A Visit to Another Country!

Okay, so Northern Ireland isn't THAT different from the Republic of Ireland BUT I did have to use a different type of money so it counts in my book!  My first big accomplishment for the weekend was packing.  I think you will all be shocked and proud to know I packed for the ENTIRE weekend in my book bag!  I usually take at least two bags on weekends trips.  I also had to pack light enough that I could carry my entire weekend's worth of stuff around town all day on Sunday.  My pack wasn't too heavy Sunday morning when we left the hostel, but by the time we were walking to the train at 6:00 pm that night I felt like all I had packed were bricks!

Friday night, Natalia and I boarded the train at Drogheda (a town about 10 minutes north of Stamullen) at 7:30 pm and we were off!  It took about an hour and a half to get to Belfast and then the fun began.  Our first order of business was to find an ATM so we could get our hands on some sterling in order to pay for our hostel.  Bank of America has a partner bank in the UK, meaning I could use this other bank's ATM and not worry about any international fees.  Awesome right?  Well I'm convinced this bank doesn't exist because Natalia and I searched and never found it.  After walking around Belfast in the middle of the night (in the rain) and being pointed in the right direction to a not so "dodgy" part of town (as they put it) by some nice strangers, we settled on another ATM and just paid the fees.  We then had a 30 minute walk to our hostel but we found it and checked in without any problem!  Our hostel was okay, but nothing great.  The bathrooms weren't the cleanest I've ever seen but being Renee Muse's daughter I had shower shoes packed and ready to use!  We met Hailey close to midnight and we all went to bed shortly after since we had worked a full day before traveling.

Saturday morning we woke up, had a FREE breakfast at the hostel, and headed to our tour departure point.  We only got slightly lost and still arrived early.  We were able to get good seats behind the driver so we had great window views of the coastline the whole way to the Gaint's Causeway.  Our tour guide was great but he had a very heavy Scottish (at least I think it was Scottish) accent so I didn't understand everything he said.  The best part of our tour was that we traveled along the Coastline through the Glens of Antrim and the view was stunning literally the whole way!  We made several quick stops along the way before reaching our main destinations: The Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge and, of course, The Giant's Causeway.

Carrickfergus Castle was built in 1177

Carnalough Harbor

One of the many Glens in County Antrim

The coastline was breathtaking the entire drive to the Causway

Dunluce Castle, built sometime in the 13th century

Bushmills Distillery, the first licensed distillery in the world

The Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge is WAY up north next to the Giant's Causeway.  We had a 1 km walk to the rope bridge and I was actually a little disappointed by how small it was when we got there, but it was still scary!  The views from the tiny island the rope bridge connects to were worth the crossing.  We even saw part of Scotland!

It was a long way down

The bridge

Across the bridge on the island

Scotland in the distance!

Our final stop of the day... The Giant's Causeway!  There is a wonderful folktale about how and why the causeway was created but you'll have to look it up and read it for yourself because I can't do it justice!  I can't even explain how beautiful it was so you'll have to take a look:

After leaving the Causeway, I slept the ENITRE ride home (which was through inland Northern Ireland so I didn't miss many views, mainly some sheep) and we got back into Belfast around 7:30.  We ate dinner at an Irish version of a Salsarita's (thank god for Mexican in Ireland) and went to a pub close to our hostel for a pint before calling it a night.

The next morning we woke up early again and set off to explore Belfast and all it had to offer.  We walked around the city from 10 am until 4 pm when we had tickets to visit the Titanic center.  I think its safe to say we saw EVERYTHING Belfast has to offer.

The Botanic Gardens near Queen's University

City Hall

View of the skyline from Victoria Sq. Shopping Center

Lagan River

The Ring of Thanksgiving

Sampson and Goliath, the Howard and Wolff cranes used in the building of Titanic

Sir Albert Memorial Clock

Belfast's Big Fish

Stained Glass at St. Ann's Cathedral

At 4 pm we made our way to the Titanic Belfast museum.  Its a beautiful building dedicated to the history of the Titanic from its creation in Belfast to its sinking in the Atlantic.  A lot of the information I knew already, but it was interesting to hear how the Titanic was built in Belfast.  I had no idea that it was built in Northern Ireland until I arrived here.

Finally we boarded the train at 7 pm and headed home.  It was an exhausting weekend but I saw so much of Northern Ireland!  I can't wait for my next excursion which will hopefully be soon!

A Week of Firsts

I experienced a lot of firsts this past week and even crossed another Irish "to do" off my list!  Wednesday I went over to Natalia's house for dinner.  Her host family were on holidays (not vacation) the past week and she wanted to make a Spanish dinner for Ioana and me.  I had no idea what to expect since my experience with foreign foods is limited to Italian dishes and Taco Bell.  However, I had nothing to worry about.  Natalia made tortillas de patatas and another bread dish which is native to Catalonia.  The main dish (tortillas de patatas) was similar to a huge omelette with potatoes and onions.  It was delicious!  I also think I finally got the answer to my family's question as to why we all received eggs when we ordered tortillas at a restaurant in Puerto Rico a few years ago.  Tortilla in Mexico and tortilla in Spain (and Puerto Rico apparently) are NOT the same thing.  So keep that in mind in your travels.

I can't believe how quickly this weekend flew by for me!  I spent Friday night watching TV at Natalia's house with her and Ioana.  Its been really nice to have a few girls in the neighborhood so I don't always have to make the journey to Dublin for company.  Saturday I went into Dublin to meet up with Hailey.  Hailey and I went to Appalachian together and were introduced by our friend Hillary before we left.  I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it was to see an American after two months!

We did A LOT of walking around the city so I could show her a few of the major landmarks and we ran across these insane sand sculptures at Dublin Castle:

Sand Sculptures at Dublin Castle

I couldn't believe the detail!

