28-1-10
I would first like to point out the date. Tomorrow, it will have been a month since Mary and I sat on a plane on our way to Dublin... whoa.
This morning I woke up to my mother's text informing me that I had missed the State of the Union this morning at 2am... they'll probably play it today then. That, or I'll youtube it. I hope he followed through on his statements about increase spending in education.
Tuesday I volunteered for the first time at a homework club for a primary school. I was scared as we walked to the door, but the kids were great and I really enjoyed myself. I haven't really worked with any kids since open skate back in high school so I felt I might be out of practice. All I have to say is thank you Quintin, Shane, and Finnian! I worked with two fellows of 6 and 7 and had the best time. I did get nervous because they were doing timetables and all of a sudden I could not remember 7x8 for the life of me! The whole time I was just hoping they wouldn't ask me. Don't worry, I remembered shortly thereafter. It'll be a short nice walk for me on Tuesday afternoons. Hooray for community involvement!
Wednesday was Australian Day which I found out is a big deal for students around here. I personally think students here just like an excuse to go crazy like they do every other night. A group of us decided to have a more calmer night and headed to Monroe's. We walked in and were disappointed that the regular stand tables had been removed. We found out later that they were moved so that people could do Irish dancing to the band who was playing.
COOLEST thing ever. There were couples of varying ages and a mom and daughter couple. Mom, if you were there, you would probably have gone crazy if none of us danced with you! The girls had to hold me in my seat. The partners whipped each other around while clogging and joined in group dancing at parts too. I found that the older gentlemen were the best dancers. The guy in the white shirt was the best though.
Later we headed over to Roisin Dubh to some great music and a VERY different crowd. We headed upstairs after a bit into what I call "the Mary room." They played all the music Mary loves which was great dance music. The people watching was off the charts. I decided men with bob haircuts either make me cackle loudly or are ironically very handsome, unless they had pencil mustaches... which left about two. HAHAHAHA I think I was the ONLY American there.
Then to round out the night, on my way back to my apartment, and in front of a very busy fast-food place, a young guy started talking to me as if he were Mr. Glass. I nearly DIED. I just stared for a bit and then started laughing as he and his friend started to wrestle WWE style. I laughed all the way home.
Inline hockey tomorrow night and hopefully I can get to the town museum in the afternoon tomorrow or Saturday.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Reservoir Dogs the play
26/1/2010 Reservoir Dogs (Play) MURRAY VS. NADAL (Australian Open)
Last night two of the girls and I went to Galway Town Hall Theater to see Reservoir Dogs, the play. I did not really think about it, even after I bought the ticket, until sitting in the lounge before the show started. Were they going to fail horribly? What is the stage going to be like? I had not been to a play in FOREVER.
The last play I went to was freshmen year of college and I couldn’t tell you what the name of it was!
Turns out, the stage was as large as two of my house’s living rooms with two groups of props in front of seats which were equivalent to one set of bleachers at Alexander Park (number of seats and size). I freaked out for a couple seconds… WHAT IN THE HECK. I thought it was going to be like amateurs beatnik-ing around for hours on end interpretive dancing out the movie.
But do not worry, the show was awesome. Although it was slow at times, the actors were great and Mr. Blonde was AMAZING. He nailed the mannerisms and dance scene perfectly. I didn’t like one actor though, his lines consisted of yelling everything all the time and always sounded like he was just about to forget the lines.
All in all it was a great experience.
This morning I am watching the much anticipated Australian Open quarterfinal between Nadal and Murray… EXCITING. I really don’t know who to cheer for. Nadal doesn’t look like he’s in tip top shape. But Murray has always been my favorite underdog. I would go berserk if I was playing a sport and camera guys stuck cameras in my face when I was resting.
I am trying to get to the French Open the week directly before my flight home in June.
Maybe I can see Murray in Scotland if that doesn’t work out?
Last night two of the girls and I went to Galway Town Hall Theater to see Reservoir Dogs, the play. I did not really think about it, even after I bought the ticket, until sitting in the lounge before the show started. Were they going to fail horribly? What is the stage going to be like? I had not been to a play in FOREVER.
The last play I went to was freshmen year of college and I couldn’t tell you what the name of it was!
Turns out, the stage was as large as two of my house’s living rooms with two groups of props in front of seats which were equivalent to one set of bleachers at Alexander Park (number of seats and size). I freaked out for a couple seconds… WHAT IN THE HECK. I thought it was going to be like amateurs beatnik-ing around for hours on end interpretive dancing out the movie.
But do not worry, the show was awesome. Although it was slow at times, the actors were great and Mr. Blonde was AMAZING. He nailed the mannerisms and dance scene perfectly. I didn’t like one actor though, his lines consisted of yelling everything all the time and always sounded like he was just about to forget the lines.
All in all it was a great experience.
This morning I am watching the much anticipated Australian Open quarterfinal between Nadal and Murray… EXCITING. I really don’t know who to cheer for. Nadal doesn’t look like he’s in tip top shape. But Murray has always been my favorite underdog. I would go berserk if I was playing a sport and camera guys stuck cameras in my face when I was resting.
