Skellig Michael

I had heard Skellig Michael was glorious and that it was almost impossible to access. An UNESCO world heritage site, it is only accessible by small boat, and only 100 people per day, only when weather permits. Two years in advance I reached out to a tour guide in Killarney, Ireland, to secure a spot on a small boat. Watching the rocky crag named for the archangel Michael appear in the sea was nothing less than magical.

The walk up was precarious, and under any harsh weather conditions the 900 year old stone stairs forged by monks would be slick. There are no bathrooms or other modern facilities on the island. You and a handful of others are alone in your journey, other than hundreds of puffins and additional sea birds flying around you.

The puffins growl as you walk by and peer out from small dwellings formed into the grass and rock. The water glistens in the sun. This island does not seem real.