I think there was some sort of theme going on but I'm not sure what this is supposed to be....

Picture with Molly Malone: Check!

Then we met up with Agnieszka and another au pair to go to dinner and to a free music festival that was going on in Temple Bar.  We did A LOT more walking to all the different pubs participating in the festival and Hailey and I finally called it a night around 1:30 am.  I'm ashamed to say if I stayed up any longer I thought I was going to fall asleep on the streets of Dublin.  And to think just a few short months ago I thought my night had been dramatically cut short when the last call bell rang at Klondike.  Just goes to show what living with three children does to your bed time.

Luckily, Hailey and I were staying in a hostel in the city so we only had  ten minute walk back to our beds.  This was my first ever hostel experience and I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and comfortable the room was.  We were sharing the room with 10 other people but the two bunk beds next to ours remained vacant all night so we had a little bit of privacy.  I think the only downside to the hostel was there was only one bathroom for the whole room.  It wasn't an issue for us since literally all we did was sleep at the hostel and then go back home the next day, but I could see how that might have been an issue for anyone staying for a long period of time.

Ruby and Maisy are starting school in two short weeks.  I know my job will get a little bit easier when that happens which is great, but I also know I'll be a little lonely talking to only Pippa for the better part of the day once they go back.  Theres only so much you can say to someone who has about 1 and a half words in their vocabulary.

Pippa is getting closer to walking every day so you can all expect a video the MINUTE that happens.  I spend a good portion of each day pointing at myself and repeating Laura over and over but she still calls me dada just like she calls everyone else.

Friday I am off to Belfast for the weekend so stayed tuned for an update on that!  We are going to visit the Giant's Causeway (if you don't know what that is google it right this second.  Its beautiful!) and see the new Titanic exhibit that just opened up for the 100th anniversary (because did you know the Titanic was built in Belfast??).  It should be a very interesting weekend with another stay in a hostel as well as my first time exchanging currency (Belfast is a part of the UK so they use pounds and not euros).  I'm excited for my first major excursion away from Stamullen!

Good Morning America

Or rather good EARLY morning since its about 4:30 am for all of you at home.  I'm starting my Monday morning off drinking tea and eating cheerios with Pippa.  It is currently rainy and 15 degrees (Celsius) outside.  The rain  of course is what I've come to know and love, most of the time, as typical Irish weather.  However I still have no idea what 15 degrees Celsius means.  I don't know how many times anyone here has asked me what the weather would be like at home this time of year and I've begun to casually reply that its been over 100... And then I see the look of horror on their faces and realize I just described an uninhabitable place to them.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of my second month in Ireland.  I can't believe its already been two months!  While I'm still working on mastering certain parts of the Irish culture: knowing if 15 degrees Celsius means wearing a t-shirt or five sweaters, trying to decide if paying 9 euros for a sandwich is ridiculous (it is!), and deciphering Irish accents (anytime I meet a new Irish person I usually have to ask them to repeat things at least two times or I just nod and smile) I have also learned a lot.  So here are the top 5 things I've learned in Ireland:

1- You don't have to throw away your trash at McDonald's.

And if you do, people look at you funny.

2- "Cheers" can mean hello, goodbye, or thanks

Sorta of like aloha

3- The only soft drinks you can get anywhere are coke, diet, coke, and sprite.

And if you ask for anything else, people look at you funny.

4- Getting carded when the drinking is 18 is much more frustrating than when its 21.

Apparently I look like a 17 year old by Irish standards.

5- This is the cutest baby you'll ever meet in your life:

A Dubliner's Weekend

This past weekend has been filled with birthdays, zombies, and acrobats.  It was quite the unlikely combination but a blast all the same!  Friday was Pippa's first birthday.  In the past 8 weeks I've been here I've spent most of my time with Pip.  I can't believe she is already 1!  Since I've been here she has started pulling up on EVERYTHING and really moving when she's crawling around.  She is certainly keeping me on my toes!

Almost a 1 year old!

I gave Pippa Goodnight Moon for her birthday present.  Nothing is better than a classic American bedtime story!  Maisy had me read it to her Friday evening in the middle of the party (while I had a beer in one hand, what a great role model I am!).

Saturday, Natalia and I headed into Dublin to meet up with Agnieszka and see the Dublin Zombie Walk.  What is a zombie walk you're probably asking yourself?  I'm still not entirely sure.  Basically, the Irish Cancer Foundation raised money by painting faces and advertising for Dubliners to join them on their zombie parade around the city.  Foundation volunteers walked along side the parade and collected donations.  I'm not sure how much money they were able to raise but the parade was funny to watch!  Some people really got into the spirit...

After the zombie walk we visited the National Museum of Archaeology, the National Library, and the National Gallery.  Unfortunately, pictures were prohibited in all of these areas.  My favorite was the National Gallery where I saw "Rooftops of Paris" by Vincent Van Gogh.  This was the first time I've seen any of Van Gogh's work in real life and I think its safe to say he is my favorite artist.  The Gallery also housed a Picasso and work by other famous artists.

Sunday we all went into Dublin again to see the Paper Dolls acrobatic show.  I hadn't been to anything like this since the lat time I was at the circus and it was definitely worth the 5 euro charge to get in!  These performers were so talented and while the show only lasted an hour, I loved every minute of it!  The show was in an outdoor venue and the atmosphere and decorations were just as great as the performers.

Trapeze twins

Part of the show cast

The scarf performers were awesome!

I loved the lamp shade decorations!

I am still loving exploring Ireland and Dublin.  While the city centre of Dublin is small, it is packed with places I still have yet to visit.  I'm thinking of going on another tour in the next few weekends so stay posted for updates!