Farewell to Ireland

It's my last day in Dublin! I catch the bus for the airport at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning and will be back in the U.S. before dinnertime. This second week has flown by since I've finally gotten used to the time change and gotten over jetlag symptoms. Unfortunately I will have to endure it all again on the way home. But it will be more than worth it when I get to spend the time on my own couch or in my own bed with my laptop, a sweet tea, and my boy by my side. I've enjoyed the craic (fun) here this week and am ready to see what today holds. Even though it's another rainy and cold day, we are going to attempt to see some last minute landmarks before our farewell dinner tonight. I've ended up getting over my sticker shock for a minute or two and breaking down to purchase some cool items and gifts for myself and the folks back home. I just hope I don't get back home and start weeping over the status of my bank account. The exchange rate between the euro and the dollar is historically high and I have cringed at just about every price tag I've seen here. Dublin has definitely turned into a tourist town and they are exploiting us for all we have. Several public places have even charged 20 cents or more to go to the bathroom!!! God Bless America is all I have to say at this point. When I get home I'm going to be posting pictures and adding some more detailed updates about my travels here on the blog. I feel bad that I disappointed all my loyal readers by not being able to give more information but this having to walk across the street to a computer lab thing has really put a damper on my awesome blogging skills.

So until tomorrow South Carolinians! Can't wait to see everyone and hopefully I don't look too European ;)

Adventures in Glendalough

Today was a great day. Not only was the weather absolutely beautiful and perfect in Dublin, we traveled to County Wicklow (the weather was also perfect there) to tour Glendalough which is an ancient monastic site surrounded by gorgeous mountains and two beautiful lakes. Definitely another amazing highlight to the trip. I took at least 100 pictures today. Seeing the scenery of the countryside has made this trip all the more worthwhile. Dublin is all about big city life, and while there are gorgeous buildings and plenty of interesting things to do and see, nothing beats "the rolling hills." Only 2 full days left in Ireland after today. Tomorrow I plan on taking the Book of Kells and Old Library tour here on the Trinity campus and enjoying a good night out with my group. Friday will consist of the Guinness storehouse tour along with our farewell dinner and preparing to ship back off to America first thing Saturday morning.

I forgot to mention in an earlier post that my best friend from college, Corbin, who is currently ending a 5 week adventure in London was here in Dublin on Sunday night as part of a side trip he took over the weekend. I can't tell you how surreal it was to have my best friend just meet up with me next to the famous Molly Malone statue on Grafton St. for dinner and a pint like it was a regular Saturday night in the 'Burg. That was definitely another major highlight of the trip and even though I will see him when I get home, that will be something that will stay in my mind forever. I only wish Coleman could have poked his head around the corner. Now THAT would have been a dream come true.

These Irish eyes are getting a little droopy...

Our adventure to Galway this weekend led me to realize the reason I came to Ireland in the first place: to see the Aran Islands and Inis Mohr. I have never seen anything so breathtakingly beautiful in my entire life. I actually got a little emotional (although I think some of those tears were from the pain I felt from a 4 hour uphill bike tour). We walked up to the fort of Dun Auengus and I stood on top of one the tallest cliffs I've ever seen and also got one of the most expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean that I could ever hope for. I don't even think the over 100 pictures I took could completely capture the beauty I experienced and I wish I could share them with you before I return home. But not to fear. Really only about 4 more days until I am back on American soil. And I'm pretty glad of that. Don't get me wrong, Ireland has been amazing but I definitely have found a new appreciation for America and all the people I know back home. This has been one of the most rewarding yet challenging experiences of my whole life. Most everyone knows that I am not the biggest girl in the world. I'm quite short and skinny and even though a lot of my length is made up in leg, they are just not cut out for this type of lifestyle. My knees are finally feeling the effects of walking every which way here and there and I think the bike tour through the islands finally pushed them over the edge. My poor little body is slowly trying to let me know that she's tired and overworked. Our schedule this week is a lot more lenient than last week so hopefully I can fit some time in just to rest on my own and maybe explore some of the things on campus as well. I plan on taking the Book of Kells and Old Library tour this week. Unfortunately, I learned no photography is allowed which was earth-shattering for me to hear, but it's an experience that I just can't pass up. I also hope to make it the National Library before Friday to do a little more research into my family's Irish roots. I created a family tree on Ancestry.com about a month before I left and got some names to go on but I'm hoping to find out a little more about what their lives were about in Ireland and perhaps why my family came to good ole' America. I think that's all for now. I will hopefully get one more update in before we depart for the U.S first thing Saturday morning.