I am trying to get to the French Open the week directly before my flight home in June.
Maybe I can see Murray in Scotland if that doesn’t work out?
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Volunteering
23-1-2010
I started my Literacy Service Learning class this week and am starting to understand why a ton of my friends are education majors… IT’S FUN. Along with our class, we are required to volunteer at a homework club here in Galway. That is what first attracted me to the class. I wanted to get involved in the town and thought it would be great to tutor.
I was fortunate enough to hear back from a homework club early this week and am looking forward to meeting Irish primary students. I hope I can still do long division… heck, maybe they can tutor me!
This morning I walked to Russia and back trying to find the school so I hope I can get exact directions before Tuesday. Everything here is “straight over the roundabout on the left a ways.” Can you define a ways? And there is no “straight” across the roundabout! GAGH!
Hey, a little/lot of exercise never hurt anybody.
I went to hockey again last night and was shocked to see the number of students that showed up… we’re moving up in this world! It was fun but it could have been better if they would quit making us play girls vs. girls. Nearly all of the girls are beginners. One ran into me because she couldn’t stop/ change directions, and I went flying and now have major sticky-outy bruises all over my arms and a huge, black pinky finger to boot. I feel at home once again.
I am planning a trip to Killarney two weekends from now that will be an adventure. I could work at a travel agency upon repatriation!
I started my Literacy Service Learning class this week and am starting to understand why a ton of my friends are education majors… IT’S FUN. Along with our class, we are required to volunteer at a homework club here in Galway. That is what first attracted me to the class. I wanted to get involved in the town and thought it would be great to tutor.
I was fortunate enough to hear back from a homework club early this week and am looking forward to meeting Irish primary students. I hope I can still do long division… heck, maybe they can tutor me!
This morning I walked to Russia and back trying to find the school so I hope I can get exact directions before Tuesday. Everything here is “straight over the roundabout on the left a ways.” Can you define a ways? And there is no “straight” across the roundabout! GAGH!
Hey, a little/lot of exercise never hurt anybody.
I went to hockey again last night and was shocked to see the number of students that showed up… we’re moving up in this world! It was fun but it could have been better if they would quit making us play girls vs. girls. Nearly all of the girls are beginners. One ran into me because she couldn’t stop/ change directions, and I went flying and now have major sticky-outy bruises all over my arms and a huge, black pinky finger to boot. I feel at home once again.
I am planning a trip to Killarney two weekends from now that will be an adventure. I could work at a travel agency upon repatriation!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Inline Hockey, Connemara and Kylemore Abbey day trip, and around Galway
17/1/2010
This weekend was jam packed with activities.
Earlier in the week I found out that I was going to have friends in town this weekend and planned a trip through Connemara and Kylemore Abbey for everyone. Mary and I had been trying to get to Kylemore Abbey, but the weather was so horrible that the tour company canceled Mary's tour.
On Tuesday, Mary and I went to club fair at school where I signed up for INLINE HOCKEY. People were rollerblading around and shooting pucks... I almost screamed with excitement. The table had hockey skates on it as well but the tablers said that the temporary ice was leaving town... sad. BUT I SIGNED UP ANYWAYS.
On Friday, I went to practice at the new sports facility and had the best time EVER. My friend was coming into town during practice but I just couldn't miss out.
We went through a couple drills and tried to learn how to stop and started a game. I never really learned how to stop during the drills so I nearly killed myself but it was okay. I met tons of great people and ripped up my feet and legs because the skate boots are insane, but it was the best time I've had in a while.
After practice, I met up with my friends in my sweaty sweatpant outfit in a bar and got the weirdest looks from the bouncers... priceless. We then headed to an Erasmus student party. Since Erasmus students are strictly European exchange students, it was interesting to be the ONLY Americans there... culture shock if I've ever felt one.
Saturday we woke up nice and early to hop on the bus for Connemara (16/1/2010). Lally Bus Tours has the best drivers EVER. Ours was great and cracked jokes throughout his in depth tour of the area. I think I'm an expert on Connemara ponies, films shot in the area, and sheep of course.
No one besides our group of 16 was on the bus so we had a great time. Our tea stop in a small town that was one of the spots for the movie The Fields was great. It was right on Ireland's only fjord where they net for muscles. Definitely a sight to see.
The Kylemore Abbey, built by Mitchell Henry for his wife Margaret, was amazing and beautiful. The Abbey, the garden, and the church Henry built in memory of his wife, was purchased by Benedictine Nuns who had to flee Belgium during WWII and has operated as a school. The school will close after next year so the Nuns will be able to focus on fixing up the garden and abbey for tourists.
The church was amazing and the views are something I will not forget. The garden was HUGE and amazing. Pictures gave you an idea of the progress the Nuns have made since they purchased it and what it looked like originally.
We drove home along the coast by the town where the ferry Mary and I took leaves for the Aran Islands. A great view.
