January 28th-30th

Hello family!!

This past weekend was a total hit! As you probably have seen on facebook, I have added tons of pictures from hiking in Killarney. Let me just say, pictures don't do it justice. To kick off the weekend Melissa and I went to the wrong terminal for our train, and power walked to the other side of Dublin to catch a different one! We were wearing only the most subtle gear while crossing some of the top shopping streets! haha. A green jacket, hiking shoes, big backpacks; it was priceless. Then when we met Matt in Naas, hopped in the car and were on our way to Killarney. We got there around 9 at night and I was in charge of finding the Hostel we were staying at, Neptunes. I called the manager probably 4 times asking for directions because we were lost! He said, "Good lord child how did you get yourself to Ireland!?" haha The next day we miraculously found the mountain the guy at the front desk suggested for us to hike at and park the car, Mangerton Mountain. It was perfect! A little bit of a thigh burner but nothing we couldn't handle. There were two false peaks though, we thought we had made it to the top but just over the ridge there was ANOTHER peak and ANOTHER lol. To our surprise though there was an amazing lake in between the highest ridges and frost on the tips of the mountain. When we finally got to the top we were frolicking around like we had conquered the world. IT WAS GORGEOUS! You could see the highest peak in Ireland, and all the rest of the mountain range, the large lakes at the bottom, to infinity and beyond!! 

Later that night we went out and went to a little pub called Murphy's. I tried the Irish stew.. it was literally Mary's little lamb, cut up in a bowl with chunky brown sauce on top. Fabulous.. NOT! The lamb was very rough and the sauce was very bland. Worth a try though! After that we went to a couple pubs with live music and met some great lads who wrote down other places in Ireland to definitely see! 

The next day we drove to find the Gap of Dunloe. Miraculously we found it and WOW.. it was a tiny road no wider than a single bed, and it went up and down and over hills through this gap in the mountain ranges. There were rivers and lakes in between and it was another sunny day. We were so lucky. This road lasted for almost two and a half hours!!! The air was so crisp I can't even describe it. The freshest air I've ever breathed in. 

After that we drove back to Dublin and even on the way home I was astonished by the roads. They were really small but also framed by tall brush or stone walls on each side. It was as if I were in a movie this weekend. I'd have to say it was better than I had anticipated. The newspaper article from the New York Times travel section from October Julie saved for me was what triggered my desire to go to McGillycuddy Reeks. It wasn't listed in Rick Steve's "Ireland" book but I got some friends together and it was the best unplanned adventure thus far. As seen in the article, I hiked a mountain even bigger than the one listed, found the Gap of Dunloe that the author couldn't find, danced to three Irish singers, walked the streets of Killarney pictured, and even ate the Irish Stew. 

This next weekend the entire CEA group has a planned excursion to Galway, the Aran Islands, and the Cliffs of Moher (the background of my blog)!!! Should be amazing, I'll keep you posted!

xoxo

Jan. 22nd-24th

So even though it has only been a couple days since I last updated you, I have gone on so many adventures!! This weekend was perfect. Friday we had our orientation party, lots and lots of frenchies.. Saturday eight of us toured the Guinness Factory! I think it was 8 levels, went through what goes into making the beer, then how they make it, then at the top was the Gravity Bar which was all glass and had an amazing view of the city and a free Guinness to drink! Yum. Then we went out for some live music at  pub called Old Storehouse. Two great singers and guitarists! But Sunday and Monday were the best excursions so far!!!

Howth

Sunday Mel and I woke up and decided we wanted to go somewhere so we hopped on the Dart (a train) for just 4 euro and went to Howth which is a town on the fishing harbor on the coast of the Irish Sea! It was BEAUTIFUL. A perfect little town with farmers markets and an awesome path that went around all of the cliffs for a hike of 3 1/2 hours. Then we sat down for a freshly caught fish dinner on the peer called the Oar House. Really really good fish fry and chips! We came back just in time for the packer game at this awesome sports bar called the Wool Shed which was packed with packers and bears fans so that was a blast, especially when we won!! GO PACK!! The one time I'm not in the states we get to the superbowl!! Sunday was pretty much perfect, but we were exhausted because we didn't get back until 2am.. that's a 14 hour excursion!

Howth

Mondays and Tuesday's I don't have class, (crazy right)... So I woke up and decided I wanted to go somewhere so I took the Dart south and went to Bray. Its just on the coast where the Wicklow Mts are. I got off the train around 1 and had noooo idea where I was going or what to do but I followed the coast line to this trail up to the mountains. I followed a cliff hike that was about 5.5 km long literally along a cliff and it was amazing. A perfect excursion by myself away from the city! The trail went from Bray to Greystones which lasted for about three hours. I think I could get used to day trips during the week :)

My excursion to Bray

Much Love :)

Week One

Bonjour Family!! Haha, as I quickly learned here, the program CEA is not really a variety of international students, more so french students and a small mix of Americans... it has its good sides and bad. Unfortunately I will not be studying with Irish students, I do have Irish professors though. Also, to my disappointment, Ireland is NOT full of redheads, NOR leprechauns.. sad day, Mel and I will go on a hunt for them when we leave the city. 

