the Bahamas or Hawai'i, it is large.
The water here is many shades or gorgeous blues and greens, so that is more similar to my original island fantasy. Of course, that water sure looks different when it's churned up by a storm! Then it's greys and whites, aplenty. The beaches are typically rocky, not sandy. Sometimes there actually isn't a beach, but just dramatic cliffs which drop off into the ocean.
Inland, there may not be the kind of jungle I usually associate with islands, but it is still very lush here, just in a different way.