This morning, my Semester at Georgetown friend, her roommate, and I went for a full Irish breakfast before walking around town. I was SO full.
We walked around town again starting with the dock area at the Spanish Arch and then to NUI Galway, the Cathedral, then to Columbus' church, the Barnacle house, Lynch's window, and then back to the apartment. A great end to a busy weekend.
I hope next weekend will be just as fun!
This weekend was jam packed with activities.
Earlier in the week I found out that I was going to have friends in town this weekend and planned a trip through Connemara and Kylemore Abbey for everyone. Mary and I had been trying to get to Kylemore Abbey, but the weather was so horrible that the tour company canceled Mary's tour.
On Tuesday, Mary and I went to club fair at school where I signed up for INLINE HOCKEY. People were rollerblading around and shooting pucks... I almost screamed with excitement. The table had hockey skates on it as well but the tablers said that the temporary ice was leaving town... sad. BUT I SIGNED UP ANYWAYS.
On Friday, I went to practice at the new sports facility and had the best time EVER. My friend was coming into town during practice but I just couldn't miss out.
We went through a couple drills and tried to learn how to stop and started a game. I never really learned how to stop during the drills so I nearly killed myself but it was okay. I met tons of great people and ripped up my feet and legs because the skate boots are insane, but it was the best time I've had in a while.
After practice, I met up with my friends in my sweaty sweatpant outfit in a bar and got the weirdest looks from the bouncers... priceless. We then headed to an Erasmus student party. Since Erasmus students are strictly European exchange students, it was interesting to be the ONLY Americans there... culture shock if I've ever felt one.
Saturday we woke up nice and early to hop on the bus for Connemara (16/1/2010). Lally Bus Tours has the best drivers EVER. Ours was great and cracked jokes throughout his in depth tour of the area. I think I'm an expert on Connemara ponies, films shot in the area, and sheep of course.
No one besides our group of 16 was on the bus so we had a great time. Our tea stop in a small town that was one of the spots for the movie The Fields was great. It was right on Ireland's only fjord where they net for muscles. Definitely a sight to see.
The Kylemore Abbey, built by Mitchell Henry for his wife Margaret, was amazing and beautiful. The Abbey, the garden, and the church Henry built in memory of his wife, was purchased by Benedictine Nuns who had to flee Belgium during WWII and has operated as a school. The school will close after next year so the Nuns will be able to focus on fixing up the garden and abbey for tourists.
The church was amazing and the views are something I will not forget. The garden was HUGE and amazing. Pictures gave you an idea of the progress the Nuns have made since they purchased it and what it looked like originally.
We drove home along the coast by the town where the ferry Mary and I took leaves for the Aran Islands. A great view.
This morning, my Semester at Georgetown friend, her roommate, and I went for a full Irish breakfast before walking around town. I was SO full.
We walked around town again starting with the dock area at the Spanish Arch and then to NUI Galway, the Cathedral, then to Columbus' church, the Barnacle house, Lynch's window, and then back to the apartment. A great end to a busy weekend.
I hope next weekend will be just as fun!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Classes!
14/1/2010
I would just like to point out the date, I've been here for two weeks already! Time has really flown by over here.
We started classes this week and man was that a struggle. Some departments do not have their timetables for classes online. That means that I had to walk around to nearly 5 departments to find times and venues all on Monday and to make a schedule on the fly. It was the longest two hours of my life.
Once I had a number of classes that would work together, I headed to German. They didn't understand that I was not majoring in German so I sat in on a VERY difficult class. I went to another German class in the afternoon where they were learning nouns. The wrong class again!
Tuesday I only had one class, 19th Century Ireland, which worked great because Tuesday was Mary's last day in the Motherland. We walked around a bit and ate an amazing lunch on shop street. We went to sports day at the gym and I SIGNED UP FOR ROLLER HOCKEY! I could barely contain my excitement! It looks like so much fun and the boys said I could borrow their skates and gear. I couldn't stop staring at the left handed stick the whole time. I AM SO EXCITED. It starts on Friday so I'll let you know how everything goes.
Then we stopped at Tk Max after lunch and finally bought a pair of shoes! They are amazing and worth the wait. I can't wait until the weather gets better to wear them!
We got Mary safe and sound on the bus and to the airport. Good luck Mary!
Yesterday was almost a disaster. I woke up and read the time wrong thinking that I had two hours before class when my roommate brought it to my attention that it was halfway through my class period... great. I freaked out and headed out to my class hoping to grab a syllabus. I got to class with ten minutes left and there was no syllabus... great. The rest of the day was good though, I found the correct German class so that was great. I HAVE to get an alarm clock today or else.
Today I have quite a few classes and start the second part of my English module today. Yesterday I went to the science fiction portion where we'll read 1984, War of the Worlds, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep, and Frankenstein. Today's half is translated French works... wish me luck on that one.
We're going as a group to Connemara on Saturday! It should be great!
I would just like to point out the date, I've been here for two weeks already! Time has really flown by over here.