A little update on what I've been up to lately:  

Went for a couple runs away from the city this week over the canal and went west. I was wearing shorts because its nearly 45 degrees and I thought it seemed logical with a long sleeve. Everyone stared at me like I was completely crazy!! Anyways, I passed a cute park in the middle of a busy streets and it had old rock waterfall and benches, I'm definitely going back there. I hooked a right then and ran down a culdesac, found an amazingly large castle! It looked newer though with an older smaller section, could have been a church or something too. Then I continued left and went around the block and found a huge park! There was the greyhound races track (I think that’s what it was) and tennis courts and the professional soccer team practicing!! Magically I found my way home after 40 minutes of exploring. I’d say that’s a great start to a day.

There is a cute park called St. Stephens Greens in the heart of Dublin,  its just like a mini central park. Walked around and there are bridges and ponds and swans, and awesome trees with really creepy statures. The police men on the dot at 5 would chase everyone around in the park and tell them to leave and force them out the entrances, cant work an extra second sheesh. It was fun to walk around by myself and listen to music and just feel more part of the city, knowing where I'm going and not getting out a map, only used it twice this week! Plus, the weather has been really amazing, it only rained the first day we were in Ireland and that was just a mist, its always been between 40 and 50 partly cloudy. 

We went out to a club with the french students the other night, it was so fun. Its amazing how hard it is to break a language barrier!! French is so hard to learn, every syllable counts. We tried to teach all 16 of them how to play circle of death (a fun drinking game with cards) and honestly it was hilarious, they had no idea what they were doing but I learned some french! The club had the entire roof designated for smokers with a garden and a rock waterfall. I don't get it, they say no smoking in public places but condone it by sprucing up the outdoor smoke areas!? (Don't worry, I do not participate!)

We took a bus tour of the city yesterday and it was amazing. The tour guides name was Dorothy and she had a fabulous accent. The tour took us places we had seen, but others we couldn't walk to such as Phoenix Park. As you could see in my facebook pictures, the park has literally 1,000 deer that roam around and you can get right up close to them without them budging! Also the U.S. Ambassador of Ireland's mansion was in the park, the President of Ireland's mansion was in the park, along with other beautiful monuments. The Dublin Zoo is also in the park, apparently they are known for their breeding of giraffes!?!? crazy. Its known as the largest park in Europe and it is right by the Guinness factory. Did you know the Guinness factory brews 4 million pints of beer a day? And distributes it to 70 different countries! There factory is 33 hectors large and has its own rail system inside!

Anywhoo, I'm learning more and more about Dublin but honestly, I'm ready for some rolling hills, mountains, hole in the wall pubs, etc. .. The first weekend of February we are going to Galway and the Aran Islands for some fun! Out there is also the Cliffs of Moher (the background picture of this blog)!!! Tomorrow some girls and I are touring the Dublin Castle and our welcoming party at a club with all 150 students for CEA is that night, Saturday is a tour of the Guinness Factory, and Sunday Mel and I are going to a mass at St. Patricks Cathedral then going to a pub for the Packer game!! GO PACK GO!!! Monday and Tuesday I may either head out to Wicklow County and see the mountains up close or take the train to some small surrounding cities.. No worries Mom, I'll leave a note  :)

Love you all!

First weekend in Dublin!

So we got here at about 12 noon on Friday and were instantly confused as to how to get around this city!! At first I wasn't too impressed with Dublin not gonna lie, but after the past 2 days I'm definitely in love! The streets have so many forks in the road and are curvy and in a 6 mile stretch of a road the name changes 5 times! So confusing.

 

 Friday we (when I say we, I mean Melissa, Sam and I) slept and then we went out to some pubs but decided to walk to the local ones first. We went in and there were some awesome authentic pubs. Had my first Guinness! Then we got on a bus for just 2 euro and it took us to Temple Bar area, touristy side but amazing live music and fun!!!!!! Took a detour on the way home and got lost for 2 hours, but it was quite the experience!


Saturday we got a tour of the main downtown drag and the CEA program took us out to lunch, there are about 15 people in the program this semester. It was good food small portion three course meals, then we went to the coolest shops and this place called Pennys!!! its amazzzinnggg.. everything is less than 25 euro and they have such cute stuff.

That night hopped on a bus and went back to temple bar area to this bar called the Quays!! (pronounced the keys) It was honestly one of the funnest nights I've had going out in my life! Met soo many people from different parts of the world, actually a lot of Americans too. LOVE THE ACCENT! Mel and I tried to find a pub with the packer game but by this time it was 2am here, places were closing so we got home and we didn't get to watch! :( heard they won tho!

Today I'm gonna go for a run its pretty nice out here, around 9 degree Celsius everyday..misty rains but you get used to it fast. Mel and I went grocery shopping, quite the experience, but I might starve here its so expensive! eek. The rooms are funky, everything has a door to get into it that closes and locks behind you. The bathrooms are hilllariouussss... we call it the "shitshower" because the toilet is literally in the shower area, there is one drain on the floor so it floods into the hallway every shower. The bathroom is no bigger than an airport bathroom.. haha. The campus has a main gate that is locked after 12 midnight and you have to give a fingerprint to get in! Very safe, no worries Mom!! Our view is amazing, out of the living room you see the Wicklow Mts and the canal that splits the North and South sides of the city, this morning there were white swans in it, so pretty.  So far in our apartment its just Mel and I.. we were randomly roomed together! cool beans.. 2 french girls move in today so we will see how that goes!


Keep ya posted :)