The woes of a miserable Dublin day

Oh the weather outside is frightful here in Dublin town today. It's about the low 40's with additional freezing rain. Sort of makes me miss the South Carolina heat (something I never thought I would say). We depart for Galway tomorrow morning and return to Dublin Sunday night. We are taking a ferry and bike tour of the Galway shores on Saturday and there is also their big Arts and Music Festival going on right now which should be a fun time. I'm taking my laptop with doubtful hopes of finding some Internet in our accomodations. I am learning that I have such a great dependence on Internet now after basically not having 24 hour access to it for almost a week. Next week is more lenient schedule-wise so hopefully I will have a bit more time to keep you guys updated before I head home (only 9 more days!) After no longer being jetlagged, the time seems to fly by here. I actually got a full night of sleep last night (probably the last I will get until Sunday or Monday night) and I have never appreciated sleep more (even though it's basically already my favorite thing).

Yesterday we toured the W.B Yeats exhibit at the National Library and saw the play "Molly Sweeney" at the Gate Theatre. Tonight is a free night which calls for cooking dinner in the room and then most likely hitting up one or two of our regular pubs. I'm noticing there's really not a lot of good places to actually eat around here which may come as a shock to most. The pubs don't really serve a lot of food and if they do, it's only lunch. I've really been shocked with my overall perception of Dublin. So not like I thought it was going to be and even if you talk to some of the locals, they even agree that the city is somewhat going downhill. A beautiful and quite cultural place nonetheless, but just a little different. Definitely makes me appreicate my American roots even more so. I've already told Coleman that when he picks me up from the airport next weekend to bring me a double cheeseburger from Wendy's, a Chick-fil-A sandwich, and the largest sweet tea he can find. Until then, it looks like it will be chips, crisps, pasta, eggs, and ham sandwiches until then.

Greetings from Dublin!

Sorry it has taken me so long to update. Unfortunately, you might not be seeing too much more of me for the remaining 10 days. We have absolutely no Internet access in our rooms and have to come down to a computer lab on campus. But with our packed schedules, we have little to no time to get down here so I sadly cannot post any pictures or update everyone on a daily basis. I do plan however to give detailed day-by-day descriptions on here when I return home and can finally have some decent time with my computer. I'm having a grand old time and have seen so much already, but I'm a little dehydrated and super exhausted. Jetlag is one hell of a ride. But I'm slowly feeling better and am excited for our trip to Galway this weekend.

I miss everyone back at home so much and can't wait to get home to them. But for now, I'll enjoy the pubs and plays and tours :)

Let the craic roll!!

Bags are all packed, money's in the bank, and my Fall tuition is even paid so that's one less thing I have to worry about this weekend. This time tomorrow I will be on that flight to Dublin! It's still quite surreal. The reality of this situation probably won't hit me until I've stepped into the terminal at the Dublin airport. And it might not even hit me then. We'll be arriving at 6:50 (Ireland time) Sunday morning. They are 5 hours ahead of U.S. time so in a way, it kinda makes me feel like I'm innn the futturreee :) Our flight tomorrow is overnight from Charlotte and I'm a little more nervous than I have let on. I only took my first ever flight last year and it was about 2 hours to New Hampshire which was cake compared to 7 and a half hours over water at night...but I've got the entire Hunger Games series in tow so I can hopefully knock out at least one of them on the way there (or knock myself out...) It's also hard to leave my Coleman behind. Even though we've spent more than a month apart before, we weren't living together then and were not completely dependent on each other like we are now. But even though it's sad to leave him behind, we both know this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me and that I will be back sooner than we know it.


Updates and pictures will be posted ASAP. I'm just hoping that my computer will make it through. She's been experiencing a lot of technical difficulties lately but I'm hoping some Ireland air will do her some good. And me as well. Can't wait to get started on giving everyone some insight into my adventures :)

One week before I'm D-Town bound!

I can't believe it! In one week, I will be jetsetting across the ocean to Dublin. It's been a dream for this Irish lass for as long as I can remember and thanks to my school, it's finally happening. I'll be there for 2 weeks, staying at Trinity College right in the heart of Dublin, with 3 other students from my university. I'm overwhelmed with excitement but I'm a tad nervous at the same time. Seeing as how my first ever flight took place last August to New Hampshire, I'm a little anxious about an overnight flight over water to another country. But I know after 7 and a half hours (and possibly some Tylenol PM), it will all be worth it. I can't wait to walk down Grafton St. and get my shop on, to see the Book of Kells and experience the beauty that is the Trinity College library. Can't wait to see 2 plays at the Abbey Theatre and I especially can't wait to experience the taste of a TRUE Guinness...none of that watered-down mess they serve here in the states.

I will be posting  as much as possible in order to keep friends and family updated on my travels and the goings-on in my daily Dublin life. Subscribe so you can stay up to date :)