We started classes this week and man was that a struggle. Some departments do not have their timetables for classes online. That means that I had to walk around to nearly 5 departments to find times and venues all on Monday and to make a schedule on the fly. It was the longest two hours of my life.
Once I had a number of classes that would work together, I headed to German. They didn't understand that I was not majoring in German so I sat in on a VERY difficult class. I went to another German class in the afternoon where they were learning nouns. The wrong class again!
Tuesday I only had one class, 19th Century Ireland, which worked great because Tuesday was Mary's last day in the Motherland. We walked around a bit and ate an amazing lunch on shop street. We went to sports day at the gym and I SIGNED UP FOR ROLLER HOCKEY! I could barely contain my excitement! It looks like so much fun and the boys said I could borrow their skates and gear. I couldn't stop staring at the left handed stick the whole time. I AM SO EXCITED. It starts on Friday so I'll let you know how everything goes.
Then we stopped at Tk Max after lunch and finally bought a pair of shoes! They are amazing and worth the wait. I can't wait until the weather gets better to wear them!
We got Mary safe and sound on the bus and to the airport. Good luck Mary!
Yesterday was almost a disaster. I woke up and read the time wrong thinking that I had two hours before class when my roommate brought it to my attention that it was halfway through my class period... great. I freaked out and headed out to my class hoping to grab a syllabus. I got to class with ten minutes left and there was no syllabus... great. The rest of the day was good though, I found the correct German class so that was great. I HAVE to get an alarm clock today or else.
Today I have quite a few classes and start the second part of my English module today. Yesterday I went to the science fiction portion where we'll read 1984, War of the Worlds, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep, and Frankenstein. Today's half is translated French works... wish me luck on that one.
We're going as a group to Connemara on Saturday! It should be great!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Aran Islands
10/1/2010
This week has been crazy with orientation and wandering around the city and exploring. I am beat and it’s just starting up!
Yesterday Mary and I made it to the Aran Islands! We rode the ferry over to Inish Moor and stupidly turned down a driven tour in favor of some bikes.
We walked to our hostel and dropped our things off after the ferry and stopped in the sweater market. The store was freezing, but there were enough sweaters in there to warm everyone in Minnesota! There were tons of colors and styles and hats and mittens to boot.
Time for bikes! But no shops were open! All of the tour businesses shut down right after the people on the ferry get on their way and open in the evening to recollect their bikes. We walked around the beach and found a pair of bikes outside a closed shop with a sign that asked for pay upon return. We grabbed them and began our treacherous adventure.
We did have a map, but we definitely just went where we pleased. Instead of seeing the usual sites, we decided to scale a mountain that just about stopped my heart. The castle that was at the top was closed for restoration but the view was worth the sweat and really made the trip. Behind the castle there was a path that, although not paved and clearly not intended for the public, we thought it would be fun to explore. We ended up in the middle of nowhere with a great view by some goats and HUGE horned and scary cows. We turned around and went down the mountain and continued to annoy the locals with our shrill giggles. I am sure we passed one guy four or five times. The sun was setting so we turned back to the area we were staying at.
Later we found that the mountain we climbed was the highest point in the Aran islands... to our legs it definitely felt like it!
We walked the beach and looked at the washed up bones and pieces of crab. I accidentally left the shells I collected but man were they cool. We returned the bikes and wedged a 20 Euro in the door of the shop and headed to the closed tourist information shop before getting some fruit. After a shower we headed to the American Bar… I’m not kidding. The food was really amazing.
In the evening, we warmed ourselves by a fire in a nearly empty pub before heading over to another spot. There was a concert for music students earlier in the night and the students then walked over to the pub and played. It was really quite amazing and something I will not forget. A priest also grabbed a guitar and sang a tune. It was a really a great evening with a group of extraordinary people. The locals took a while to warm up to us but were the funniest people you’d ever meet. If this is a sign for what the next months are going to be then I am super excited.
Pictures to come soon!
This week has been crazy with orientation and wandering around the city and exploring. I am beat and it’s just starting up!
Yesterday Mary and I made it to the Aran Islands! We rode the ferry over to Inish Moor and stupidly turned down a driven tour in favor of some bikes.
We walked to our hostel and dropped our things off after the ferry and stopped in the sweater market. The store was freezing, but there were enough sweaters in there to warm everyone in Minnesota! There were tons of colors and styles and hats and mittens to boot.
Time for bikes! But no shops were open! All of the tour businesses shut down right after the people on the ferry get on their way and open in the evening to recollect their bikes. We walked around the beach and found a pair of bikes outside a closed shop with a sign that asked for pay upon return. We grabbed them and began our treacherous adventure.
We did have a map, but we definitely just went where we pleased. Instead of seeing the usual sites, we decided to scale a mountain that just about stopped my heart. The castle that was at the top was closed for restoration but the view was worth the sweat and really made the trip. Behind the castle there was a path that, although not paved and clearly not intended for the public, we thought it would be fun to explore. We ended up in the middle of nowhere with a great view by some goats and HUGE horned and scary cows. We turned around and went down the mountain and continued to annoy the locals with our shrill giggles. I am sure we passed one guy four or five times. The sun was setting so we turned back to the area we were staying at.
