Good morning peeps!!! First, I hope every mom reading this had a great Mother's Day and some one spoiled you a bit (or you spoiled yourself). Alright, well now that I'm all rested and mostly recovered, I'll re-cap my trip from yesterday:
The tour people were picking me up at my hostel a little after 7a.m. What that meant was my handy-dandy alarm clock would be going off at 6 a.m. (for some reason it can only do the alarm on the hour - still, better than nothing). I've apparently forgotten what 3:30 a.m. feels like. 3:30? Yup -- there was an alarm going off and it sounded like a fire alarm right in the middle of the night. I wasn't the only one out bed opening the doors to see what was going on. It turns out the alarm wasn't even from our building, but the building across the street. Some security alarm got tripped and I guess it wasn't important enough for them to shut off. After that, no matter how hard I tried, I never really fell back to sleep. I was up before my alarm even went off.
I got picked up and on the bus (it was about a 2 1/2 bus ride to Galway) where we changed buses and went for about another hour to the Burren. The tour I took was the MacCoole Tour. It's this family who runs a tour to the Cliffs of Mohr and you get to visit their family farm. Legitimately their family farm. I think they said it's been theirs for about 300 years. The farm is located in the Burren. It's this area of Ireland the translation roughly means "The land of rocks and fertile soil." Which is true. The entire area looks likes it's covered in nothing but rocks, but when you go hiking through it you can see there is a ton of land in between the rocks. And the soil is the driest in Ireland (dry soil, I know), but the rivers in that area are underground, which makes their soil about the most fertile in the entire country. It's worth a ton to own that land.
You guys, the landscape was beyond beautiful. If you want to talk about Heaven on Earth and God's creation, this was it. The fields were a brilliant green, with fences made of nothing but rock on rock that keep cows and sheep in, dividing farmlands, and a very faint smell of fresh country earth all around, but not over powering. It was gray with patches of sun, but the dark clouds did nothing more than exaggerate all the colors making them even more brilliant. And it was quiet.
On our walking tour up their (what they call Mountain - more like a bluff) the guys who were showing us around had everyone lay down on a comfortable piece of grass and just be silent for about two minutes. It was probably two of the best minutes of my life: the wind was exceptionally strong yesterday so it blocked any sound out, and if you closed your eyes you even forgot where you were. I forgot there were 30 other people around me. I could have stayed on that hill listening to the wind. It was such the perfect place to not care about anything.
After our walk back down, we went into their grandmother's house (she's passed away, but rather than sell her house or move into it, they've left it mostly the same) and got their mom's home made pies and cakes and coffee and apple cider. Their mom bakes all the stuff they serve in their grandmother's house. And you just sit in the rooms. It was so homey and while I thought perhaps they were trying to commercialize "the family farm" it was clear to see that these guys are a real family and they work hard to keep what they have. One of the cousins actually sang us an Irish ballad/tale while were were eating our pies and drinking cider. It was so entertaining. And the way they picked on each other and goofed around reminded me so much of my family. You can't fake that sort of bond. It's there or it isn't. I was actually sad when we had to leave -- it was great to feel a 'home' atmosphere.
After that we drove about another 45 minutes to the Cliffs of Mohr. Alright, here it is. I did jump the "do not cross signs" but I did not sit on the ledge. I got pretty darn close, but the wind in Ireland was extremely bad. If you want to know how bad, stand your ground as hard as you can and have someone try to push you forward from behind. It was actually picking up my camera bag, while the camera was in it. I have a heavy camera. I got some pictures, but not nearly as many as I would have liked - there were little rocks flying through the air with sand, and I didn't really want my camera lens cracked or scratched. That, and I was getting sand in my eyes too. But, all of that aside, the Cliffs are beautiful. I know we have a bunch of man made things that are extraordinary, but nothing can compare to amazing sights we have from the earth itself.
I have to admit that yesterday, despite all of the amazing things, I was feeling a bit lonely. Everyone on the tour was with their boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife, or a bunch of friends. It wasn't that I didn't talk with anyone, and everyone was friendly, but at the end of the day I was still by myself. I haven't really felt like that in awhile so I was struggling a bit again. And I've noticed I have this huge flaw and I realize now how debilitating it is: I have a Panic Button. I was on the bus ride back to Galway and we needed to catch our other bus back home. And all they had said was it was in the City Centre. I was freaking myself out thing "How am I going to find my bus if they just drop us on the side of the road?" "Am I going to be able to find it in an hour before it leaves?" And realistically I know that I could always ask the bus driver for directions and there are people around, but I can't stop these horrible panicked thoughts from getting in my head. And then I obsess over them. I know that feeling lonely didn't help with the panic because I was feeling a bit down anyway, but I know now that's something I've got to get a handle on. I didn't really know before how much it affects me, but it does.