Later we found that the mountain we climbed was the highest point in the Aran islands... to our legs it definitely felt like it!
We walked the beach and looked at the washed up bones and pieces of crab. I accidentally left the shells I collected but man were they cool. We returned the bikes and wedged a 20 Euro in the door of the shop and headed to the closed tourist information shop before getting some fruit. After a shower we headed to the American Bar… I’m not kidding. The food was really amazing.
In the evening, we warmed ourselves by a fire in a nearly empty pub before heading over to another spot. There was a concert for music students earlier in the night and the students then walked over to the pub and played. It was really quite amazing and something I will not forget. A priest also grabbed a guitar and sang a tune. It was a really a great evening with a group of extraordinary people. The locals took a while to warm up to us but were the funniest people you’d ever meet. If this is a sign for what the next months are going to be then I am super excited.
Pictures to come soon!
The Beginning!
31/12/2009
This morning Mary and I arrived at the Ireland airport in Dublin at 8 am. The morning started off alright as we did get our luggage back. After retrieving our luggage, we went to the ATM for some Euros only to find that my debit card still had not authorized my card yet and therefore had no money!!
Exhausted, we opted for the most expensive cab ride EVER to our hotel Monte Clare in Dublin right near Trinity College. We took a shower and a quick nap so that we would be able to function for that evening which happened to be New Year’s Eve!
We walked around the Grafton street shopping after poking around Merrion Square Park by our hotel and briefly visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We didn’t have enough time to look through the church so we decided we would go back tomorrow. We went to dinner early. There was a live band and plenty of bouncers that would strike fear into the heart of many Minnesotan boys. The band was great but played American music almost exclusively (Including a Kings of Leon Cover!). We sat at a table hugging the wall in front of the bar right next to some table with “pour your own pints.” It looked fun but I bet it could get expensive quickly… we’ll have to try that sometime.
We turned in early, around eleven or so, and walked the icy streets back to our hotel.
1/1/2010 HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Today we went back to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral and finally found it even though the street are POORLY marked. Thank you Postal skills! We’ll rely on our compass roses from now on I think.
We paid the entrance fee and poked around the church. There were so many brown signs within it you wouldn’t believe. We light a candle for Grandpa and grabbed few brochures before sitting in the tiny chairs that were used instead of pews. It is quite obvious that Mary and I are giants no matter where we go here. At least I can see everything eh? The kneelers were individual pillows hooked on the back of the chairs embroidered with unique patterns or family crests and names.
At the apex of the church, there are the banners and flags of regiments and clans carried in the various wars and battles. Some were in tatters and looked like spider webs hanging by threads. The Smithsonian would be shocked and appalled. Right by the entrance and in front of a window, there was the charter appointing one of the fathers of the church from Queen Elizabeth I (to the best of my memory) that was very cool (just like the patents from A Knight’s Tale) but very sun damaged on the side by the window. I couldn’t believe they would let it sit out like that.
In one of the side chapels, there was a wooden door with a rectangle hole in it. There had been two families in a war and one had taken refuge in the church. The family on the outside felt the violence was unnecessary and called for a truce. Those inside the church would not believe them until they hacked a hole in the door and stuck their hand through in a sign of friendship. The door on display was the same and the hole was there too.
Before dinner, we walked to Trinity to see the Book of Kells only to find the building locked and impenetrable… seems to be our luck these days. We continued on to find our bus stop for tomorrow’s bus to Galway. Good thing too because the only marking was a street sign.
We headed across the treacherously icy bridge and walked into a bar… a horrible, fruit fly ridden place. So after a pint we walked down the street and had a great dinner of shepard’s pie (which I would later find was an imposter as it was beef). It was good food and the barman was Quinlen’s twin. No toilet paper in the bathrooms though although there was a perfume machine that would spray whatever was in front of the nozzle for a Euro.
After dinner, we returned to the hotel and watched a hilarious comedian before sleeping.
2/1/2010 BUS TO GALWAY!
We packed up, checked out, and after forking over a good chunk of money, toted our bags to the bus stop on the Liffey. We were an hour early to the stop and opted to pay the difference and hop the early bus.
We drove on small roads through small towns and arrived at around one o’clock in Galway. On the way, the bus driver hopped out at a stop to by some lettuce… interesting!
We got to the bus depot in Galway and after I asked where Woodquay (“quay” I pronounced as the front of “quail” and was corrected, much to my embarrassment, as it is pronounced as “key”) and headed out. We walked for a good while and asked around five or six different people, hostels, shop keepers, and a hotel worker who had no idea where Bothar na mBan street was. I had sweated through my sweatshirt before we stopped in a Sleepzone hostel and asked the attendant where our apartment was.