So tomorrow I have another Ryanair flight from Dublin to Liverpool. My flight is at about 5/5:30 and it's only 45 minutes. I'm trying really hard to feel positive about the flight since I've already done one before, but I'm afraid that if I start thinking things are going to go well and I'm not worried, then something will of course go horribly wrong. But it's short flight and I have a bus picking me up very early so I have plenty of time when I get there to figure it out. And I'm just going to spring for a taxi from the airport in Liverpool to my hostel. And bonus, I already have my train ticket from Liverpool to London for Friday. I'm just going to book my hostel later today. It's weird because it's the last one I'm going to book.
Have a absolutely fantastic day! I'm jealous of your weather. I've been wearing wool socks here every night.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Happy Mother's Day!
I know it's only the early afternoon at home, but it's the end of the day here:
MOM!!! Happy Mother's Day!! I love you so much and miss you terribly!!! I wish I was there right now to give you a big hug and tell you in person what a great mom you are!! I could not hope to ever find a better support and inspiration! Even though I don't say it nearly enough, I appreciate everything you've ever given me. You are the best parts of myself. Thank you. Have a fabulous day.
P.S. I don't know if Adam followed instructions and got you at least a card. I hope so. If not, well, we'll try again next year.
TINA!!!!! Happy Mother's Day!!! I don't quite know how I ended up with two moms and two great inspirations but I am one of the luckiest people alive! You give such great advice and support when I need it the most (and even when I don't think I do). There are times I could not have gotten through without you! I love you so so so much! Thank you for all you've given me!
Same as with mom -- I put Adam in charge, so we may have to try the whole 'gift/card' thing again next year.
To all the other moms reading this: You are all incredible women and I wish you the best day ever!! You have all been an inspiration in my life and I am a better person because of it. Nothing would be the same without each and everyone of you. Enjoy the day and spoil yourselves. You deserve it. Thanks for the everlasting love and support. You're amazing.
MOM!!! Happy Mother's Day!! I love you so much and miss you terribly!!! I wish I was there right now to give you a big hug and tell you in person what a great mom you are!! I could not hope to ever find a better support and inspiration! Even though I don't say it nearly enough, I appreciate everything you've ever given me. You are the best parts of myself. Thank you. Have a fabulous day.
P.S. I don't know if Adam followed instructions and got you at least a card. I hope so. If not, well, we'll try again next year.
TINA!!!!! Happy Mother's Day!!! I don't quite know how I ended up with two moms and two great inspirations but I am one of the luckiest people alive! You give such great advice and support when I need it the most (and even when I don't think I do). There are times I could not have gotten through without you! I love you so so so much! Thank you for all you've given me!
Same as with mom -- I put Adam in charge, so we may have to try the whole 'gift/card' thing again next year.
To all the other moms reading this: You are all incredible women and I wish you the best day ever!! You have all been an inspiration in my life and I am a better person because of it. Nothing would be the same without each and everyone of you. Enjoy the day and spoil yourselves. You deserve it. Thanks for the everlasting love and support. You're amazing.
A Relaxing Day in Dublin Pictures
A Relaxing Day in Dublin
I must say, other than having the blog to be able to keep in touch with all of you wonderful people, it also keeps me motivated. I woke up this morning and totally, completely, 100% did not feel like going out and doing anything. I wasn't even feeling the motivation to take a shower. I almost need a vacation from my vacation. After all the cultural and historical learning I've been doing, the emotional ups and downs, I'm beginning to feel a bit tired. But, in the back of my head I know that I'm going to put a post up and if I tell you guys all I did was sit in my jammies, not brush my hair or teeth, not take a shower, and do absolutely nothing with my brain all day, I'm going to be told to pull it together because I'm in freaking Dublin! Which is of course, very true, so I made myself get put together and go out.
I only had one real plan of action and that was to walk back down Fleet Street and take a picture of a sign for Mom, that I had told her about. I'll put a picture of it up later. See if you can figure out which one it was (it's not going to be difficult). While I was down there I noticed a traditional Irish sweet shop called Aunty Nellie's and being a lover of chocolate and nearly anything sweet I felt compelled to enter this adorable, completely traditional sweet shop. Oh, holy cow. It wasn't a huge shop, but every inch of it from floor to ceiling was filled all types of candy. Naturally I bought a small bar of Irish made chocolate and when I eat it, it just melts in my mouth. It's so smooth. Mmm.
After the sweet shop, I was just walking around the area and had this older gentleman approach me and start talking to me. Eventually he asked me out on a date. I told him thanks, but no thank you several times, but he said he really wanted to go out on a date with me. Finally I told him I'd think about it and let him know if I change my mind. He seemed happy with that and let me leave without a date for the night.
Since the sun was out and it hadn't rained yet (yesterday the weather wouldn't make up it's mind. It would rain one second and be clear blue skies the next), I thought I'd go back to St. Stephen's Green (the beautiful park I was in yesterday with Derek) and read my book and eat my chocolate (I hadn't tried it at that point yet). I was glad I took Grafton Street again, because there were even more street performers than yesterday. I stopped to watch this act -- a guy in his late 20's -- he had three flaming torches, a 9 foot unicycle (he called it his sucicyle), 7 juggling balls, and a fabulous sense of humor! I don't remember the last time I was so purely entertained. The tricks were fantastic: he walked on his flaming torches, juggled them, juggled them on the unicycle, put the one flame out in his mouth, the other in his boxers (I laughed so hard). He was so entertaining. I wish his performance had lasted longer, but it was about 30 minutes or so. Still, it was great to have the time to stop and just enjoy it. And he wasn't the only performer. There were bands and fiddle players, the sand carvers where there, it was just great and carefree. I wish we had more of that home.
After the guy finished his act, I walked into St. Stephen's Green and found a bit of green cozy grass to pull up and read my books. It was so beautiful. It was so relaxing in the park. Everyone there was just lazing about and soaking in the sun. It felt really good to be out. Naturally, because I have some weird magnet implanted in me, I had this guy, and I'm guessing he was French or Italian, come up to me and just sit down and starting asking me questions. Like I always do, I lied and said I was visiting family and meeting them later. I find it strange how people over here just approach you -- never mind even the male/female thing, but people just come up to you and start talking. In the States, you don't even look at anyone else let alone just approach them. It always throws me for a loop.
Well, tonight I'm going to try to be in bed by a half way decent hour because I have to be up butt-ugly early tomorrow. But, I get to see the Cliffs of Mohr so that's not too bad of reason. Again good homies, we don't get back until late tomorrow night so they very well may not be a post tomorrow. But I'll definitely post Monday since I'm going to plan use the day to rest and get everything packed up again to move on to Liverpool.
Hope you have a fantastically awesome weekend and you can get out and enjoy the weather -- I guess it's nice there right now. Or it was. It's strange. I'll being seeing everyone in under two weeks. I can't believe how fast this is coming to a close.
Love you all!!! Thanks again for the support and love. I can feel it!
I only had one real plan of action and that was to walk back down Fleet Street and take a picture of a sign for Mom, that I had told her about. I'll put a picture of it up later. See if you can figure out which one it was (it's not going to be difficult). While I was down there I noticed a traditional Irish sweet shop called Aunty Nellie's and being a lover of chocolate and nearly anything sweet I felt compelled to enter this adorable, completely traditional sweet shop. Oh, holy cow. It wasn't a huge shop, but every inch of it from floor to ceiling was filled all types of candy. Naturally I bought a small bar of Irish made chocolate and when I eat it, it just melts in my mouth. It's so smooth. Mmm.
After the sweet shop, I was just walking around the area and had this older gentleman approach me and start talking to me. Eventually he asked me out on a date. I told him thanks, but no thank you several times, but he said he really wanted to go out on a date with me. Finally I told him I'd think about it and let him know if I change my mind. He seemed happy with that and let me leave without a date for the night.
Since the sun was out and it hadn't rained yet (yesterday the weather wouldn't make up it's mind. It would rain one second and be clear blue skies the next), I thought I'd go back to St. Stephen's Green (the beautiful park I was in yesterday with Derek) and read my book and eat my chocolate (I hadn't tried it at that point yet). I was glad I took Grafton Street again, because there were even more street performers than yesterday. I stopped to watch this act -- a guy in his late 20's -- he had three flaming torches, a 9 foot unicycle (he called it his sucicyle), 7 juggling balls, and a fabulous sense of humor! I don't remember the last time I was so purely entertained. The tricks were fantastic: he walked on his flaming torches, juggled them, juggled them on the unicycle, put the one flame out in his mouth, the other in his boxers (I laughed so hard). He was so entertaining. I wish his performance had lasted longer, but it was about 30 minutes or so. Still, it was great to have the time to stop and just enjoy it. And he wasn't the only performer. There were bands and fiddle players, the sand carvers where there, it was just great and carefree. I wish we had more of that home.