Turns out, my apartment was connected to the Sleepzone! This was a bit of luck after a long, frustrating, and sweaty morning!The woman called my apartment manager who said he’d be there in 15 but actually showed up two and a half hours later…
We went into my apartment and it definitely reassured me. The street it is located on is a side street and is next to some sketchy streets with broken glass and etc. so it was a relief. My apartment nice and is on the large side with doors separating every single room and hallway to preserve heat and annoy me to death.
The bathroom is sizable with a heater on the wall that starts with a pull of a string and is hot off the bat. This is a great thing as the heat in my room does not work or is broken… great!
We went out to grab some groceries and find some things we would need for the apartment.
The only thing we have problem with is the internet access as my computer is not willing to cooperate with the connection.
Nearly spent, we headed to a pub to check things out. Again, we hit a dud the first time around but ran into a group of rugby fans at down the way before heading back.
Long, tiring day.
3/1/2010
Today we poked around the city which they told us would take a long while… LIES! We walked the big attractions in just under two and a half hours. First, we crossed the bridge and ran into St. Nicholas Cathedral, the church Christopher Columbus prayed at before heading to America and found they have daily mass at 6pm… we’ll return another day. Then we walked along the river through the engineering part of campus on Nun’s Island and turned into the Eyre Square (pronounced so that they rhyme).
We walked all the way to the dock area across from the Spanish Arch towards a barn with amusement park noises coming from it. We passed Swans and geese on our way to check it out.
Turns out, the barn is a temporary skating rink which charges twenty Euro for adults and only a little less for kids to skate on an area smaller that one end of a skating rink. What was funnier was the first aid station next to it which was equipped with a bed, a stretcher, and a trained professional… not to mention the ambulance outside. What trauma were they expecting? I don’t think they skate much.
We went to the Spanish Arch which wasn’t so large and then headed to the closed city museum before walking through the shopping area off of Eyre Square. We stopped in a shop (Thomas Dillon) which was one of the few still making the Claddaugh rings the original way instead of by machine. We picked up a few things and headed through the shops where we picked up our bathroom things before returning back.
For dinner, we tried to get to some trad music but no food was to be served so we headed across the street for Bangers and Mash, onion rings, and chicken goujon. We went over to The King’s Head to grab a pint as my book told me it was the place to be, but all we found were Americans. One wore a pink felt cowboy hat. We left quickly and headed back to a warm living room, our books, and finally our beds in sweatshirts and sweatpants.
4/1/2010
This morning I got a phone! Now we don’t have to rely on the news for the time and hope to wake up at a decent time!
We then headed across the bridge to explore the correct campus only to run into some international students from Minnesota! We toodled around a locked and closed campus, exchanged numbers and parted ways back in town.
Mary and I continued around town and walked to the tourist center to schedule our Cliffs of Moher tour for tomorrow. Thank you Bridget for making this possible! We bought a couple things at the center and then crossed the street to book our trip to the Aran Islands (Inish Moor) for the coming weekend (9-10/1/2010). We will be staying in a nice hostel on the Island. Exciting.
We planned to meet with the girls for dinner but since their apartment was a 40 minute bus ride they were too tired to make it and we set off after a while.
We made it to a pub recommended by a barman the first night. Great live music. We met a bus driver, his friend, and a group of Aussies on a tour. There was a hilarious conversation about our ‘paddywagon’ versus theirs as the guide for the Paddywagon tour was friends with the bus driver.
At another location, I went to the bar to grab a round and as slip of the tongue asked for Blumer’s (instead of Bulmer’s and it sounded like I said “Bloomer’s”) and the guy to my left turned to me and asked if I was drinking underpants for the night. Definitely embarrassing.
5/1/2010
We woke up and I made fun of her for falling last night…
We got up for an early shower and breakfast before heading for our tour bus from the depot.
We hopped on the bus and left with our short and animated bus driver around 10:15 am. As the country is enduring the coldest weather in history and ice has been covering everything, the country actually ran out of its entire store of salt! The driver let us know that we would not be seeing everything on the tour. Drat.
The roads and view were what I have been looking forward to. They were winding and VERY SMALL. I flinched with every encounter with an oncoming. Cattle and sheep were abundant and rock walls crisscrossed all over. We spotted nearly 10 or so castles and stopped at one on the way back. Very cool. There were ten of us on the tour.
We stopped in a small town pub for lunch in the middle of nowhere and had the best beef and Guinness stew EVER. I was full for the 234341st time on our trip. On the latter half of the drive to the cliffs, we saw thatch roofed cottages and bathtubs outside and passed the town with a month-long matchmaking festival! I’ll have to return next year!
The cliffs were amazing and everything we expected. Windy and very cold but very amazing. You could clearly spot the Aran Islands straight ahead. There was also a tower you could pay a couple Euros extra to climb for a little different view. Some people decided to jump the safety fence for some pictures… scary.
We returned to the room for a bit and headed to a pub for hot cocoa and free wi-fi.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, is the first day of orientation. We’ll get an early start and I will hopefully meet up with the girls we met yesterday for a while.