After the guy finished his act, I walked into St. Stephen's Green and found a bit of green cozy grass to pull up and read my books. It was so beautiful. It was so relaxing in the park. Everyone there was just lazing about and soaking in the sun. It felt really good to be out. Naturally, because I have some weird magnet implanted in me, I had this guy, and I'm guessing he was French or Italian, come up to me and just sit down and starting asking me questions. Like I always do, I lied and said I was visiting family and meeting them later. I find it strange how people over here just approach you -- never mind even the male/female thing, but people just come up to you and start talking. In the States, you don't even look at anyone else let alone just approach them. It always throws me for a loop.
Well, tonight I'm going to try to be in bed by a half way decent hour because I have to be up butt-ugly early tomorrow. But, I get to see the Cliffs of Mohr so that's not too bad of reason. Again good homies, we don't get back until late tomorrow night so they very well may not be a post tomorrow. But I'll definitely post Monday since I'm going to plan use the day to rest and get everything packed up again to move on to Liverpool.
Hope you have a fantastically awesome weekend and you can get out and enjoy the weather -- I guess it's nice there right now. Or it was. It's strange. I'll being seeing everyone in under two weeks. I can't believe how fast this is coming to a close.
Love you all!!! Thanks again for the support and love. I can feel it!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Derek and Dublin Pictures
Derek and Dublin
Hello my wonderful American friends!!! Alright, so today was fabulous. . .a wonderful gentleman that I work with, Jack, has family who lives here in Ireland (pretty darn to close to Dublin). As it turns out, I was able to meet up with one of his family members named Derek. He's about my age I'd guess, and I was thrilled that he agreed to meet with me. He knows the city, and as always, it's wonderful to have someone to talk with.
So we met at Trinity College and we went through and saw the Book of Kells and the Long Library. The Book of Kells are over 1000 years old. They're a fantastic work of art. The exhibition shows how the books were created, how the carvings and depictions on the pages were made on the parchment, and what they represent. Then there were the books themselves. Seriously you guys -- I'm running out of ways to describe the beauty over here. Especially when you have to think about how a 1000 years ago there was no such thing as a printing press or a bindery or carving tools. The methods to create these types of masterpieces were nothing short of genius.
The Long Library was amazing also -- it was reminiscent of The Marsh Library, but about 30x bigger. It's this vast open hall with nothing but books from hundreds of years ago. It smelled like a library filled with information and history. I could live there. Sadly, again, there is absolutely no photography allowed in either of these places for the assurance of preservation for these artifacts. While it is disappointing, I can also understand it. These amazing things haven't made it this far by being mistreated.
After that we grabbed a quick coffee and walked through St. Stephen's Green. Ah, it's a beautiful green park...marvelous walking paths and ponds, and perfect weeping willows everywhere. It's the image of tranquility. I wish we had stuff like this at home. Sadly there isn't much to boast about in La Crescent Minnesota.
Finishing our coffees we walked out of the park and just sort meandered around the city, taking in the local atmosphere (at least I was -- it's where he lives, so probably not nearly as fascinated as I was). It was really neat. There were a bunch or street performers: people playing guitars, harps, drums, singing, and there were even a couple of cool guys who bring in a good amount of sand and they sculpt stuff. The ones we saw were sculpting, very accurately, sleeping dogs. Life size. Wonderful.
We went to the famous (famous for Dublin) Temple Bar and got a drink. Which was nice. Very authentic Irish bar. Very expensive Irish bar, but still a good experience.
Then we took the tram or whatever the above-ground metro is called, to the Guinness Museum thing -- that was interesting. You don't actually get to see the beer being made, but it shows you how the ingredients are chosen, and give it gives you the history behind Guinness, and it talks about how they've perfected the brew. Quite fascinating. And you get a free pint of fresh Guinness at the end of the tour, and you drink it in the Gravity Bar. It's this bar at the top of the museum, goes all the way above the city and it's a circular room with all of the 'walls' made of windows. You get a fabulous 360 degree view of the city below. I will admit that I didn't drink my entire pint. My lack of liking beer didn't suddenly disappear, though as far as beer goes, it definitely was not the worse thing I've tasted and I could tell it was fresh. It's actually the freshest beer I'll probably ever drink.