6/1/2010 ORIENTATION
I made Mary get up early this morning and we left for school at 7:30am only to find it locked like Monday. We walked around trying to find a map and ended up getting coffee and sitting and waiting for things to open up. After getting a map, I sat around and started this journal until 11:30am when the tour left the quadrangle in the center of campus.
I enjoyed the short but fiery tour guide who showed up with a huge bottle of 7up and battling a hangover.
Later, we ran into some of the students on our walk to Monroe’s pub and went into town instead to meet up with another group of exchange students.
This morning Mary and I arrived at the Ireland airport in Dublin at 8 am. The morning started off alright as we did get our luggage back. After retrieving our luggage, we went to the ATM for some Euros only to find that my debit card still had not authorized my card yet and therefore had no money!!
Exhausted, we opted for the most expensive cab ride EVER to our hotel Monte Clare in Dublin right near Trinity College. We took a shower and a quick nap so that we would be able to function for that evening which happened to be New Year’s Eve!
We walked around the Grafton street shopping after poking around Merrion Square Park by our hotel and briefly visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We didn’t have enough time to look through the church so we decided we would go back tomorrow. We went to dinner early. There was a live band and plenty of bouncers that would strike fear into the heart of many Minnesotan boys. The band was great but played American music almost exclusively (Including a Kings of Leon Cover!). We sat at a table hugging the wall in front of the bar right next to some table with “pour your own pints.” It looked fun but I bet it could get expensive quickly… we’ll have to try that sometime.
We turned in early, around eleven or so, and walked the icy streets back to our hotel.
1/1/2010 HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Today we went back to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral and finally found it even though the street are POORLY marked. Thank you Postal skills! We’ll rely on our compass roses from now on I think.
We paid the entrance fee and poked around the church. There were so many brown signs within it you wouldn’t believe. We light a candle for Grandpa and grabbed few brochures before sitting in the tiny chairs that were used instead of pews. It is quite obvious that Mary and I are giants no matter where we go here. At least I can see everything eh? The kneelers were individual pillows hooked on the back of the chairs embroidered with unique patterns or family crests and names.
At the apex of the church, there are the banners and flags of regiments and clans carried in the various wars and battles. Some were in tatters and looked like spider webs hanging by threads. The Smithsonian would be shocked and appalled. Right by the entrance and in front of a window, there was the charter appointing one of the fathers of the church from Queen Elizabeth I (to the best of my memory) that was very cool (just like the patents from A Knight’s Tale) but very sun damaged on the side by the window. I couldn’t believe they would let it sit out like that.
In one of the side chapels, there was a wooden door with a rectangle hole in it. There had been two families in a war and one had taken refuge in the church. The family on the outside felt the violence was unnecessary and called for a truce. Those inside the church would not believe them until they hacked a hole in the door and stuck their hand through in a sign of friendship. The door on display was the same and the hole was there too.
Before dinner, we walked to Trinity to see the Book of Kells only to find the building locked and impenetrable… seems to be our luck these days. We continued on to find our bus stop for tomorrow’s bus to Galway. Good thing too because the only marking was a street sign.
We headed across the treacherously icy bridge and walked into a bar… a horrible, fruit fly ridden place. So after a pint we walked down the street and had a great dinner of shepard’s pie (which I would later find was an imposter as it was beef). It was good food and the barman was Quinlen’s twin. No toilet paper in the bathrooms though although there was a perfume machine that would spray whatever was in front of the nozzle for a Euro.
After dinner, we returned to the hotel and watched a hilarious comedian before sleeping.
2/1/2010 BUS TO GALWAY!
We packed up, checked out, and after forking over a good chunk of money, toted our bags to the bus stop on the Liffey. We were an hour early to the stop and opted to pay the difference and hop the early bus.
We drove on small roads through small towns and arrived at around one o’clock in Galway. On the way, the bus driver hopped out at a stop to by some lettuce… interesting!
We got to the bus depot in Galway and after I asked where Woodquay (“quay” I pronounced as the front of “quail” and was corrected, much to my embarrassment, as it is pronounced as “key”) and headed out. We walked for a good while and asked around five or six different people, hostels, shop keepers, and a hotel worker who had no idea where Bothar na mBan street was. I had sweated through my sweatshirt before we stopped in a Sleepzone hostel and asked the attendant where our apartment was.
Turns out, my apartment was connected to the Sleepzone! This was a bit of luck after a long, frustrating, and sweaty morning!The woman called my apartment manager who said he’d be there in 15 but actually showed up two and a half hours later…
We went into my apartment and it definitely reassured me. The street it is located on is a side street and is next to some sketchy streets with broken glass and etc. so it was a relief. My apartment nice and is on the large side with doors separating every single room and hallway to preserve heat and annoy me to death.
The bathroom is sizable with a heater on the wall that starts with a pull of a string and is hot off the bat. This is a great thing as the heat in my room does not work or is broken… great!
We went out to grab some groceries and find some things we would need for the apartment.
The only thing we have problem with is the internet access as my computer is not willing to cooperate with the connection.
Nearly spent, we headed to a pub to check things out. Again, we hit a dud the first time around but ran into a group of rugby fans at down the way before heading back.
Long, tiring day.
3/1/2010
Today we poked around the city which they told us would take a long while… LIES! We walked the big attractions in just under two and a half hours. First, we crossed the bridge and ran into St. Nicholas Cathedral, the church Christopher Columbus prayed at before heading to America and found they have daily mass at 6pm… we’ll return another day. Then we walked along the river through the engineering part of campus on Nun’s Island and turned into the Eyre Square (pronounced so that they rhyme).
We walked all the way to the dock area across from the Spanish Arch towards a barn with amusement park noises coming from it. We passed Swans and geese on our way to check it out.
Turns out, the barn is a temporary skating rink which charges twenty Euro for adults and only a little less for kids to skate on an area smaller that one end of a skating rink. What was funnier was the first aid station next to it which was equipped with a bed, a stretcher, and a trained professional… not to mention the ambulance outside. What trauma were they expecting? I don’t think they skate much.
We went to the Spanish Arch which wasn’t so large and then headed to the closed city museum before walking through the shopping area off of Eyre Square. We stopped in a shop (Thomas Dillon) which was one of the few still making the Claddaugh rings the original way instead of by machine. We picked up a few things and headed through the shops where we picked up our bathroom things before returning back.
For dinner, we tried to get to some trad music but no food was to be served so we headed across the street for Bangers and Mash, onion rings, and chicken goujon. We went over to The King’s Head to grab a pint as my book told me it was the place to be, but all we found were Americans. One wore a pink felt cowboy hat. We left quickly and headed back to a warm living room, our books, and finally our beds in sweatshirts and sweatpants.
4/1/2010
This morning I got a phone! Now we don’t have to rely on the news for the time and hope to wake up at a decent time!
We then headed across the bridge to explore the correct campus only to run into some international students from Minnesota! We toodled around a locked and closed campus, exchanged numbers and parted ways back in town.
Mary and I continued around town and walked to the tourist center to schedule our Cliffs of Moher tour for tomorrow. Thank you Bridget for making this possible! We bought a couple things at the center and then crossed the street to book our trip to the Aran Islands (Inish Moor) for the coming weekend (9-10/1/2010). We will be staying in a nice hostel on the Island. Exciting.
We planned to meet with the girls for dinner but since their apartment was a 40 minute bus ride they were too tired to make it and we set off after a while.
We made it to a pub recommended by a barman the first night. Great live music. We met a bus driver, his friend, and a group of Aussies on a tour. There was a hilarious conversation about our ‘paddywagon’ versus theirs as the guide for the Paddywagon tour was friends with the bus driver.
At another location, I went to the bar to grab a round and as slip of the tongue asked for Blumer’s (instead of Bulmer’s and it sounded like I said “Bloomer’s”) and the guy to my left turned to me and asked if I was drinking underpants for the night. Definitely embarrassing.
5/1/2010
We woke up and I made fun of her for falling last night…
We got up for an early shower and breakfast before heading for our tour bus from the depot.
We hopped on the bus and left with our short and animated bus driver around 10:15 am. As the country is enduring the coldest weather in history and ice has been covering everything, the country actually ran out of its entire store of salt! The driver let us know that we would not be seeing everything on the tour. Drat.
The roads and view were what I have been looking forward to. They were winding and VERY SMALL. I flinched with every encounter with an oncoming. Cattle and sheep were abundant and rock walls crisscrossed all over. We spotted nearly 10 or so castles and stopped at one on the way back. Very cool. There were ten of us on the tour.
We stopped in a small town pub for lunch in the middle of nowhere and had the best beef and Guinness stew EVER. I was full for the 234341st time on our trip. On the latter half of the drive to the cliffs, we saw thatch roofed cottages and bathtubs outside and passed the town with a month-long matchmaking festival! I’ll have to return next year!
The cliffs were amazing and everything we expected. Windy and very cold but very amazing. You could clearly spot the Aran Islands straight ahead. There was also a tower you could pay a couple Euros extra to climb for a little different view. Some people decided to jump the safety fence for some pictures… scary.
We returned to the room for a bit and headed to a pub for hot cocoa and free wi-fi.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, is the first day of orientation. We’ll get an early start and I will hopefully meet up with the girls we met yesterday for a while.
6/1/2010 ORIENTATION
I made Mary get up early this morning and we left for school at 7:30am only to find it locked like Monday. We walked around trying to find a map and ended up getting coffee and sitting and waiting for things to open up. After getting a map, I sat around and started this journal until 11:30am when the tour left the quadrangle in the center of campus.
I enjoyed the short but fiery tour guide who showed up with a huge bottle of 7up and battling a hangover.
Later, we ran into some of the students on our walk to Monroe’s pub and went into town instead to meet up with another group of exchange students.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)