Since we have now had a bit to drink without food, Derek suggested this little walk-in, no seating place that only sells fish and chips, which are apparently the best in the city. Famous people actually go there. The "Wall of Fame" listed people like the entire cast of Good Morning America. And I must say, it was really really good fish and chips. And you get a huge portion!!! I couldn't even finish mine.
It was so nice to have someone to walk around Dublin with. Derek knew a lot about so many of the places and was able to point a lot of it out to me, which was fabulous.
I'm not quite sure what my plan is for tomorrow, but Sunday I'm taking a long, one day tour, to the Cliffs of Mohr. We leave at 7 a.m. and don't get back until 9 or 10 that night, so darling peeps, there may not be a post Sunday. Since I'm not leaving till Tuesday, and will probably be tired after Sunday, I think I might turn Monday into a day of rest and re-packing of the infamous duffel bag. Then it'll be off to Liverpool for 3 nights and then I end in London. It seems strange there is only two weeks left. I feel like I just left home.
That's all for now Lovelies!!! Missing you and loving you!!!
So we met at Trinity College and we went through and saw the Book of Kells and the Long Library. The Book of Kells are over 1000 years old. They're a fantastic work of art. The exhibition shows how the books were created, how the carvings and depictions on the pages were made on the parchment, and what they represent. Then there were the books themselves. Seriously you guys -- I'm running out of ways to describe the beauty over here. Especially when you have to think about how a 1000 years ago there was no such thing as a printing press or a bindery or carving tools. The methods to create these types of masterpieces were nothing short of genius.
The Long Library was amazing also -- it was reminiscent of The Marsh Library, but about 30x bigger. It's this vast open hall with nothing but books from hundreds of years ago. It smelled like a library filled with information and history. I could live there. Sadly, again, there is absolutely no photography allowed in either of these places for the assurance of preservation for these artifacts. While it is disappointing, I can also understand it. These amazing things haven't made it this far by being mistreated.
After that we grabbed a quick coffee and walked through St. Stephen's Green. Ah, it's a beautiful green park...marvelous walking paths and ponds, and perfect weeping willows everywhere. It's the image of tranquility. I wish we had stuff like this at home. Sadly there isn't much to boast about in La Crescent Minnesota.
Finishing our coffees we walked out of the park and just sort meandered around the city, taking in the local atmosphere (at least I was -- it's where he lives, so probably not nearly as fascinated as I was). It was really neat. There were a bunch or street performers: people playing guitars, harps, drums, singing, and there were even a couple of cool guys who bring in a good amount of sand and they sculpt stuff. The ones we saw were sculpting, very accurately, sleeping dogs. Life size. Wonderful.
We went to the famous (famous for Dublin) Temple Bar and got a drink. Which was nice. Very authentic Irish bar. Very expensive Irish bar, but still a good experience.
Then we took the tram or whatever the above-ground metro is called, to the Guinness Museum thing -- that was interesting. You don't actually get to see the beer being made, but it shows you how the ingredients are chosen, and give it gives you the history behind Guinness, and it talks about how they've perfected the brew. Quite fascinating. And you get a free pint of fresh Guinness at the end of the tour, and you drink it in the Gravity Bar. It's this bar at the top of the museum, goes all the way above the city and it's a circular room with all of the 'walls' made of windows. You get a fabulous 360 degree view of the city below. I will admit that I didn't drink my entire pint. My lack of liking beer didn't suddenly disappear, though as far as beer goes, it definitely was not the worse thing I've tasted and I could tell it was fresh. It's actually the freshest beer I'll probably ever drink.
Since we have now had a bit to drink without food, Derek suggested this little walk-in, no seating place that only sells fish and chips, which are apparently the best in the city. Famous people actually go there. The "Wall of Fame" listed people like the entire cast of Good Morning America. And I must say, it was really really good fish and chips. And you get a huge portion!!! I couldn't even finish mine.
It was so nice to have someone to walk around Dublin with. Derek knew a lot about so many of the places and was able to point a lot of it out to me, which was fabulous.
I'm not quite sure what my plan is for tomorrow, but Sunday I'm taking a long, one day tour, to the Cliffs of Mohr. We leave at 7 a.m. and don't get back until 9 or 10 that night, so darling peeps, there may not be a post Sunday. Since I'm not leaving till Tuesday, and will probably be tired after Sunday, I think I might turn Monday into a day of rest and re-packing of the infamous duffel bag. Then it'll be off to Liverpool for 3 nights and then I end in London. It seems strange there is only two weeks left. I feel like I just left home.
That's all for now Lovelies!!! Missing you and loving you!!!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
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